The arena hosts many regional & national touring concerts (seating for concerts up to 13,500) and special events, such as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events and the annual outdoor Cajun Heartland State Fair, an eleven-day state fair that attracts more than 50,000 guests. The arena also hosts the annual Jr. Beta Club Louisiana state conventions for middle and elementary school students and the Sr. Beta Conventions for high schoolers on occasion. The facility is a recognizable Lafayette landmark that was built by the State of Louisiana, partially funded by the City of Lafayette, and is owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and managed by the CAJUNDOME Commission.[7]
Currently, the CAJUNDOME is the largest basketball arena in the Sun Belt Conference, the largest college basketball arena in Louisiana, the third largest overall indoor arena in Louisiana (behind the Smoothie King CenterinNew Orleans and the Brookshire Grocery ArenainBossier City), one of the largest mid-major college basketball arenas, and in the top 10 largest college basketball arenas in the Deep South.[8]
The arena underwent a $20 million renovation in 2016, providing seating, concession, and accessibility along with signage & branding updates to the venue.
The CAJUNDOME completed renovations in January 2020 on a former storage space to open The Table Room, an approximate 300 capacity venue available for pre-show early entry events and private event rentals. The all-ages venue consists of table seating, a small performance area and full bar service.
The Louisiana IceGators of the East Coast Hockey League played host in the CAJUNDOME from 1995 to 2005.[13] During that time, the arena earned the nickname 'The Frozen Swamp'. In 2005, the franchise folded due to financial problems and drops in attendance after the IceGators were in the Top 4 for attendance in the ECHL. In 2009, Danny Smith, a local businessman, decided to bring back the Louisiana IceGators but this time in the Southern Professional Hockey League.[14] A few months after Smith bought it, the franchise was sold to E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo Jr. and E.C. "Chuck" Anselmo, III. In their first season, the IceGators played at Blackham Coliseum. In their second season, the IceGators moved to the CAJUNDOME. In early 2016, the Louisiana IceGators and the SPHL announced that the IceGators would suspend operations for the 2016–17 season citing that the arena renovations would not be completed in time for the season.[15]
In 2002, a new convention center addition to the arena was built.[18] The new addition added 37,301 square feet (3,465 m2) of exhibit hall space to the Cajundome's 40,000 square feet (3,716 m2) of arena floor space plus 39,685 square feet (3687 m2) of meeting space including a 15,682 square foot (1457 m2) ballroom, 12,159 square feet (1130 m2) of pre-function space and a 17,590 square foot (1630 m2) outdoor mall holding up to 2,118 for outdoor events.
In 2005, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and soon after Hurricane Rita, the Cajundome became one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's evacuee shelters. Staffed by Red Cross, Salvation Army, Americorp and a host of local charities, the facility became a center of relief for thousands. The recently opened Convention Center addition was also utilized as a distribution logistics point and also housed a Special Needs Clinic. This clinic served those needing additional care not deemed urgent or emergency by local area hospitals.
^Gomez Sr., Ronald J. (2006-11-16). "8". My Name Is Ron, and I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative. Lafayette, LA: Zemog Publishing (published 2000). pp. 73, 95. ISBN0-595-86001-X. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
