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One of the nation's most impressive facilities
and heralded as one of the finest multi-purpose
arenas in the country, the Cajundome has served
as the home of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns men's
basketball program since the 1985-86 season.
The $64 million facility was opened and
officially dedicated on Nov. 10, 1985, as the
new home of the Ragin' Cajuns, replacing
Blackham Coliseum (1950-84), and since that time
the 'Dome has drawn raves from across the
country for its beauty and function.
"This is as fine a facility as you'll find
anywhere," basketball analyst Billy Packer said.
"You don't need any better than this."
"It's sensational," said former Utah Jazz head
coach Frank Layden, whose team played an
exhibition in the arena. "It's the best arena
I've ever been in. I'd like to take it home with
me."
The Cajundome is much more than a basketball
arena, though.
It was designed as a true multi-purpose
facility, and the 'Dome has hosted such varied
events as ice shows, circuses, indoor soccer,
conventions, banquets, wrestling and boxing
cards, ice hockey, Arena Football, monster truck
shows and rodeos. The facility served as home
for the Louisiana IceGators of the East Coast
Hockey League from the 1995-96 through 2004-05
seasons. For one season, in 2001, the af2's
Lafayette Roughnecks called the Cajundome home.
The facility has an adjustable capacity between
4,500 and 13,500. With an average of 140 events
per year and 10-15 concerts per year, the arena
has hosted top entertainers and shows including
The Eagles, Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, Elton
John, Billy Joel, George Strait, Garth Brooks,
Eddie Murphy, Backstreet Boys, Disney's World On
Ice, WWF, Sesame Street, Clear Channel Motor
Sports, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, NSYNC, Hannah
Montana, Taylor Swift, Lil' Wayne, T.I., Young
Jeezy, Toby Keith, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood,
Miley Cyrus and The Professional Bull Riders
Adriano Moraes Invitational.
The Cajundome features chairback seating
throughout the arena with a capacity of 11,550
for UL basketball and more for events that do
not fill the entire floor space. The largest
crowd for any single event was the 13,500 fans
who attended the Kenny Rogers concert during the
facility's first week of operation.
The 'Dome also features 16 plush VIP luxury
suites with full view of the arena.
A brand new basketball court was installed in
time for the 2007-08 season. More upgrades were
installed for the 2008-09 season which included
a new scoreboard and sound system.
Three times the arena has served as host of the
Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament,
doing so in 1997, 1998 and 2007. The 2007 Sun
Belt Tournament added a twist - the men's
tournament was joined by the women's tournament,
marking the first time the 'Dome hosted the
league's women's postseason event.
The city of Lafayette and the State of Louisiana
jointly financed and built the Cajundome. The
state owns the land on the 'Dome site, located
just east of the University of Louisiana's Cox
Communications Athletic Center off Congress
Street and Cajundome Boulevard.
On April 30, 2002, the facility received a much
needed addition with the opening of the brand
new $16.7 million convention center located
adjacent to the 'Dome on the east side of the
building. The convention center offers nearly
100,000 square feet on two levels.
The largest crowd to date for a Ragin' Cajuns
basketball game in the facility came on Dec. 16,
1992, when 11,479 fans watched UL defeat
Loyola-Marymount 87-73.
During the 2002-03 season, the Cajuns set a new
record for consecutive wins at the 'Dome after
an 81-74 win over New Mexico State on Jan. 2,
2003. That win marked the 15th straight at the
Cajundome. The streak would eventually reach 21,
which ranked as the fifth-longest in the nation
at the time, before falling to Western Kentucky
on Feb. 26, 2003.
The 2005-06 season was shortened. The Cajundome
served as a shelter for Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita and was unavailable in November and
December 2005. The Cajuns returned to the arena
in January 2006.
www.cajundome.com
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