Ball Arena: Getting There, Parking, and Event-Day Tips

At 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver, Ball Arena hosts concerts, family shows, and Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Mammoth games. The venue says it hosts more than 250 events each year, so the type of event can shape the details of your visit.

Team events can also use the arena’s floor projection system, which can turn the event floor into a 4K-resolution screen. The venue opened as Pepsi Center in 1999 and was renamed Ball Arena in 2020 after Ball Corporation acquired the naming rights. Its groundbreaking took place in 1997.

Ball Arena lists events and links to event information and tickets on its official homepage. Tickets must be purchased online and are delivered electronically. The venue says event tickets and parking passes are digital, so add them to a mobile wallet before you arrive.

For most events, doors generally open one hour before the event. Door times can vary, so contact Guest Relations at 303-405-8548 for event-specific information. Check the official site before you go for the schedule, ticket details, and event-day updates.

Public transit offers a way to reach Ball Arena without driving to the venue. The Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens light-rail stop is served by RTD’s D, E, H, and W lines. A bus stop beside the arena, at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway, serves multiple routes. Check RTD for current schedules and route details.

RTD’s free MallRide shuttle serves the 16th Street Mall, which runs for approximately two miles and connects with northbound and southbound light-rail service at Union Station and the 16th Street Mall. For a wider look at nearby city sights, see this guide to Civic Center Park and getting around Denver.

If you’re comparing venues for a concert outing, the Fillmore Auditorium planning guide covers another Denver event space.

Toyota parking lots open three hours before an event, and staff remain on duty for one hour after it. On-site parking prices are managed in real time and can change on event night with demand, attendance, and availability.

You can reserve in advance or review the official parking page for current lots and rates; listed arrival prices vary by event and can change for playoff games and special events.

For drivers approaching from the south, Ball Arena’s directions use I-25 North to exit 210B for Auraria Parkway. From there, merge onto Auraria Parkway and turn left onto 7th, 9th, or 11th Street to enter the arena grounds.

From the north, take I-25 South to exit 212B toward downtown, turn left onto Speer Boulevard, then turn right onto Chopper Circle at the second stoplight.

Plan around the event-day street closure: Chopper Circle closes between 9th and 11th Streets for all events, starting three hours before doors open and ending one hour after the event ends. For rideshare, taxi, and limo pick-up or drop-off, use the entrance at 5th and Walnut Streets in the 4Runner West parking lot.

All guests go through security screening. You can request alternative screening accommodations; refusing screening means you won’t be admitted. Permitted bags may be searched at the entrance or inside the arena.

Small clutches, wristlets, and fanny packs are allowed up to 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches. Purses and backpacks are not permitted. Medical and diaper bags up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches are permitted, subject to inspection.

Ball Arena has a no-re-entry policy for all events. Bag lockers near the Infinity Sculpture and the Spires in the Grand Atrium plaza start at $15 per checked bag and are available from 30 minutes before general doors until one hour after the event.

Accessible parking is first come, first served, and requires a state-issued accessible parking permit. Spaces are available in the Camry North, Tundra, and Rav4 lots, with both standard and van-accessible spaces in Camry North and Tundra. Designated accessible entry is at Door 1/VIP/ADA Entrance at both the Grand Atrium and East Atrium, and accessible elevators serve all concourses.

Accessible seating is available on every arena level, though locations vary with event configuration. When buying through Ticketmaster, Ball Arena recommends selecting “Show accessible tickets.”

Guest Relations provides complimentary wheelchair escort service; the arena’s wheelchairs cannot stay with guests, and staff cannot provide escorts into parking lots. RTD buses and rail vehicles are accessible for mobility aids, and operators are trained to assist passengers boarding or exiting.

Build your arrival plan around your event’s door time, not just its start time. If you’re driving, account for the lot opening and Chopper Circle closure; if you’re taking transit, check RTD’s schedule before setting out.

Keep your digital ticket and parking pass ready on your phone, and check your bag against the venue’s size and type rules before leaving.

For a Denver stay, Off Broadway B & B is one option to consider while planning your visit. The arena’s event schedule, parking availability, and event-specific entry details can vary, so verify them before making your plans.