Which are the biggest NBA arenas in the league at the moment?

The National Basketball Association consist of 30 teams and 29 stadiums. The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers share the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. NBA stadiums have different capacities, while most of the biggest NBA arenas can host multiple events.

Unlike soccer, where most clubs own their stadiums, in the NBA, only seven teams own a stadium. Most of these teams prefer to rent out the facilities for a season, a move considered more economical than building and running their centres. This article highlights the largest NBA arenas by capacity and their respective teams.

Top 10 NBA arenas by capacity

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In the NBA, only 15 stadiums can hold more than 19,000 people, while the rest hold between 16,000 to 18,000 people. The average capacity of all 29 NBA facilities is 18,790 people. Here is a detailed look into the top 10 biggest NBA arenas in order according to the number of seats.

10. Oracle Arena

Located in Oakland, the Oracle facility is home to seven-time NBA championships, the Golden State Warriors. It used to host hockey and basketball, but now only has one hardwood court. The stadium has also hosted the Oaks, an American Basketball Association team.

• Location: Oakland, California
• Team: Golden State Warriors
• Opened: 1966
• Capacity: 19,596
• Estimated cost: $369.91 million
• Cost per seat: $18,877

9. American Airlines Arena

The American Airlines stadium is located in Miami and managed by Miami-Dade County. It is home to the NBA franchise, Miami Heat. The stadium was previously used by Florida Panthers in the early 2000s before shifting to another location.

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• Location: Miami, Florida
• Team: Miami Heat
• Opened: 1999
• Capacity: 19,600
• Estimated cost: $313.7 million
• Cost per seat: $16,005

8. Air Canada Centre

Air Canada Centre is a multipurpose facility that serves various sports, including basketball, hockey, and lacrosse. The venue is also known as Scotiabank. In basketball, it is used by the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, while in the National Hockey League (NHL), it serves the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is also home to Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Team: Toronto Raptors
• Opened: 1999
• Capacity: 19,800
• Estimated cost: $399.79 million
• Cost per seat: $20,191

7. Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is not only among the NBA's biggest arenas, but also ranks among the most established and active sports complexes in the New York metropolitan area. It is also the oldest NBA arena. The venue hosts the NBA's New York Knicks and the New York Rangers of the NHL. It is operated by the Madison Square Garden Company.

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• Location: New York, New York
• Team: New York Knicks
• Opened: 1968
• Capacity: 19,812
• Estimated cost: $1.264 billion
• Cost per seat: $63,828

6. Moda Center

The Moda Center is owned by Vulcan Inc., a holding company, and is managed by Anschutz Entertainment. It was known as the Rose Garden before rebranding. The centre hosts several sports events, including basketball, ice hockey, rodeos, circuses, conventions, ice shows, concerts, and dramatic productions. It is home to the NBA franchise, Portland Trail Blazers.

• Location: Portland, Oregon
• Team: Portland Trail Blazers
• Opened: 1995
• Capacity: 19,980
• Estimated cost: $423.9 million
• Cost per seat: $21,216

5. Wells Fargo Center

The indoor facility is located in Philadelphia and serves as the home of the basketball team Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia 76ers of the NHL, and the AFL's Philadelphia Soul. It was formerly known as the CoreStates Centre and is managed by Fox Management Company.

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• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Team: Philadelphia 76ers
• Opened: 1996
• Capacity: 20,328
• Estimated cost: $331.54 million
• Cost per seat: $16,310

4. Capital One Arena

The facility is home to the NBA's Washington Wizards, the NHL's Washington Capitals & the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team. It also hosted the Washington Valor of the Arena Football League (AFL) between 2017-2019. The venue is based in Washington, D.C. and is currently one of the largest NBA arenas.

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Team: Washington Wizards
• Opened: 1997
• Capacity: 20,356
• Estimated cost: $399.04 million
• Cost per seat: $19,603

3. Little Caesars Arena

The Little Caesars facility is among the top three biggest NBA arenas by capacity, with 20,491. It is a multipurpose venue in the heart of Midtown Detroit. Construction of the facility began in 2015 and finished in 2017. The stadium is currently used for both sports and live entertainment events. It is home to the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

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• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Team: Detroit Pistons
• Opened: 2017
• Capacity: 20,491
• Estimated cost: $871.15 million
• Cost per seat: $42,514

2. Quicken Loans Arena

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, the Quicken Loans Arena is the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, the AFL's Cleveland Gladiators, and the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters. It is managed by the Quicken Loans Arena Company. So, what is the biggest NBA arena capacity?

• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
• Opened: 1994
• Capacity: 20,562
• Estimated cost: $165.91 million
• Cost per seat: $8,069

1. United Center

The centre, based in Chicago, is the biggest NBA arena in 2022 with a 20,917 capacity. It is named after United Airlines, which pays nearly $1.8 million annually for naming rights. The unique facility is currently managed by the United Center Joint Venture.

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Team: Chicago Bulls
• Opened: 1994
• Capacity: 20,917
• Estimated cost: $292.3 million
• Cost per seat: $13,974

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How many teams own their stadium?

Only seven NBA teams own stadiums, while the Chicago Bulls have ownership of 50% of their home ground, the United Center.

Which NBA arena is the best?

The National Basketball Association has some modern venues with world-class facilities. Below are the top five NBA facilities with the best experiences.

• Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)
• Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, California)
• TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)
• American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
• American Airlines Arena (Miami, Florida)

Who has the smallest NBA arena?

The Smoothie King Center is the smallest stadium in the NBA in terms of seating capacity. The facility only has 16,867 seats for regular season games. Besides, it can be increased to 18,000 for playoff games. The venue is home to the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Loudest NBA basketball arena

The Vivint Arena (formerly EnergySolutions) is considered the loudest NBA stadium. The centre is home to the Utah Jazz, which boasts one of the most dedicated and passionate fanbases. Other loud stadiums include the Rose Garden, ARCO Stadium, Oracle Arena, and the United Center.

Many basketball stars dream of playing in the biggest NBA arenas, where they can showcase their skills to a large audience. However, not every player would be comfortable with the loud noise, jeers, and cheers from thousands of fans in those venues.

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