Upcoming games
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No upcoming games currently listed for Ball Arena.
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Ball Arena fills early.
Getting there
Ball Arena sits just west of downtown Denver, between I-25 and the South Platte River. RTD light rail's Sports Authority Field at Mile High / Ball Arena station and the Pepsi Center / Elitch Gardens stop drop fans within a short walk of the building. Free MallRide and MetroRide shuttles connect downtown to the broader transit network. Driving uses I-25 exit 210 (Speer Boulevard / 23rd Avenue) with arena parking lots ringing the venue. Rideshare zones are signed around the perimeter. Confirm bag and entry rules on the arena's official site before going.
The neighborhood
The blocks around Ball Arena are sports-and-entertainment focused — Empower Field at Mile High sits a short walk south across I-25, and Elitch Gardens amusement park is immediately next door. The Auraria higher-education campus and the Pepsi Center / Ball Arena Master Plan redevelopment area extend in either direction. LoDo (Lower Downtown) and Union Station sit a 15-minute walk northeast with one of Denver's densest restaurant and bar scenes. The Highlands and RiNo (River North) art district are short rides away with additional dining options. Coors Field is a 20-minute walk north for fans pairing a Rockies game with an arena event.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Closest pre-game options include Brooklyn's at the Pepsi Center (a longtime Nuggets and Avalanche pre-game stop next to the arena), Viewhouse Ballpark (a large patio bar a short walk away), and Wynkoop Brewing Company (Colorado's oldest brewpub, founded by John Hickenlooper). For a sit-down meal, Tamayo on Larimer Square brings modern Mexican, and Stoic & Genuine in Union Station is the seafood option. Snooze AM Eatery is the canonical pre-day-game breakfast stop in LoDo. Pre-game crowds at the closest spots build within an hour of tipoff or puck drop.
First-timer tips
Arrive 60–90 minutes before tipoff or puck drop — I-25 backs up before evening games and lots fill steadily. The Bridge of Champions footbridge connecting the arena to the Auraria campus is the canonical pedestrian approach. The seating bowl converts between hardwood and ice between events. Denver's altitude is a real factor for visiting players (and a known competitive edge for the Nuggets and Avalanche); fans flying in from sea level should hydrate. Mobile-only ticketing and cashless concessions are standard, and bag policy follows arena-standard small-bag rules — check the official site rather than older guides. Ball Arena was renamed from Pepsi Center in October 2020.
Best games to catch
For the Nuggets, marquee dates are Lakers, Warriors, Suns, and divisional rivals Timberwolves and Thunder — those games consistently price above the season average. Visits from finals-caliber East teams (Celtics, Bucks) also peak demand. For the Avalanche, divisional matchups against the Stars, Wild, Golden Knights, and Jets are the most heated current rivalries; Red Wings (heritage Original Six visitor) and Penguins games also draw strong crowds. Avalanche–Stars in particular has become one of the league's most physical playoff rivalries. Both teams publish promotional calendars on their official sites — themed nights, jersey giveaways, alumni appearances — that vary year to year.
What to know
Ball Arena opened in October 1999 as Pepsi Center, designed by HOK Sport (Populous), replacing McNichols Sports Arena (which stood next door and was demolished in 2000) as the home of both the Nuggets and Avalanche. The Nuggets won the NBA championship at Ball Arena in 2023 and the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 — making it one of only a handful of arenas to host major-league titles by both tenants within back-to-back seasons. The naming rights changed from Pepsi Center to Ball Arena in October 2020. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is in early planning on a major redevelopment of the Ball Arena Master Plan area that would add residential, office, and additional entertainment uses to the surrounding parking lots over the next decade. The seating bowl is steep with strong upper-deck sightlines for both basketball and hockey.
Frequently asked questions
What time do doors open at Ball Arena?
Doors typically open about 90 minutes before tipoff or puck drop for standard games, sometimes earlier for premium-ticket holders or special events. Check the arena's official event page for the specific game's door time.
How do I get to Ball Arena on RTD?
RTD light rail's Sports Authority Field at Mile High / Ball Arena station and the Pepsi Center / Elitch Gardens stop drop fans within a short walk of the building. Free MallRide and MetroRide shuttles connect downtown to the broader transit network.
Where can I park at Ball Arena?
Arena parking lots ring the venue with multiple zones. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats showing up. Rates and lot availability change year to year — confirm before driving.
Was Ball Arena previously named something else?
Yes — the venue opened in October 1999 as Pepsi Center and was renamed Ball Arena in October 2020 under a new naming-rights deal with Ball Corporation. It's the same building, same location.
What's the bag policy at Ball Arena?
Ball Arena enforces a small-bag policy with size limits; large bags and hard-sided coolers are prohibited. Specific dimensions and the clear-bag rule for certain events change — check the arena's official bag policy before heading in.
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