Marco A. Pérez
Associate Vice President, General Manager | UNO Lakefront Arena 
At Lakefront Arena at the University of New Orleans, it’s not so much the calm before the storm but an eager resilience to overcome weather and other challenges while looking ahead.
“UNO Lakefront Arena is entering an exciting and bustling period, with the highest number of concerts we’ve seen in years,” says Marco Perez, who’s been at the arena since it opened 40 years ago. “We take great pride in our strong relationships with our agents and promoters, and we eagerly anticipate an extraordinary six months ahead. Additionally, we are grateful for the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans this February, which has contributed to an impressive lineup of events on our calendar.”
Upcoming shows at the 10,000-capacity facility include Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Tom Segura and a multi-night New Year’s run with Billy Strings.
Perez notes challenges over the past year, including still feeling the effects of the pandemic and what he describes as limited financial resources at the university-owned facility, while hurricane season adds an extra layer of caution.
“We are excited to announce that we are in the process of replacing the entire main arena ceiling that was damaged during Hurricane Ida (in 2021),” he said. “We are anxious to unveil this refreshed space to our patrons and Privateer basketball fans. With new coaches leading our basketball program, the ceiling symbolizes a fresh start and a bright future for our team.”
He says consumer confidence remains strong and is hopeful that macroeconomic conditions remain healthy.
“Factors like pent-up demand, need for social experiences, and the emotional connections to their favorite artists have fueled this rebirth of our industry,” he said. “As long as economic conditions remain fairly stable, demand for live events should continue.”
He says an increasing priority, especially for older venues, is accessibility.
“Ensuring that live events are inclusive for people with disabilities is a critical focus, since many older venues lack adequate accommodations,” Perez said. “Newer venues are being thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, while older venues are undergoing retrofitting to enhance their inclusive features. Additionally, many venues are prioritizing staff training to foster a deeper understanding of the needs of disabled attendees and to ensure that appropriate assistance is readily available. While funding constraints have made it challenging to retrofit our venue as extensively as we would like, we take great pride in the accommodations we can offer.” — Ryan Borba
