Top 10 NBA Arenas With Largest Capacity
The Palace of Auburn Hills, which is the home of the NBA franchise Detroit Pistons, currently has a seating capacity of 21,231. It is undoubtedly the largest NBA arena in the world right now. Besides, the United Center in Chicago and the Quicken Loans Arena in Ohio also deserve their mentions among the best NBA arenas with the largest capacity right now.
The National Basketball Association, or NBA in short, one of the four important professional-level basketball leagues, is considered the most prestigious professional league of basketball for men, not only in North America but in the entire world.
There are 30 franchised member clubs. There are many NBA Arenas, and they can be ranked on the basis of the year of construction, capacity, largeness, etc. Let us take a look at the top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity.
NBA Arenas with Largest Capacity | 2024 Updates
Despite being one of the modern sports, basketball has gained huge popularity all over the world, and the NBA is attended by a large number of followers. Naturally, the league needs to be played in arenas that are capable of catering comfortable seating arrangements and a good view of the games to people who want to witness the adrenalin rush up close and personal.
10. Oracle Arena
Multi-purpose indoor venue The Oracle Arena, previously known as The Arena in Oakland, is located in Oakland, California. One of the best NBA teams, the Golden State Warriors, now calls this their home. And they now play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the NBA.
With its 19,596 seating capacity, this stadium now holds the 10th place in our list of the top 10 NBA Arenas with the Largest Capacity. The AEG Facilities currently operates the Oracle Arena. The construction of the arena started on April 15, 1964. And the authorities opened this to the public on November 9, 1966.
They spent nearly $25 million on its construction. Skidmore and Owings, and Merrill worked as the main architects of this arena. Besides, Guy F. Atkinson Company worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena. Oracle Arena also contains a multipurpose outdoor stadium known as O.co Coliseum, besides its famous indoor arena.
9. American Airlines Arena
American sports and entertainment venue The American Airlines Arena is located in Downtown Miami, Florida. Miami Heat of the NBA now calls this their home. American Airlines purchased the naming rights after its construction. This stadium now has a 19,600 seating capacity for basketball matches.
Besides, it now holds 9th place in our list of the top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. Miami-Dade County currently operates the American Airlines Arena. The construction of the arena started on February 6, 1998. And the authorities opened this to the public on 31st December 1999. They spent nearly $213 million on its construction.
Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture designed this stadium. Besides, Parsons Brinckerhoff worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena. American Airlines Arena, besides its regular seating arrangement, also has 2,105 club seats, 80 luxury suites, and 76 private boxes.
8. Air Canada Centre
Multi-purpose indoor sporting venue The Air Canada Centre is located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario. Toronto Raptors of the NBA now use this as their home. Besides, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Rock of the NLL also use this. This stadium now has a 19,800 seating capacity for basketball matches.
This stadium now holds the 8th place in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment currently operates this stadium. The construction of the arena started on March 12, 1997.
They made this with a construction budget of nearly $265 million. Brisbin Brook Beynon, with the Architect of Record and Populous, designed this stadium. Clarendon Projects Ltd worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena. Air Canada Centre was the fifth busiest arena in the world as per the 2008 survey reports.
7. Madison Square Garden
American multi-purpose indoor venue The Madison Square Garden is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. New York Knicks of the NBA and New York Rangers of the NHL use it as their home. This arena is the oldest and most active sports complex in the New York City metropolitan area.
This stadium now has a 19,812 seating capacity for basketball matches. Besides. it now holds the 7th place in our list of the top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. Madison Square Garden Company itself operates this stadium as of now.
The construction of the arena started on October 29, 1964. They then opened this to the public on February 11, 1968. The authorities constructed this with a budget of nearly $123 million. Charles Luckman Associates and Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects designed this stadium. Besides, Severud Associates worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena.
6. Energy Solutions Arena
Multi-purpose indoor venue The Energy Solutions Arena, previously the Delta Center, is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the oldest NBA teams, the Utah Jazz, now calls this their home. Energy Solutions bought the naming rights of this stadium on 20th November 2006.
This stadium now has a 19,911 seating capacity for basketball matches. Besides, it now also holds the 6th place in our list of the top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. Larry Miller Sports & Entertainment currently operates this stadium. The construction of the arena started on May 22, 1990.
The authorities opened this to the public on October 4, 1991. They spent nearly $93 million on its construction. FFKR Architecture primarily designed this stadium. Besides, Ralph L. Wadsworth Engineering worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena.
5. Wells Fargo Center
Multi-purpose indoor arena The Wells Fargo Center, previously the CoreStates Center, is located in Philadelphia and is the home of the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, and the Philadelphia Soul of the AFL. With its 20,328 seating capacity for basketball matches, it is the number 5 arena in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity.
Global Spectrum currently operates this stadium. The construction of the arena started on September 14, 1994, and it was officially opened to the public on August 13, 1996. And has a construction cost of nearly $210 million. Ellerbe Becket primarily designed this stadium.
Besides, Fox Management Company worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena. Wells Fargo Center hosted the WWE Royal Rumble in 2015. Besides they also hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
4. Verizon Center
Sports and entertainment venue The Verizon Center, previously known as the MCI Center, is located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and is the home of the Washington Wizards of the NBA, the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, and also the Washington Capitals of the NHL.
With its 20,356 seating capacity for basketball matches, it is the number 4 arena in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. Verizon Communications purchased the naming rights of this stadium. Monumental Sports and Entertainment currently operates this stadium.
The construction of the arena started on October 18, 1995. The authorities then opened it to the public on December 2, 1997. They had spent nearly $260 million on its construction. Ellerbe Becket, Devrouax & Purnell, and KCF-SHG Architects designed this stadium. Besides, Seagull Bay Sports worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena.
3. Quicken Loans Arena
Multi-purpose venue Quicken Loans Arena is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, the Cleveland Gladiators of the AFL, and also the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL. With its 20,562 seating capacity for basketball matches, it is the number 3 arena in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity.
The retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans has held the naming rights of this stadium since August 2005. The Quicken Loans Arena Company itself operates this stadium as of now. The construction of the arena started on April 27, 1991.
They then opened it to the public on October 17, 1994. It has a construction cost of nearly $100 million. Ellerbe Becket worked as the main architect. And Seagull Bay Sports worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena.
2. United Center
The indoor sports arena and entertainment venue United Center is located in Chicago and is the home of both the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. With its 20,917 seating capacity for basketball matches, it is the number 2 arena in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity.
The United Center is named after its corporate sponsor United Airlines, which pays nearly $1.8 million per year for its naming rights. United Center Joint Venture currently operates the United Center arena.
The construction of the arena started on April 6, 1992, and it was officially opened to the public on August 18, 1994. And has a construction cost of nearly $175 million. The main architects of this arena were HOK Sport, W. E. Simpson Company, Inc., Marmon Mok, and the International Facilities Group worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena.
1. The Palace of Auburn Hills
Sports and entertainment venue The Palace of Auburn Hills is the home of the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. With its 21,231 seating capacity for basketball matches, it is the number 1 arena in our list of top 10 NBA arenas with the largest capacity. It was previously used as the home of the Detroit Fury of the AFL, the Detroit Shock of the WNBA, the Detroit Safari of the CISL, and also the Detroit Vipers of the IHL.
The Palace of Auburn Hills is currently operated by Palace Sports and Entertainment. The construction of the arena started on June 7, 1986, and it was officially opened to the public on August 13, 1988. And has a construction cost of nearly $70 million.
The main architect of this arena was Rossetti Architects and Frank Rewold and Sons worked as the Project manager of this NBA arena. This arena is also one of the only two NBA arenas which have not sold their naming rights yet.
Conclusion
As we have seen, these stadiums are the home grounds of different NBA teams, and they not only serve as basketball arenas but also host other sports or other events.
While the crowd enjoys a good game of basketball, it is also important for them to have a good ambiance to enhance their experience, and these arenas do just that and try to cater to the largest audience.
NBA Arenas With Largest Capacity – Infographics
FAQs Regarding NBA Arenas With The Largest Seating Capacity
Q. Is Barclays Center bigger than MSG?
Concession stands sell newer, more “local” food, seats are bigger, and the arena is usually very clean and well-kept. Barclays Center has seating for 17,500. Nets basketball is played in Brooklyn, so you’ll have a great crowd on hand, and the venue feels more intimate.
Q. What is the oldest NBA arena?
Madison Square Garden is the oldest arena in the NBA. It is by far the oldest arena in the NBA, hosting the New York Knicks since 1968 and beating Target Center, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves, by nearly two decades.
Q. Are stadiums bigger than Arenas?
Whenever you watch college basketball in person, you’re probably in a large arena – a venue designed for sporting events and rock concerts. Arenas and stadiums are similar, although stadiums sometimes have open roofs and arenas are enclosed.
Q. Who has sold out MSG the most?
There has never been an artist who has sold out Madison Square Garden faster than Justin Bieber. Justin sold out two shows for his 2012 Believe tour within 30 seconds. The previous record was held by Taylor Swift in 2009 when she sold out the venue in 60 seconds.
Last Updated On: April 2024
