Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Ball Arena Seating Chart.
Upcoming events at Ball Arena
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Denver's home for the Nuggets, the Avalanche and arena concerts
Ball Arena is the indoor arena on the western edge of downtown Denver where the Denver Nuggets (NBA), the Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and the Colorado Mammoth (National Lacrosse League) play their home games. It seats 19,520 for basketball, 17,809 for hockey and lacrosse, and about 21,000 for concerts.
The arena opened in October 1999 as the Pepsi Center and became Ball Arena in October 2020, when Ball Corporation took over the naming rights. The building is owned by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, the Kroenke family's sports company, and its schedule stays full from fall through spring. Hockey and basketball seasons overlap from October to April, the Mammoth's lacrosse season fills winter and spring weekends, and the arena books major concert tours year-round.
It has also hosted championship moments. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup Final on this ice in 2001 and again in 2022, and the Nuggets won their first NBA title here in the 2023 Finals. Most of the 2008 Democratic National Convention took place in the building.
The layout: lower bowl, club level and upper level
Ball Arena uses a straightforward three-tier bowl:
- 100 level: the lower bowl, wrapping the floor, with sections numbered around the arena.
- 200 level: the club level, a thin ring of sections that are mostly four rows deep (some add a fifth row for accessible seating), with access to the club concourse.
- 300 level: the upper level. Odd-numbered sections sit at the front of the deck and even-numbered sections rise behind them, so an odd number usually means a lower, closer seat.
That odd-and-even pattern is the single most useful thing to know when comparing upper-level listings. A listing in section 335 and one in 336 may sit next to each other on the map, but one is near the rail and the other is several rows higher.
According to RateYourSeats, the Nuggets' and Avalanche's benches sit in front of sections 102 and 148, which makes those sideline areas the busiest seats during games. Club Lexus is the arena's all-inclusive premium club for Nuggets and Avalanche games.
Where to sit for basketball, hockey and concerts
Nuggets games
Lower-bowl sideline sections, especially around the benches, offer the best view of the court; rows 10 and up look over the courtside row and the bench players. The 200-level club seats are short rows close to the floor, a good choice if you want comfort and a clean sideline view without the courtside premium. In the upper level, the odd-numbered sideline sections are the value pick.
Avalanche games
Hockey changes the math. Low rows in the lower bowl put you right against the glass, which is exciting for checks along the boards but distorts the view of the far end. Many hockey regulars prefer rows 10 to 20 in the lower bowl or the front of the upper level, where you can follow plays and passing lanes across the whole sheet. The Avalanche shoot twice at the east end of the arena (the end with lower sections in the 130s), so seats behind that net see two periods of home attacks.
Concerts
For end-stage shows, the floor and lower-bowl sections angled toward the stage are the premium seats. Side sections close to or behind the stage line can lose part of the view, so check whether a listing is marked as limited or side view. The upper-level end opposite the stage faces the show head-on but from a distance.
What each level feels like
The lower bowl is loud and close, and for playoff games it is the reason people pay for the trip. The club level is calmer, with shorter lines and some of the best sightlines in the building for the money. The upper level is steeper, but it is where a lot of Denver's most committed fans sit, and the front rows of the odd-numbered sections often give a better hockey view than the back of the lower bowl.
Demand climbs for weekend games, rivalry dates and any playoff run. Lacrosse is usually the easiest event to get into, and it is a lively, family-friendly introduction to the building.
Light rail, parking and rideshare
The arena has its own light rail station. The Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens stop sits on the west side of the building and is served by RTD's D, E, H and W lines. RTD buses stop at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway, and the free MallRide shuttle on the 16th Street Mall connects to Union Station. Cyclists can reach the arena from the Cherry Creek Trail, and there are bike racks on site.
The surface lots around the arena are named for Toyota models (Camry, Corolla, 4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra, RAV4 and TRD-Pro), and the separately run Elitch's lot sits next door. Lots open three hours before an event. The rideshare lot is at the entrance at 5th and Walnut streets in the 4Runner West lot. Check the arena's transit page before you go.
The no-bag rule and other entry policies
Ball Arena's bag policy is stricter than most. As of 2026, general bags are not permitted at all. Medical and diaper bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches are allowed after inspection, and they must enter through the VIP/ADA Door 1 at the Grand or East Atrium entrances for screening. Paid lockers in the Grand Atrium can hold anything else, but because there is no re-entry, you will not get to it until the event ends. Check the current bag policy before you go, since rules can vary by event.
- Doors: generally open one hour before the event.
- Tickets: all tickets and parking passes are digital; add them to your phone's wallet before you arrive.
- Children: for Nuggets, Avalanche and Mammoth games, everyone 3 and older needs a ticket; for most concerts it is age 2 and older.
- Payment: concessions and premium areas are cashless.
- Smoking and vaping: prohibited everywhere, with no smoking areas, and leaving to smoke ends your night.
Orders through GoodSeats include a 100% guarantee.
A short history of the building
The arena cost about 187 million dollars and opened in 1999 as the new home of both the Nuggets and the Avalanche, replacing McNichols Sports Arena. The Avalanche won the Cup in the building's second season, and the arena hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 2001 and the NBA All-Star Game in 2005. The Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League played here from 2003 to 2008, and the building has staged NCAA tournament games and the 2008 Frozen Four.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capacity of Ball Arena?
Ball Arena seats 19,520 for basketball, 17,809 for hockey and lacrosse, and about 21,000 for concerts.
What was Ball Arena called before?
It opened in 1999 as the Pepsi Center and was renamed Ball Arena in October 2020.
Can I bring a bag into Ball Arena?
As of 2026, general bags are not allowed. Medical and diaper bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches are permitted after inspection, and paid lockers are available in the Grand Atrium.
How do I get to Ball Arena by light rail?
Take RTD's D, E, H or W line to the Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens stop, on the west side of the arena.
When do the Ball Arena parking lots open?
The arena's lots open three hours before an event, and the rideshare lot is at 5th and Walnut streets in the 4Runner West lot.
Which upper-level sections are closest at Ball Arena?
In the 300 level, odd-numbered sections sit at the front of the deck and even-numbered sections sit higher behind them.