Ball Arena
Ball Arena is a basketball arena in Denver, Colorado, home of the Denver Nuggets (NBA, Western Conference). It opened in 1999, making it 27 years old in 2026 and seats 19,520 for basketball. That makes it the 8th-largest arena in NBA.
Arena facts
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Home of
- Denver Nuggets
- Conference
- NBA · Western Conference · Northwest Division
- Opened
- 1999
- Capacity
- 19,520
- Former names
- Pepsi Center (1999–2020)
- Also home to
- Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Colorado Mammoth (NLL) - Size rank in NBA
- 8th of 30
Famous games at Ball Arena
- Feb. 20, 2005: Allen Iverson won MVP as the East beat the West 125-115 in the NBA All-Star Game, then held at the Pepsi Center.
- April 3, 2012: Baylor beat Notre Dame 80-61 in the NCAA women's championship game to finish 40-0, at Denver's first women's Final Four.
- June 1, 2023: Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets won their first NBA Finals game ever, beating the Miami Heat 104-93 in Game 1.
- June 12, 2023: Denver beat Miami 94-89 in Game 5 to clinch its first NBA championship, ending a 47-year wait at home.
- April 22, 2024: Jamal Murray's buzzer-beater capped a 20-point comeback as the Nuggets beat the Lakers 101-99 in Game 2 of the first round.
Game night
Getting there. RTD light rail stops at Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens station on the west side of the complex.
Seating & views at Ball Arena
Ball Arena holds 19,520 for Nuggets games across three tiers: the 100-level lower bowl, the Select Health Club Level in the 200s (even-numbered sections 202 to 260), and the 300-level upper deck, which is split into a lower balcony (odd sections 301 to 379) and an upper balcony (even sections 302 to 380). Suites ring the building, and theatre boxes sit atop sections 130 and 144. Premium options for Nuggets games include the UMB Reserve and Ford Champions Club.
Parking & tailgating at Ball Arena
The arena's own surface lots are named for Toyota models: the 4Runner, Tundra and RAV4 (premier) lots are open to the public for Nuggets games, while Corolla and TRD-Pro are permit or valet only. Lots open three hours early, prepaid parking is sold through Ticketmaster, and only the Tundra lot takes cash. RTD light rail stops at Ball Arena-Elitch Gardens station on the west side, and the Lyft rideshare lot is at 5th and Walnut.
Plan your trip to Ball Arena
Arenas near Ball Arena10
- 1D-IHamilton Gymnasium — Denver Pioneers same city
- 2D-ICU Events Center — Colorado Buffaloes 26 mi
- 3D-IBank of Colorado Arena — Northern Colorado Bears 48 mi
- 4D-IMoby Arena — Colorado State Rams 58 mi
- 5D-IClune Arena — Air Force Falcons 63 mi
- 6D-IArena-Auditorium — Wyoming Cowboys 118 mi
- 7D-IThe Pit — New Mexico Lobos 335 mi
- 8D-IMarriott Center — BYU Cougars 355 mi
- 9D-IUCCU Center — Utah Valley Wolverines 355 mi
- 10NBADelta Center — Utah Jazz 371 mi
Questions about Ball Arena
Where do the Denver Nuggets play home games?
The Denver Nuggets play at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
How many people does Ball Arena hold?
Ball Arena seats 19,520 for basketball.
When did Ball Arena open?
Ball Arena opened in 1999.
What other arenas are near Ball Arena?
Hamilton Gymnasium is also in Denver. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.