When did Ball Arena open and where is it located?
Ball Arena opened in October 1999 on a 4.6-acre site along Speer Boulevard in downtown Denver, Colorado. It replaced McNichols Sports Arena as the home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.
Questions about Ball Arena
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why is Ball Arena no longer called Pepsi Center?
On the 22nd of October, 2020, Broomfield-based Ball Corporation purchased the naming rights through a global multi-year agreement with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment. The deal also made Ball Corporation the official sustainability partner of the arena, requiring a transition to recyclable aluminum packaging for concessions by 2022.
Did the Denver Nuggets win the NBA championship at Ball Arena?
Yes. The Nuggets won their first NBA title in franchise history on the 12th of June, 2023, defeating their opponents in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on their home floor. The victory ended a 47-year drought for the franchise.
What was the first event ever held at Ball Arena?
Celine Dion performed the first event at the arena, a sold-out concert on the 1st of October, 1999. Dion dedicated the show to the Columbine community, less than six months after the school shooting there.
What is the Denver Debacle at Ball Arena?
The Denver Debacle refers to a May 2009 conflict in which WWE cancelled three Colorado events, including a Raw taping scheduled for the 25th of May at Pepsi Center, after the Denver Nuggets were booked for an NBA playoff game on the same date. WWE co-founder Vince McMahon publicly blamed arena owner Stan Kroenke, and WWE broadcast a basketball-themed main event on the displaced Raw featuring teams in Lakers and Nuggets jerseys.
What US women's hockey attendance record was set at Ball Arena?
On the 12th of January, 2025, a Professional Women's Hockey League game between the Montreal Victoire and the Minnesota Frost drew 14,018 fans, setting a new record for women's hockey attendance in the United States. It was also the first PWHL game ever played in Denver.