Step Inside Ball Arena, Home of Denver Nuggets & Colorado Avalanche

Home of the Nuggets & Avalanche

Since opening in 1999, Denver’s Ball Arena has thrilled audiences in the heart of the Rocky Mountains with the best in sports and entertainment. The largest indoor event center in Colorado, it seats up to 20,000 people in downtown Denver. The home of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Mammoth pro lacrosse team, Ball Arena also presents more than 250 other events each year. View the Ball Arena schedule of events here.

Ball Arena History

On November 20, 1997, ground was broken for the construction of the Ball Arena — then known as the Pepsi Center — marking the beginning of a new era for sports and entertainment in Colorado. Replacing the McNichols Arena adjacent to Broncos Stadium at Mile High, the venue was built to be the new home for the Avalanche and the Nuggets.

Completed in 1999, Ball Arena occupies a 4.6-acre site in Denver’s Platte Valley, a central district that has experienced a dramatic rejuvenation in recent decades. After launching with a sold-out performance by Céline Dion on October 1, 1999, it has played host to such performers as Ariana Grande, KISS, Carrie Underwood and Michael Bublé.

From its opening until late 2020, PepsiCo held the the naming rights to the arena (dubbed Pepsi Center). In October 2020, the naming rights were sold to the Broomfield-based Ball Corporation, and the venue was renamed Ball Arena.

Ball Arena has been the site of some recent history. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and the Nuggets won the NBA Finals in 2023. The arena has also hosted the NBA All-Star Game and the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four. Since the 2003 season, it has also been the home of the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League, the team whose electrifying 2008 championship season made Denver a stronghold for one of the continent’s fastest-growing sports.

Thanks to special features like a state-of the-art projection system that transforms the arena floor into a giant 4K screen, concerts at Ball Arena in Denver are just as exciting as any of the sports action that visitors will find on the court or on the rink. Better yet, audiences can enjoy it all in a facility whose design and amenities celebrate the rugged beauty and unique character of its incredible surroundings.

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Parking and Admission at Ball Arena

Parking lots at Ball Arena open three hours prior to the start of any event it is hosting. There at multiple parking lot options at the arena, including four regular lots, one VIP lot, one Premier Parking lot, one Valet Parking lot, and one parking lot for guests with accessible/ADA needs. Guests are encouraged to purchase parking in advance of attending an event, via Ticketmaster.com. Rideshare drop-offs and pick-ups are available on Auraria Parkway between 9th and 11th Street and ADA/Accessible Rideshare drop-offs and pick-ups are available at the roundabout on 9th Street.

Credit and debit cards are accepted at all Toyota Ball Arena parking lots for all events and rates will be discounted $5 at the Tundra lot when paying with a credit or debit card. Cash payments are only accepted at the Tundra lot.

At Ball Arena, a bag policy is in place. Permitted items include small bags, medical and diaper bags (14″ x 14″ x 6″ or smaller), and strollers. However, outside food and beverage, alcohol, large bags (bigger than 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″), and certain items like weapons, fireworks, and large umbrellas are prohibited. A full list of prohibited items can be found here.

Ball Arena Capacity & Seating Options

Featuring more than 675,000 square feet of space, the multipurpose facility seats 19,099 for basketball games, 18,007 for hockey and lacrosse games, and up to 20,000 for concerts and other events depending on stage configuration. Along with the two Theatre Boxes that offer first-class fan experiences, visitors can enjoy events in the 89 luxury suites located on two levels, as well as 1,900 club seats. The Ball Arena seating chart can be viewed here.

Food & Beverage Options at Ball Arena

Ball Arena finds its inspirations close to home when it comes to food and beverage options. In 2019, the selection of first-class vendors expanded with five locally inspired new destinations. The Barrel offers beloved Denver grub like the local bison pastrami melt. Wyncoop can’t be beat when it comes to chicken, and Denver Potato Co. lives up to its billing. Marco’s Pizza and the Mexican street food at Verde Y Rojo round out the cravings-satisfaction.

Expressions of local pride are just as strong in Ball Arena’s bars and restaurants. The Breckenridge Brewery Mountain House was inspired by the Q Creek Ranch, a historic working cattle ranch located north of Denver. Hearty, high-quality meals with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients are served in a setting whose timber construction, extensive stonework, and iron and antler chandeliers duplicate the warm feel of a 100-year-old lodge.

Providing another unique environment, Colorado Social offers patrons the chance to enjoy culinary adventures — along with high-quality spirits, specialty beers and selections from the award-winning wine list — while surrounded by stunning views of the Rockies. The Land Rover Denver Club is a popular stop for ticketholders with Club Level access during events and all fans looking for a great place to enjoy drink specials after the action. The mountain-lodge feel and photos of historic buildings evoke the most distinctive qualities of the city Ball Arena calls home.

Hotels Near Ball Arena in Denver

Some top-rated hotels near Ball Arena in Denver include:

1. Hyatt Place Denver Downtown
2. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown
3. Sonesta Denver Downtown
4. Hampton Inn & Suites Denver-Downtown
5. The Curtis Denver – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
6. Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown, an IHG Hotel
7. Hilton Denver City Center
8. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown