CU Events Center
CU Events Center is a basketball arena in Boulder, Colorado, home of the Colorado Buffaloes (Big 12, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1979, making it 47 years old in 2026 and seats 11,064 for basketball. It ranks 11th of 16 in the Big 12 by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is Ball Arena in Denver, about 26 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Boulder, Colorado
- Home of
- Colorado Buffaloes
- School
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Conference
- Big 12
- Opened
- 1979
- Capacity
- 11,064
- Former names
- CU Events/Conference Center (1979–1990)
Coors Events/Conference Center (1990–2008)
Coors Events Center (2008–2018) - Also home to
- Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball
Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball - Size rank in D-I
- 68th of 360
Famous games at CU Events Center
- Dec. 7, 2013: Colorado beat No. 6 Kansas 75-72 before a crowd of 11,113 to improve to 9-1.
- Jan. 4, 2018: Colorado upset No. 4 Arizona State 90-81 in overtime, its first win over a top-five team since beating Texas in 2003.
- Jan. 6, 2018: Two days later the Buffaloes beat No. 14 Arizona 80-77 before 8,519 to complete a weekend sweep of ranked teams.
- Feb. 26, 2022: Colorado thumped No. 2 Arizona 79-63 at home.
Seating & views at CU Events Center
The CU Events Center seats 11,064 in a single tier inside an eight-sided concrete building, so there's no upper deck and every seat looks straight down at the floor. At about 5,400 feet, it's the highest indoor arena in the Big 12 and the fifth-highest college basketball arena in the country. The baskets drop from the roof rather than standing on stanchions, a setup shared only with Duke and Stanford among major-conference arenas, which keeps baseline views clear.
Parking & tailgating at CU Events Center
The arena sits on the east side of CU Boulder's main campus near Folsom Field. CU Parking Services says public basketball parking is in lots next to the arena, with attendants directing cars, and accessible parking is in Lot 440 West and along Regent Drive in front of the building. Permit holders can use numbered campus lots. The HOP bus runs from downtown Boulder and 29th Street, and the Buff Bus links Main and East Campus lots.
Plan your trip to CU Events Center
Arenas near CU Events Center10
- 1NBABall Arena — Denver Nuggets 26 mi
- 2D-IHamilton Gymnasium — Denver Pioneers 26 mi
- 3D-IMoby Arena — Colorado State Rams 39 mi
- 4D-IBank of Colorado Arena — Northern Colorado Bears 39 mi
- 5D-IClune Arena — Air Force Falcons 87 mi
- 6D-IArena-Auditorium — Wyoming Cowboys 94 mi
- 7D-IMarriott Center — BYU Cougars 336 mi
- 8D-IUCCU Center — Utah Valley Wolverines 337 mi
- 9D-IThe Pit — New Mexico Lobos 350 mi
- 10NBADelta Center — Utah Jazz 351 mi
Questions about CU Events Center
Where do the Colorado Buffaloes play home games?
The Colorado Buffaloes play at CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado.
How many people does CU Events Center hold?
CU Events Center seats 11,064 for basketball.
When did CU Events Center open?
CU Events Center opened in 1979.
What other arenas are near CU Events Center?
Ball Arena in Denver is about 26 miles away. 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.