The Largest NBA arenas include United Center, Wells Fargo Center, Capital One Arena, and Little Caesars Arena, all with over 20,000 seating capacity. The National Basketball Association has 30 teams, all of which have an arena to themselves except for the LA Lakers and LA Clippers, which share the Crypto.com Arena.
The biggest NBA arena, United Center, has a seating capacity of close to 21,000, while the smallest is Atlanta Hawk’s State Farm Arena, which has a capacity of 16,600. On the average, NBA arenas have a capacity of 18,000. The cost per seat for most NBA teams starts at less than $50 for the cheapest tickets, while they go from $10,000 to $30,000 for courtside seats. Here is a look at NBA arenas that have the most NBA seats.
Largest NBA Arenas Today And Their Seating Capacity
1. United Center
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- City: Chicago
- Owner: United Center Joint Venture (UCJV)
- Team: Chicago Bulls
- Seating Capacity: 20,917
- Cost per Seat: $174 to $14,000 on average
- Year Opened: 1994
Regarding seating capacity, the United Center is the largest arena in the NBA, with a capacity of nearly 21,000. The indoor arena is located on West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, and it is the home of the NBA team, the Chicago Bulls. It is jointly owned by the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks under the United Center Joint Venture (UCJV).
While the NBA team arena has a seating capacity of 20,917, making it the largest of any arena in the National Basketball Association, it is the second biggest arena in the National Hockey League as it is the home of the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL.
Construction of the United Center began in 1992 and was completed by 1994, gulping at an original cost of $175 million, which is around $346 million in 2022 dollars. It was renovated in 2009 and 2014 and was expanded between 2016 and 2017. One more thing about this arena is that it has a 23,500 seating capacity for concerts.
The average cost per seat at the United Center for NBA games is around $174.34.
2. Wells Fargo Center
- Location: Cleveland Ohio
- City: Cleveland
- Owner: Comcast Spectacor
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Seating Capacity: 20,478
- Cost per Seat: $8,069
- Year Opened: 1994
The Wells Fargo Center is also among the largest NBA Arenas, the second on the list. It has a seating capacity of close to 25,000. The multipurpose indoor arena used to be known as CoreStates Center after it was created in 1966 until 1998, when it was changed to First Union Center. The name remained until 2003 when it was changed again to Wachovia Center, and until 2010, when it became known as The Wells Fargo Center.
Owned by Comcast Spectator, this arena serves as a home for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. It is also the arena of other Philadelphia teams, including the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.
Construction of the arena costs as much as US$210 million, which is equal to $415 million in 2022 dollars. The arena was previously used by the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and is currently used by the Philadelphia Soul of the American Football League. It has a 21,000 seating capacity for concerts and around 21,500 capacity for standing.
Wells Fargo Center’s cost per seat starts at 45 dollars for the Philadelphia 76ers. The average price per seat is around $701 dollars.
3. Capital One Arena
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- City: Chinatown
- Team: Washington Wizards
- Opened: 1997
- Capacity: 20,356
- Cost Per Seat: $141.15 on average
Next is the Capital One Arena, an indoor arena located in Washington, D.C. This is also one of the largest NBA arenas, as it has a seating capacity of 20,356. Previously known as the MCI Center and later Verizon Center, before its name was changed to the Capital One Arena in 2017, it has been used by the Washington Wizards of the NBA since 1997. It is also used by the Washington Mystics of the Washington Capitals of the NHL and the Georgetown Hoyas of the NVAA.
Owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, construction for the arena began in 1995, and it was opened in 1997. It gulped in $260 million, which equates to $429 million as of 2021. The cost per seat for NBA games in the Capital One Arena is $141.15 on average
The arena used to be the home of different teams, including the Washington Mystics in the WNBA until 2018, Washington Power in the NLL between 2001 and 2002, and then the Washington Valor in the AFL for two years from 2017 to 2019.
4. Little Caesars Arena
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- City: Detroit
- Owner: Downtown Development Authority
- Team: Detroit Pistons
- Seating Capacity: 20,332
- Cost per Seat: $395 on the average
- Year Opened: 2017
There is nothing little about Little Caesars Arena, which is the fourth on the list. It is a multipurpose arena located in Midtown Detroit. It is one of the newest arenas on the list, as it was only opened in 2017. Built as a replacement for Joe Louis Arena and The Palace of Auburn Hills. The arena is home to the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and it has a seating capacity of 20,332.
The arena, which gulped in US$862.9 million during the construction, is also home to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. It is owned by the Downtown Development Authority. Named the Sports Facility of the Year at the Sports Business Awards in 2018, this Arena also serves as an arena for concerts with a capacity of between 15,000 and 22,000.
Little Caesars Arena’s cost per seat during an NBA game is around $395 on average.
5. Madison Square Garden
- Location: Pennsylvania Plaza
- City: New York City, New York
- Owner: Madison Square Garden Entertainment
- Team: New York Knicks
- Seating Capacity: 19,812
- Cost per Seat: $500 to $15,000 (average)
- Year Opened: 1968
Madison Square Garden is one of the most popular arenas in the world, even though it doesn’t top the list of the largest NBA arenas.
It’s considered to be the most iconic sports stadium in the world and is also referred to as MSG or the Garden. It is located in New York City, New York, and it is home to the New York Knicks of the NBA. The capacity of the arena is 19,812.
The famous arena is also home to other teams in the NHL (New York Rangers) and NCAA (St. John’s Red Storms). Previously, it served as home to many other teams in various leagues, such as the New York Liberty in the WNBA, New York Knights of the AFL, and New York Titans of the NLL.
It has also served for many important sporting events such as boxing fights, UFC fights, and Wrestling bouts. With a concert capacity of over 20,000, it has also been used for many music concerts by legendary musicians, including Michael Jackson and John Lennon.
Owned by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, it was built with around $123 million, which was valued at $1.19 billion in 2020, and opened in 1968. It has been renovated several times in the past. Madison Square is the oldest NBA arena, and the cost per seat during an NBA game can rise from $500 to as high as $15,000 or beyond.
6. Scotiabank Arena
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- City: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Owner: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
- Team: Toronto Raptors
- Seating Capacity: 19,800
- Cost per Seat: $500 to $1,600 on the average
- Year Opened: 1999
Before it came to be known as Scotiabank Arena, this arena was previously known as Air Canada Centre (ACC) and Toronto Postal Delivery Building. It is a multipurpose arena that also serves among the biggest NBA arenas, as it is home to the Toronto Raptors. It is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The arena was opened in 1999, although its construction story dates back to the 1930s. It cost $265 million to complete its construction, which is estimated to equate to over $400 million in 2021. It has gone through several renovations in the past.
Owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, it is also home to several other teams across sports, including the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL and the Raptors 905 in the NBA G League. It was formerly used by Toronto Rock in the NLL and Toronto Phantoms in the AFL. It also serves for concerts with a concert capacity of close to 20,000.
Scotiabank Arena’s cost per seat during a regular NBA game can range from $500 to $1,600, even though it can rise to over $10,000. Its seating capacity is 19,800.
7. Kaseya Center
- Location: Miami, Florida
- City: Miami
- Owner: Miami-Dade County
- Team: Miami Heat
- Seating Capacity: 19, 600
- Cost per Seat: $1000 on the average
- Year Opened: 1999
The next largest NBA Arena, Kaseya Center, is located in Miami, Florida. It was previously known as American Airlines Arena from its construction in 1999 until 2021 when the name changed to FTX Arena. Two years later, it became known as the Miami-Dade Arena before it finally settled on Kaseya Center.
The arena was previously home to the Miami Sol of the WNBA but is now home to the Miami Heat. It earns a place among the largest thanks to its seating capacity of 19,600. This includes the upper levels. It also serves for concerts with a capacity that could get to over 20,000. It has hosted many other events, including WWE Events, Mixed martial arts fights, and musical events with famous stars such as Tina Turner, Celine Dion, and Lady Gaga performing there.
Construction for the arena began in 1998 and cost a total of $213 million; by 1999, it was opened. It is owned by Miami-Dade County and operated by Basketball Properties Ltd. Kaseya Center costs over $1000 on average per seat for an NBA game.
8. Ball Arena
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- City: Denver
- Owner: Kroenke Sports and Entertainment
- Team: Denver Nuggets
- Seating Capacity: 19,520
- Cost per Seat: Over $550 on the average
- Year Opened: 1999
Ball Arena used to be known as Pepsi Center until 2020, when the name changed to what it is today. It is located in Denver, Colorado, and it has a seating capacity of more than 9,500 for basketball. It is home to the Denver Nuggets team of the NBA since its creation.
It is also home to the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL and Colorado Mammoth of the NLL. Before now, it also served as home to the Colorado Crush of the AFL. The Arena has, like others, hosted other events, including professional wrestling bouts and UFC events. It has a concert capacity of more than 20,000.
Construction for the massive arena began in 1997, and two years later, it opened in 1999 after gulping $187 million, which was estimated to be around $341 million as of 2022. The property is owned by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
From $550 to thousands of dollars is the cost per seat in the Ball Arena for an NBA game.
9. Moda Center
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- City: Portland
- Owner: Vulcan Inc.
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- Seating Capacity: 19,441
- Cost per Seat: $140 to over $10,000
- Year Opened: 1995
The Moda Center at the Rose Quarter is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves as the main indoor sports arena. It is home to the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise and is considered to be one of the largest thanks to its seating capacity of 19,393. It has a concert capacity of close to 20,000. Cost per seat can go, on average, from $140 to $10,000.
It has served for sporting activities, including ice hockey and lacrosse. Previously, it served as home to many other teams across leagues, including Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Portland Forest Dragons in the AFL, Portland Pythons in the WISL, and Portland Fire of the WNBA. Others were Portland LumberJax in the NLL and Portland Thunder/Steel of the AFL.
Before now, the arena was known as the Rose Garden. It is owned by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment (Vulcan Inc.) and operated by Rip City Management. Construction began in 1993, and it took two years before it was completed and opened in October 1995. Construction for The Moda Center cost $262 million, which was put at around $503 million in 2022 money.
10. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- City: Cleveland
- Owner: Gateway Economic Development Corp
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Seating Capacity: 19,432
- Cost per Seat: $140 to over $10,000
- Year Opened: 1994
Another multipurpose arena that is recognized for its size among other arenas in the NBA is the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the primary sporting center in Ohio. With a capacity of 19,432, it closely follows Moda Center, and it serves as home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Construction for the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse began in 1992 and continued until 1994 when it was completed. It cost $100 million, which was put at around $192 million as of 2022 dollars. It is owned by Gateway Economic Development Corp and operated by Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. After the construction of the Arena, it was named Gund Arena until 2005, when it changed to Quicken Loans Arena before it was again changed to the name it now bears.
Apart from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the arena is also home to the Cleveland State Vikings of the NCAA and the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Others that once used the arena are the Cleveland Lumberjacks in the IHL, the Cleveland Rockers in the WNBA, the Cleveland Barons in the AHL, and the Cleveland Gladiators in the AFL.
Cleveland Crush of the LFL is yet another that once used the arena.
At the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the cost per seat for an NBA game can cost from $140 to over a thousand dollars.
11. American Airlines Center
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- City: Dallas
- Owner: City of Dallas
- Team: Dallas Mavericks
- Seating Capacity: 19,000
- Cost per Seat: $100 to over $10,000
- Year Opened: 2001
The American Airlines Center (AAC) is also one of the largest NBA arenas. It is located in downtown Dallas, Texas, and the multipurpose indoor arena is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. AAC is also used by Dallas Stars of the NHL, and before now, it was home to the Dallas Desperados of the AFL at different times in the past, as well as the Dallas Vigilantes of the AFL.
The seating capacity of the arena for NBA games is 19,200, and when it is used for a concert, the seating capacity is over 19,000, while the standing capacity is around 21,000. For American Airlines Center, the cost per seat for an NBA game can go from over $100 to more than $10,000.
Owned by the City of Dallas, this Arena is operated by Center Operating Company, L.P., and is only named the American Airlines Center after the airline bought the naming rights. Construction for the arena began in 1999, and it opened in 2001, meaning it is also among the most recent arenas in the NBA. Its construction gulped in $420 million, equivalent to around $694 million in 2022.
12. TD Garden
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- City: Boston
- Owner: Delaware North Companies
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Seating Capacity: 19,156
- Cost per Seat: $450 to thousands of dollars
- Year Opened: 1995
Nicknamed The House That Bill Russell Built or The Garden, TD Garden is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it has a seating capacity of 19,156 for NBA games. Like others, it also serves for concerts with a capacity of more than 20,000. Needless to say, it is home to the Bolton Celtics of the NBA. TD Garden’s cost per seat during an NBA game can be from over $450 to thousands of dollars.
Owned by Delaware North Companies and operated by Delaware North, construction began in 1993 and was completed in 1995. It has been renovated several times in the past, in 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2019.
After its completion, it was named Shawmut Center before it was renamed FleetCenter in that same year. Ten years later, the name changed to TD Banknorth Garden. The name remained until 2009, when it became TD Garden. The construction cost was US$160 million, which is around $307 million in the current valuation of money.
Apart from the Boston Celtics, another team that is currently using the arena is the Boston Bruins of the NHL, and before now, the Boston Blazers used it under the MILL as well as the NLL.
13. Spectrum Center
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- City: Charlotte
- Owner: City of Charlotte
- Team: Charlotte Hornets
- Seating Capacity: 19,077
- Cost per Seat: $100 to over $6,000
- Year Opened: 2005
Charlotte Hornets’ home is next among the largest NBA arenas in the NBA, Spectrum Center, which is located at East Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Also referred to as The Cable Box or The Hive, the center is a multipurpose arena that has a seating capacity of 19,077 for NBA games. Another interesting thing about the Arena is that it also hosts college basketball games for which the seats go up to 20,200. It also serves for concerts, pro wrestling, and other sporting activities.
One of the very few arenas to be constructed in the 2000s, construction began in 2003 and was completed in 2005, costing around $260 million, which equates to close to $400 million today. It is owned by the City of Charlotte and operated by Hornets Sports & Entertainment.
After it was completed, the arena was named Charlotte Bobcats Arena before it was changed to Time Warner Cable Arena. In 2016, when Timer Warner cable was sold to Charter Communications, the name was changed again to Spectrum.
Currently serving as home for Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte Checkers previously used it in ECHL, Charlotte Sting in the WNBA, and then Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. From a hundred dollars, the Spectrum Center cost per seat during NBA games can go from $100 to as high as over $6,000.
14. Crypto.com Arena
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- City: Los Angeles
- Owner: Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers
- Seating Capacity: 19,068 (LA Clippers ), 18,997 (LA Lakers)
- Cost per Seat: $100 to over $3,000
- Year Opened: 1999
Crypto.com Arena is more interesting than almost all others on the list because it is home to two teams in the NBA. The first is the Los Angeles Clippers, which has a seating capacity of 19,068, and then the Los Angeles Lakers, which has a seating capacity of 18,997. The arena is located in Los Angeles.
This massive arena also hosts Ice Hockey with an arena of 18,000 seating capacity, Arena football with close to 16,100 capacity, boxing and wrestling with a seating capacity of more than 16 to 21,000, and concerts with more than 20,000 seating capacity. Crypto.com Arena’s cost per seat for an NBA game can go from below $100 to over $3,000.
Owned and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Arturo L.A. Arena Company, construction for the arena began in 1997 and was completed in 1999. The cost of construction was $375 million, which is put at over $660 million today. After its completion, it was named Staples Center until as recently as 2021, when the name changed to Crypto.com after the cryptocurrency exchange company bought the naming rights.
Apart from the aforementioned NBA teams, the arena is also home to the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and Los Angeles Kings of the NHL. It used to house the Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL and Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA G-League.
15. Target Center
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- City: Minneapolis
- Owner: City of Minneapolis
- Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
- Seating Capacity: 18,978
- Cost per Seat: $104 to over $5,000
- Year Opened: 1990
Target Center has been the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA for the past years, and it is one of the biggest NBA arenas. It has a seating capacity of 18,798. It also serves for Hockey games with 17,500 seat capacity and concerts with around 20,500 capacity. Target Center cost per seat can be from around $104 on average to over $5,000.
Located on First Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, it is owned by the City of Minneapolis and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group. Construction for the center began in 1988, and in 1990, it opened. Construction of the arena cost $104 million, which is over $257 million in current valuation.
Since it opened, the facility has been renovated three times: in 2004, in 2014, and in 2017. The only arena in the NBA that is older than Target Center is Madison Square Garden.
Apart from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the arena is also home to the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. It was previously used by the Minnesota Arctic Blast in the RHI, Minnesota Moose of the IHL, Minnesota Fighting Pike in the AFL, and then the Minnesota Valkyrie of the LFL.