Upcoming Colorado Avalanche dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
From Quebec City to three Stanley Cups
The Colorado Avalanche play home games at Ball Arena in downtown Denver, and the NHL regular season there runs from October into April. The franchise began in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, a charter member of the World Hockey Association (WHA, a rival league that merged into the NHL in 1979), and moved to Denver in 1995.
Success came at once. Helped by the December 1995 trade that brought goaltender Patrick Roy from Montreal, the Avalanche swept the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup in their first Denver season. A second Cup followed in 2001, a seven-game final against the New Jersey Devils, when captain Joe Sakic handed the trophy to defenseman Ray Bourque, who had waited 22 seasons for it. The third came in 2022, in six games over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Colorado plays in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings from 1996 to 2002, which produced five playoff meetings in seven seasons, is remembered as one of the fiercest in NHL history. Stan Kroenke has owned the team since 2000.
Best seats at Ball Arena for hockey
Ball Arena opened on October 1, 1999, as the Pepsi Center and took its current name on October 22, 2020. It seats 17,809 for hockey and is shared with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League. The arena is arranged in three levels:
- 100 level (lower bowl): the closest seats, from the glass at row 1 up to the suite line.
- 200 level (club): a smaller middle tier with club access, a good choice for a wide, higher view with more legroom.
- 300 level (upper bowl): the highest and least expensive level, steep enough that the full rink stays in view.
For most fans, the target is the sideline between the blue lines (the lines that mark each defensive zone), in the middle or upper rows of the 100 level or anywhere along the 200-level sideline. That angle shows breakouts, line changes and power plays as they develop. Fans who want the Avalanche's scoring chances in front of them choose the end where Colorado shoots twice (the net it attacks in the first and third periods); one seating guide places the benches in front of sections 102 and 148 and the shoot-twice end on the east side, near lower-level sections 136–138. Confirm both on the event seating map before you buy.
Front-row glass seats deliver noise and speed, but the boards block play along the near wall and the far corners are hard to read. Mid-level rows in the 100-level corners often cost less than the sideline and still show both nets. In the 300 level, front rows on the sideline are usually a better buy than upper-corner seats a level lower.
When the Avs play and which dates sell first
The NHL preseason begins in late September. The 82-game regular season, 41 games of it at home, runs from October to mid-April, and the playoffs run from late April into June.
- Rivals: Detroit still carries history for longtime fans, while Central Division opponents such as the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and Utah Mammoth appear several times a year and carry playoff stakes.
- Weekends and holidays: Friday and Saturday nights and games around the winter holidays sell first.
- Original Six visitors: clubs such as Toronto, Montreal and the Rangers come west once a season and draw transplanted fans living in Colorado.
- Playoffs: postseason demand moves with each series, and resale prices react quickly to results.
Midweek games against Eastern Conference opponents in November, January and early February give the broadest choice of seats. Denver is also a popular destination for visiting fans, so the road team's following can lift demand for an otherwise ordinary date.
Light rail, parking and Ball Arena rules
Ball Arena sits at 1000 Chopper Circle, on the western edge of downtown near Lower Downtown (LoDo) and the South Platte River. The easiest arrival is RTD light rail: the Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens station is beside the building. Denver Union Station is about half a mile away on foot, which makes a pregame meal in LoDo practical.
Official lots open three hours before events. Lots closest to the doors cost the most, and cheaper parking is available across Auraria Parkway. The surrounding lots are also the site of a large planned mixed-use development, approved by the Denver City Council in October 2024, so parking options may shift as construction proceeds.
As of the 2025–26 season, according to Visit Denver's April 2026 arena guide:
- Bags: only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs of about 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches or smaller are permitted; backpacks and purses are not. The arena's own policy allows diaper and medical bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches after X-ray screening at Door 1, and offers paid Binbox lockers in the Grand Atrium.
- Re-entry: not permitted, so a checked bag stays locked up until the game ends.
- Payment: most concessions are cashless, so bring a card or mobile wallet.
Check the Ball Arena bag policy for the current policy before you go.
Outdoor games and Colorado hockey culture
The Avalanche have twice taken a home game outdoors. Coors Field hosted the 2016 Stadium Series, a 5–3 Detroit win before 50,095 fans, and Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy hosted the 2020 game, won 3–1 by the Los Angeles Kings before 43,574. The NHL has also scheduled Colorado for the 2027 Winter Classic against Utah at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City (check the league's schedule for the confirmed date).
For fans planning a road trip, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Minneapolis are the most practical division destinations from Denver. Every GoodSeats order, home or away, is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Milestones in Avalanche history
- 1995: the Nordiques relocate from Quebec City and become the Avalanche, playing at McNichols Sports Arena.
- 1996: a Stanley Cup in the first Denver season, completed with a sweep of Florida.
- 1996–2002: the Red Wings rivalry, with five playoff meetings in seven seasons.
- 1999: the move to the new Pepsi Center, now Ball Arena.
- 2001: the second Cup, and Bourque's long-awaited lift.
- 2022: a third title, in six games over Tampa Bay.
The Avalanche's official site lists the current schedule and roster.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Colorado Avalanche play?
The Avalanche play at Ball Arena in downtown Denver. The arena opened in 1999 as the Pepsi Center, was renamed in 2020, and seats 17,809 for hockey.
How many Stanley Cups have the Avalanche won?
Three: 1996, 2001 and 2022. The first came in the team's first season in Denver.
Can you take light rail to an Avalanche game?
Yes. RTD's Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens light rail station is beside the arena, and Denver Union Station is about half a mile away on foot.
What bags are allowed at Ball Arena?
As of the 2025–26 season, only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs of about 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches are permitted, plus medical and diaper bags after screening. Check the arena's current policy before you go.
Were the Avalanche always in Colorado?
No. The franchise began as the Quebec Nordiques in the WHA in 1972, joined the NHL in 1979 and moved to Denver in 1995.