Cajundome - Facilities - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

Cajundome

Men's Basketball


Year Opened	1985
Seating Capacity	12,362
First Game	November 22, 1985 - vs. Georgia (L, 78-75)
Largest Crowd	11,479 vs. Loyola Marymount (12/16/1992)

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 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.

More rave reviews came to the ‘Dome during the 2016-17 season as the the facility underwent a $21 million renovation that included better seating, improved lighting and a new court depicting Cypress Lake on the UL Lafayette campus.

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, Jason Aldean, Eddie Murphy, Carrie Underwood, Lil Wayne, Janet Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Disney’s World On Ice, the WWE, Sesame Street, Clear Channel Motor Sports, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, NSYNC, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and The Professional Bull Riders Adriano Moraes Invitational.

The Cajundome features chairback seating throughout the arena with a capacity of 12,362 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.

In 2002, a new convention center addition to the arena was built, adding 37,301 square feet of exhibit hall space to the Cajundome’s 40,000 square feet of arena floor space plus 39,685 square feet of meeting space including a 15,682-square foot (1457 m²) ballroom, 12,159 square feet of prefunction space and a 17,590-square foot outdoor mall holding up to 2,118 for outdoor events.

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 2012-13 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 Louisiana defeat Loyola Marymount, 87-73.

During their tenure in the Cajundome, the Ragin’ Cajuns have posted a 315-124 record for a .718 winning percentage.

During the 2015-16 season, Louisiana won its first 11 games in the friendly confines to open the season - the best start since moving into the facility.

The 11-game win-streak to end the 2010-11 season rejuvenated the fan base and attendance at the Cajundome rose to an average of 6,126 the final month.

In 2009-10, Louisiana was a perfect 9-0 against the Sun Belt within the friendly confines of the Cajundome.

During the 2002-03 season, the Cajuns set a 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.

EVENTS HOSTED


1997	Sun Belt Tournament
1998	Sun Belt Tournament
2007	Sun Belt Tournament

TOP 10 ATTENDANCE MARKS


1.	11,479 vs. Loyola Marymount (12/16/92)
2.	11,137 vs. New Orleans (2/1/92)
3.	10,802 vs. New Orleans (1/18/90)
4.	10,651 vs. Massachusetts (2/11/95)
5.	10,487 vs. Georgia (11/22/85)
6.	9,715 vs. Western Kentucky (2/5/94)
7.	9,153 vs. New Orleans (1/5/91)
8.	9,121 vs. South Alabama (3/3/98)
9.	9,121 vs. Western Kentucky (2/26/03)
10.	9,086 vs. Lamar (3/1/86)