The New Orleans Pelicans will be relocating their NBA G-League affiliate, the Squadron, to Kenner starting with the 2026-27 season.
The team will rebrand as the Laketown Squadron, after going by the Birmingham Squadron and playing in Birmingham, Alabama since 2021.
Prior to being in Birmingham, the Pels’ affiliate was called the Erie BayHawks and played their games in Pennsylvania.
The newly named Laketown Squadron will play games in the renovated Pontchartrain Center in Laketown Park in Kenner.
“We are proud to bring the Squadron and NBA G-League basketball to the City of Kenner and Laketown Park, We thank Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser and the Kenner City Council for their partnership in making this move possible, and we look forward to growing our basketball fan base and investing in this vibrant, family-oriented community,” Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson said of the move.
The move will put the Pels’ lower-level squad just 20 minutes or so from the city. That will make evaluation, transactions, and player movement seamless between the two organizations.
The renovations to the Pontchartrain Center will be completed ahead of the 2026-27 season, according to the Pelicans. That venue has played host to a variety of different sporting events, recently serving as the host of the LHSAA State Volleyball Championships a few years back.
The New Orleans Pelicans are wrapping up their 2025-26 campaign in the coming weeks. They currently sit with a record of 25-51, and have been eliminated from playoff contention.