Save the cheat sheet above to your phone and explore our guides to Empower Field at Mile High and Coors Field.
Best Seats At Ball Arena
Ball Arena is where Denver’s biggest nights happen. The Avalanche lifted the Stanley Cup on home ice here in 2001, the Nuggets clinched their first NBA title on this floor in 2023, and in a single winter week the same building can host a Jokić triple-double, a MacKinnon end-to-end rush and a sold-out arena tour. It opened in 1999 as the Pepsi Center, took the name of Colorado’s own Ball Corporation in 2020, and is one of the few arenas in North America with an NBA practice court built inside it.
The honest reality: approaching three decades old, it shows its age at the doors and on the concourses, the bag policy is among the strictest in either league, and the parking lots are about to shrink as a $135 million renovation and a new neighborhood take shape around it. Get the seat right for the night you’re buying, though, and it’s one of the better rooms in the NBA or NHL — here’s how.
Seating Overview
Three tiers do all the work: the Lower Bowl (100 level), the Select Health Club Level (200s) and the Upper Level (300s). Lower-bowl sections run in even numbers from 102 to 148, clockwise from center, so 102 and 148 sit side by side at midcourt on the bench side, 124–128 face them across the floor, and the ends are 110–116 and 134–140.
Upstairs, the odd-numbered 300s are short three-row sections at the front of the balcony, and the even-numbered 300s climb behind them up a steep second flight of stairs. A great Nuggets seat and a great Avs seat aren’t the same seat, so everything below is broken out by event.
Best Seats for Denver Nuggets Games
For basketball you want the sideline, at a height where you can read spacing and follow the ball without craning. That’s the whole game at Ball Arena.
Lower-bowl sideline, Sections 124–128 and 146–148 / 102–104, is the basketball sweet spot. You’re close enough to track Jokić’s footwork with a clean look at both baskets. The tradeoff is money: these are the most coveted non-premium seats in the building, and the low rows price well above the back rows.
Behind the benches, Sections 148 and 102. The Nuggets bench sits in front of Section 148 and the visitors’ bench in front of Section 102, which is easy to get backwards, so check before you buy. A few rows up you get a different game: huddles, substitutions, the coaching staff working the officials.
Lower-bowl corners, roughly 106–108, 118–120, 130–132 and 142–144, are the value call. They’re angled toward center court rather than straight down the baseline, and they run meaningfully cheaper than the sideline for a view that gives up very little. For most regular-season games, this is the right seat.
Upper Level center is the budget answer: the front odd-numbered sections near midcourt (around 301–305 and 375–379 on the bench side, 339–343 across) and the even sections behind them. It’s the cheapest way into a Nuggets game, and the bird’s-eye angle is genuinely useful for reading the game. The even sections are steep by design, so anyone uneasy with heights or stairs should stay in the three-row odd sections; for everyone else, the pitch keeps you closer to the court than the same row would in a flatter building.
Our pick for a first-timer: the back rows of Sections 124–128. It’s the truest basketball seat in the building at a non-premium price, and it’s the one I’d hand a friend going to their first Nuggets game.
Skip the low rows of the lower-bowl end sections (110–116 and 134–140). You spend half the game looking past a stanchion and the other half watching from the far end of the floor, at lower-bowl prices.
Best Seats for Colorado Avalanche Games
Hockey flips the priorities. The Avs won the 2025-26 Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL’s best record, and the seat you want lets you read the whole sheet: line changes, zone coverage, a rush building from the other end.
Center ice, Sections 102–104 and 146–148, or 124–128 across. Both benches are in front of 102 and 148 (Avs at 102, visitors at 148), and the penalty box sits in front of 124–126. Rows 1–7 of 102 and 148 are premium, so standard seats there start at Row 8.
Rows 12–20 of the lower bowl are the smart height. Every Row 1 glass seat is part of the UMB Reserve premium package, and low rows put you at puck level, which is great for hits and harder for reading plays at the far end. A dozen rows up you see the whole sheet for less than the front rows cost.
The attack-twice end, Sections 134–140, with the corners running out to 128–132 and 142–146, is the value seat. The Avs shoot at the net in front of 134–140 in the first and third periods, so two-thirds of their scoring chances come right at you. Rows 1–2 there are premium, and the standard seats behind them price well below center ice.
Upper Level for hockey: a corner in a low row gives you elevation without the severe angle of the ends. For the loudest crowd in the building, the sections around 360–364 sit above the attack-twice end, and a power play up there is a different animal from the rest of the balcony. The odd-numbered front sections are only three rows deep, so there’s easy concourse access and none of the stuck-in-the-middle problem, which makes them a good family pick. I’ve done the upper level here a few times. It’s not my first choice, but if you just want to get into a game, I’d recommend it.
Our pick for a first-timer: center ice in 124–128 if the budget’s there, the attack-twice end if it isn’t.
Skip the top rows of the even-numbered upper end sections. It’s the longest climb in the building to the farthest view of the puck.
Best Seats for Concerts at Ball Arena
Ball Arena holds 20,000-plus for big shows, and for most tours the stage goes up at the 134–140 end, so the seat math changes again.
Floor, Rows 1–10, puts you in the energy and ahead of the sightline problems that creep in deeper on a flat floor. Know whether your floor ticket is standing GA or reserved before you buy.
Lower-level side sections nearest the stage, roughly 128–132 and 142–146, are the underrated call: elevated, real seats and a clean angle to the stage without floor pricing. Configurations shift by tour, so check the event map first.
The Club Level with a stage view is the value move. Every club section is only four rows deep, the seats are padded, and the elevation works for most setups. If your budget has you eyeing floor rows past the teens, a lower side section beats a floor seat 25 rows back, and you’re not standing for three hours.
Upper Level sideline, around Sections 301 and 343, is the cheapest ticket and not the compromise you’d think, since tours build their video and lighting to reach those seats. Avoid anything directly behind the stage unless the show is sold as in-the-round.
Premium Seating At Ball Arena
Buy premium by location and level, not by the sponsor name on a resale listing, because the names here change more often than the seats do. The tiers run from event-level clubs on the floor and glass, up through the 200-level Club Level, with suites on two levels.
The Best Premium Experience: UMB Reserve
UMB Reserve is the crown jewel: an event-level club with a private entrance on the southeast side near 11th Street and Chopper Circle, all-inclusive food and drink, and seats essentially on the playing surface. It opens 90 minutes before the game and stays open an hour after.
For Nuggets games access is courtside rows CS through CS3 only; for Avs games it covers every Row 1 glass seat, Row 2 in Sections 128–146 and Rows 1–7 of 102 and 148 behind the benches. Season memberships are sold out, so single-game access comes through resale; confirm the listing says UMB Reserve before you assume you’re in.
Best Value Premium: Select Health Club Level
The whole 200 level is the premium pick I’d actually make. Every section is just four rows deep, so there are almost no stairs and it feels semi-private, and club tickets get you into the Colorado Social (across from Sections 228–232, full bar and restaurant-style food) and the Código Lounge (across from 202–204, Colorado craft beer and cocktails). It’s most of the top-tier experience for a fraction of floor pricing.
Other Premium Options
Ford Champions Club puts you on the floor behind the baskets for Nuggets games (Row CS4 of Sections CS110, CS116, CS134 and CS140) and in Rows 2–3 of Sections 110 and 116 for Avs games, with an all-inclusive club and a private entrance on the southwest side near 9th Street. Theatre Boxes are the arena’s two semi-private boxes for small groups, with catered service and club access.
Suites & Group Options
Ball Arena has roughly 90 suites across two levels, most holding 12–16 guests with catering, and suite holders get in 90 minutes before games (60 before concerts).
The first 24 rebuilt Legacy (100-level) and Signature (200-level) suites debut for the 2026-27 season. The suite map and single-event rentals are on the arena’s premium site, or call Premium Sales at 303-405-6161; brokers often have single-night inventory the arena doesn’t advertise.
Ball Arena Seating Chart and Capacity
Ball Arena holds 19,520 for Nuggets basketball, 17,809 for Avalanche hockey and Mammoth lacrosse, and 20,000-plus for concerts, with special-event setups reaching about 21,000.
For event-specific layouts, use the official Ball Arena seating charts. This has the different configurations for all events. Here are the interactive seat maps for the Avs and Nuggets.
Getting the Best Tickets
There’s no ticket window to buy from at Ball Arena; every ticket is sold online and delivered to your phone, and the Altitude Presents app is the easiest place to hold them. The Lakers and any Avs game against a Central Division rival get marked up fast on resale, while a midweek game against a small-market visitor is where resale actually beats face value.
Watch the word “Mammoth” on the schedule: the Utah Mammoth are the Avs’ newest division rival and price like an NHL game, while the Colorado Mammoth are Ball Arena’s lacrosse team and the cheapest pro ticket in the building. Big concert tours work the opposite way from sports, selling out at the on-sale and only climbing, so earlier is cheaper.
Ball Arena Schedule & Upcoming Events
The calendar barely slows down, with 200-plus events a year. The Avs and Nuggets run from fall into April, the Mammoth play lacrosse through winter and spring, and concerts, WWE, Monster Jam and family shows fill the gaps, including most of the summer. See the full Ball Arena events calendar for tonight’s event and current on-sale dates.
Click Here for Denver Nuggets or Colorado Avalanche tickets or any event at Ball Arena! Vivid Seats has you covered for any events from basketball to hockey to concerts.
Ball Arena Bag Policy
Only clutches, wristlets and fanny packs 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller are allowed. No purses, backpacks or other bags, clear or not. Medical and diaper bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″ are permitted after X-ray screening at VIP/ADA Door #1 of the Grand Atrium or East Atrium.
If your bag doesn’t fit, Binbox lockers near the Infinity Sculpture and the Spires on the Grand Atrium plaza start at $15 per bag, card or mobile pay only. They open 30 minutes before general doors and close an hour after the event, and with no re-entry you won’t see the bag until you leave.
An empty metal or plastic water bottle, 32 oz or less, is allowed for Nuggets, Avalanche and Mammoth games but not for concerts unless the tour says otherwise.
Is Ball Arena Cashless?
Yes. Concessions, premium spaces and suites take card and mobile pay only. A handful of stands still accept cash (Guest Relations keeps the list), and there are ATMs at Section 144 and Section 366.
What Time Do Doors Open at Ball Arena?
Doors generally open one hour before the event. Parking lots open three hours before, and suites and the UMB Reserve and Ford Champions clubs open 90 minutes before games. General admission concert lines can form on property from 10 a.m. on show day.
Key Ball Arena Policies
No re-entry, for any event. The arena is completely smoke- and vape-free, with no smoking areas inside or out and no marijuana anywhere on the property. Battery-powered and heated apparel is prohibited, so heated vests, socks and hand warmers get stopped at the door on cold January nights. Kids under 3 sit on a lap free at Nuggets, Avs and Mammoth games (for most concerts, everyone 2 and up needs a ticket).
Some fan items get exemptions: cowbells at Avs games, basketballs at Nuggets games, and cowbells, drumsticks and vuvuzelas at Mammoth games. Signs max out at 11″ x 17″ with no poles, and alcohol sales stop at the start of the third period (Avs) and fourth quarter (Nuggets).
For accessibility, ADA parking is concentrated in the Camry North lot, accessible seating is spread across all three levels, and Guest Relations kiosks (Grand Atrium, Section 120, Section 375) lend free KultureCity sensory bags, with sensory nooks at Sections 120 and 340. Need help mid-event? Text your seat location to 920-520-2255.
Getting To Ball Arena
Ball Arena sits on the western edge of downtown, boxed in by I-25, Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway, and every car leaving the lots funnels through the same few exits. The smartest ways in are on foot from LoDo or by light rail.
Ball Arena Parking: Lots, Prices & Map
The lots are named after Toyota models, and only some are sold to the public. The 4Runner and Tundra lots are the main public options at roughly $35–$50 for Nuggets and Avs games, Elitch’s Lot across the rail line is run by the theme park at similar rates, and the RAV4 lot is the closest “premier” parking at about double. Camry and Corolla are permit-only for games, and Tacoma is never open to the public. Lots open three hours before the event, prices move with demand, and you’re prompted to add parking right after buying on Ticketmaster. Here’s the official Ball Arena parking map.
Pay by card at the Tundra lot. It’s the only lot that takes cash, and paying by card knocks $5 off. And the cheaper “Mammoth” rate on the arena’s parking chart is for Colorado Mammoth lacrosse; an Avs game against the Utah Mammoth prices like any Avs game.
Cheaper Parking Near Ball Arena
The Auraria Campus garages directly across Auraria Parkway, including the Tivoli Garage at 9th Street, usually undercut the arena lots on evenings and weekends. Union Station and LoDo garages work if you want dinner downtown first and a 10–15 minute walk over.
Light Rail & Public Transit to Ball Arena
The E and W light rail lines stop at Ball Arena•Elitch Gardens Station, right next to the arena at 9th Street and Chopper Circle and one stop from Denver Union Station, the easy transfer from anywhere, including the A Line from the airport. It also lets you skip the postgame lot exodus entirely. A standard RTD fare covers the ride, riders 19 and under ride free with ID, and there’s no parking at the arena station, so drive to an outlying park-n-ride and ride in. Check late trains on the RTD website before a concert that might run long.
Rideshare to Ball Arena
The official pickup and drop-off is the Rideshare Lot presented by Lyft at the 5th and Walnut Streets entrance in the 4Runner West lot, and nowhere else on property. After the game the whole crowd funnels toward the same exits and surge pricing spikes immediately, so walk 10–15 minutes toward LoDo or the Auraria campus and call from there. It’s the most consistent mistake first-timers make here.
Walking & Biking to Ball Arena
From LoDo, Larimer Square or Union Station it’s a 10–15 minute walk across Speer Boulevard. The Cherry Creek Trail runs right past the arena, and there are bike racks outside the East Atrium, the Grand Atrium and in the 4Runner South lot.
Ball Arena Insider Tips
Ball Arena sits in the middle of Denver’s downtown sports corridor, with LoDo, Union Station and Coors Field all within walking distance. After years of going to games and shows here, what strikes me most is how much the experience splits between people who know the building and people who don’t. The fans who know it eat better, wait less, and don’t spend the end of the night in a rideshare surge on Chopper Circle.
Ball Arena Renovation: What’s Changing by 2028
A $135 million renovation was just announced. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment unveiled it on September 18, 2026 and filed the site development plan with the city the same day. The biggest change is on the downtown-facing side, where the East Atrium gets a glass façade, new escalators, a new team shop and an outdoor courtyard for gathering before and after events.
Wider doors, wider concourses and three new clubs are coming. The most congested entrances, exits and concourses get widened, point-of-sale tech gets upgraded to shorten lines, and three new premium clubs are planned, including one with direct access to reserved 100-level seats.
Build in extra time while the work happens. The project is phased around the team schedules, with completion targeted for the 2028-29 season, so expect shifting entry routes and some construction staging as phases roll out. KSE’s stated goal is to keep its teams in this building for another 25 years and beyond.
The Ball Arena Redevelopment and the Wynkoop Crossing Bridge
The parking lots are becoming a neighborhood. KSE is turning roughly 55 acres of surface parking around the arena into a new district with housing, a hotel, a mid-size performance venue, a central park, shops and offices, built out over about 25 years. The first parcel is the Tundra lot on the arena’s east side along Speer, planned for a 13-story, 244-room hotel, a performance venue and two residential towers over an underground garage.
Don’t assume last season’s lot will be there. The arena still sells Tundra parking for now, but surface parking here only moves in one direction. Lean on light rail, rideshare and off-site garages more than you would have a couple of seasons ago.
A pedestrian bridge into LoDo is on the way. Wynkoop Crossing is a pedestrian and bike bridge over Speer Boulevard that will land in LoDo near Manny’s Bridge and the Downtown Children’s Playground and touch down at Chopper Circle. City Council approved the agreement in July 2026, and the bridge is expected to open around spring 2029, taking the Speer crosswalks out of the LoDo-to-arena walk entirely.
Why Is It Called Ball Arena? (Formerly the Pepsi Center)
The building, originally named the Pepsi Center when it opened on October 1, 1999, was renamed in October 2020 after Ball Corporation acquired the naming rights. Despite the change, many locals still refer to it as the Pepsi Center, and the light rail station used that name for years.
Cool Stuff About Ball Arena
The Nuggets practice where they play. Ball Arena is one of the very few arenas in North America with a full-size NBA practice court inside the building.
Be in your seat for intros. The floor doubles as a 4K projection screen during team introductions, and it’s worth watching from your seat rather than a concourse line.
The hardwood-to-ice flip is a real operation. 149 panes of half-inch glass ring the rink, and it takes eight people and two forklifts about 45 minutes to hang them, part of how the Nuggets and Avs share the building on back-to-back nights. For the behind-the-scenes version, KSE Venue Tours run at the arena (303-405-8556).
Try a Mammoth game once. The NLL’s Colorado Mammoth play lacrosse here, and it’s a loud, cheap, genuinely fun night if you’ve never been.
Gates & Arrival Strategy
Plan on doors opening one hour before start time, not 90 minutes; showing up earlier just means waiting outside. Club and premium ticket holders get in earlier, which is the difference if you want to catch hockey warmups.
Sign up for CLEAR before you leave home. The app is free, and the CLEAR lane at the Altitude Authentics entrance moves faster than the general line on a busy night.
Keep your phone and keys in your pockets. Ball Arena uses Evolv walk-through scanners, so small personal items stay on you.
Check the Grand Atrium line if the East Atrium is jammed. The East Atrium faces downtown and takes much of the LoDo walk-up crowd, and its narrow doors are exactly what the renovation is meant to fix.
The Altitude Warning
Drink more water than you think you need. Denver sits at 5,280 feet, alcohol hits harder up here (especially if you flew in that day), and the dry air works on you all night. Bring that empty 32 oz bottle to a game and refill it inside.
Throw a lip balm in your pocket. Out-of-towners always underestimate the dry air and locals joke about it constantly; the chapped-lips reminder tends to arrive around the second period.
Ball Arena Food: What to Eat and What to Skip
Eat local, not generic. The Local Eats lineup is the best food in the building: Big Belly Brothers BBQ (Sections 148 and 379) for burnt ends, Nola Jane (303) for gumbo and a debris po’boy, Illegal Burger (102), Wild Taco (118 and 330) for birria tacos, and Infinitus Pie (126 and 342). Pepsi Test Kitchen at 144 does smoked ribs and half chickens, and Jake’s Baby D’s mini donuts are at 136.
Hunt the $5 Fan Friendly menu first. Hot dogs, fries, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, chips and candy are five dollars each at stands across the building, one of the better deals in pro sports.
If you have club access, go to The Cantina. Section 206 does bison, short rib and green chile chicken tacos you won’t find downstairs. Gluten-free fans should head to Zero Wheat Street at 301.
Expect a tip prompt at the grab-and-go stands. Many of them throw a tip screen at checkout. Not a scandal, just a surprise the first time.
Beat the break by four minutes. Go with about four minutes left in the period, or five minutes into the break once the wave clears, and time your return for a whistle, since ushers hold you at the top of the aisle while play is live.
Book the Michelob Ultra Mountain House for a sit-down meal. It’s a full-service lodge-style restaurant inside the arena, built with timber salvaged after the Yellowstone fires and two hand-stacked stone fireplaces, and any ticket holder can reserve on Resy up to 120 days out (parties of six or fewer). It opens at least an hour before games and holds a few tables for walk-ins; ask for one by the fireplaces.
Pregame Deals Near Ball Arena
Show your ticket at Illegal Pete’s for a free drink. Bring a same-day ticket to any ticketed event (digital counts) to any Illegal Pete’s and get a free house margarita or draft beer with an adult entrée. The LoDo location on the 16th Street Mall is about a 15-minute walk from the arena.
Walk to NADC Burger instead of eating on the concourse. The Larimer Square spot from pro skater Neen Williams and Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee does one wagyu smash burger and fries, open until midnight daily, about 15–20 minutes on foot from the arena.
Skip the drive with a DNVR takeover. For select Nuggets and Avs games, the DNVR Bar on East Colfax sells packages with a pregame party, a party bus to Ball Arena, a game ticket (upper, lower or suite, depending on the night) and a bus back for the live postgame show.
Giveaway Nights
Be in line 30–45 minutes before doors on a bobblehead or jersey night. “While supplies last” is real, and with doors opening only an hour early, the good ones can be gone before the first period ends.
Autographs & Player Access
For the Avs, get to a lower-bowl seat near the benches right at doors. Both benches sit in front of Sections 102 and 148, pucks come over the glass during warmups, and signings do happen. You need a 100-level ticket to get down to the glass.
For the Nuggets, bring a basketball and manage expectations. Basketballs are allowed at Nuggets games, but NBA players rarely sign pregame; a team floor-access or premium experience is the reliable path.
Families & Kids
Grab a first-game certificate and pin. Any Guest Relations kiosk hands them out free for someone’s first game or event at Ball Arena.
Know where the family spaces are. UCHealth Nursing Suites are at Sections 132 and 348, and strollers that don’t fold under a seat can be checked at Guest Relations.
Watch for the mascots. Bernie works the crowd at Avs games and Rocky at Nuggets games.
Keep Your Phone Charged
Download the ChargeFUZE app before you arrive. Your ticket lives on your phone, and rental power banks are at Sections 120, 256 and 373, but you need the app to rent one. Free Wi-Fi is BALL ARENA PUBLIC.
Concert Tips
For GA floor, line up at Grand Atrium VIP Door 1. It’s the far-left door on the southwest side; lines can form on property from 10 a.m. on show day, overnight camping isn’t allowed, and off-site lines aren’t honored.
Call Guest Relations for tour-specific rules. Bag, camera and sign policies can change by artist, and 303-405-8548 has the answer for your show.
If You’ve Got an Extra Day in Denver
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is the one to prioritize: hike the trails for the city views even without a show, and catch a concert if the calendar lines up. It’s always a crowd favorite with my out-of-town guests. Closer to the arena, Larimer Square and Union Station make an easy afternoon.
Hotels Near Ball Arena
Staying downtown puts you within walking distance of Ball Arena and in the middle of Denver’s best food and nightlife. On big Nuggets and Avs weekends and major concert nights the good downtown rooms go early, so book a few weeks out for anything marquee.
Best Areas to Stay Near Ball Arena
LoDo and Union Station is the target: a 10–15 minute walk to the arena, packed with bars and restaurants, and the A Line runs straight from Union Station to Denver International Airport. The Ballpark District around Coors Field is a little farther out but puts you in the middle of the sports-bar scene. Downtown and Larimer Square, along the 16th Street Mall, is a 15–20 minute walk with the most hotel inventory in the city.
Auraria and the Central Platte Valley is the only area right next door to the arena, quieter at night but a few minutes on foot to the doors. Highland (LoHi), across I-25, is one of Denver’s best dinner neighborhoods, with a longer walk and fewer hotel options.
Best Hotels Near Ball Arena
SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown on Auraria Parkway is the closest good hotel to the arena, a few minutes’ walk to the doors, with suites that work for families and a hot breakfast included. The tradeoff is that you’re on the campus side of Speer, not in the LoDo bar scene.
The Crawford Hotel is built into the upper floors of historic Union Station, a train ride from the airport and about 15 minutes on foot to the arena, and it’s the character pick of the downtown set. Limelight Denver, across from Union Station, is the modern alternative, and guests routinely walk from it to both Coors Field and Ball Arena.
The Oxford Hotel, open since 1891 and a block from Union Station, has the Art Deco Cruise Room bar off the lobby; it’s full of charm, though street noise comes through on weekend nights. The Maven at Dairy Block is the lively one, with bars and a food hall downstairs, a little closer to Coors Field but still a comfortable walk to Ball Arena.
For a splurge, the Four Seasons Hotel Denver on 14th Street is the polished top-end option, and Hotel Teatro across the street is the historic boutique pick. Both are about a 15–20 minute walk to the arena.
Budget Options
AC Hotel Denver Downtown and the Curtis Denver, a DoubleTree with themed floors, keep you walkable at a lower rate, though the Curtis’s two-elevator parking setup is clunky if you’re driving.
Embassy Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center gives you more space and a free cooked breakfast, with dated rooms as the tradeoff. You give up a little polish or a few blocks versus LoDo, but for a gameday crash pad they’re the smart money.
Bars and Restaurants Near Ball Arena
Generally people hit the area on Larimer street or the bars and restaurants in LoDo if they’re going to go out before or after a game.
Society Sports & Spirits on Blake Street is one of my faves, with wall-to-wall TVs and fair prices for downtown; it fills up fast before Avs and Nuggets games, so get there early. Rhein Haus on Market Street is the German beer hall with a full indoor bocce court, giant pretzels and schnitzel. Nola Jane, next door on Market, does New Orleans food and hurricanes and stays open until 2 a.m. for postgame.
Brooklyn’s at Ball Arena on Auraria Parkway is the closest bar there is, convenient and crowded with prices to match. Tom’s Watch Bar wraps you in screens for watching every Denver team at once; it’s better for Rockies games since it’s right next to Coors Field, but still solid if you’re in the area. Jackson’s is good too.
Best Restaurants Near Ball Arena
Mercantile inside Union Station is James Beard winner Alex Seidel’s seasonal American, elevated and walkable pregame. Guard and Grace is the downtown steakhouse for a nicer night,
Tavernetta near Union Station is the Italian splurge, and Rioja in Larimer Square is chef Jennifer Jasinski’s Mediterranean standout. For something with more personality, A5 Steakhouse does Japanese-accented steaks in a neon-lit room.
Why You Should Go
Few buildings in America give you three completely different nights in one week: a Jokić masterclass on a Tuesday, an Avalanche team fresh off the league’s best regular season on a Thursday, a sold-out tour turning the bowl into a sea of light on a Saturday. Ball Arena has seen a Stanley Cup raised on home ice and an NBA title clinched on its floor, it sits at the doorstep of a walkable downtown with the Front Range on the horizon, and in the next few years it gets a glass-fronted new entrance and a bridge straight into LoDo.
Come in the heart of winter, when both teams are home and the city runs on hockey and hoops, and when you arrive, do what locals do: eat and drink in LoDo, walk over Speer with the crowd, and let the building fill up around you.
Explore all of our arena guides as well as these:
Written by Brad Richards. Founder of Gameday Guides. This guide includes insights from personal visits as well as updated info from team sources, fan forums, and stadium policies. We aim to help you plan with confidence — enjoy your gameday. If you have any tips, if we missed anything or you have a question, don’t hesitate to shoot us an email.