Best NBA arenas: Must-visit venues for every kind of fan experience

Welcome to SeatGeek Front Row, where SeatGeek employees share their best tips for getting the most out of live events. For this edition, instead of offering tips for just one arena, we have Mikayla Rogers offering her takes on 11 different ones. Mikayla is an event expert on the marketplace operations team, and she certainly loves heading to the hardwood in her free time.

On my quest to visit all 30 NBA arenas, I always look forward to seeing what makes each venue/team/city unique. While some arenas are older with tremendous history, others are new and have state-of-the-art technology! I have only been to 11 of 30 so far, but here is what I have found that each venue does best.

The best NBA arenas for every kind of experience

No two NBA arenas deliver the same kind of game-day experience, and that’s exactly what makes visiting them so fun. I’ll break down the standout strengths of the 11 venues I’ve visited so far, from fan atmosphere to neighborhood appeal.

Best venue history: Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks)

Madison Square Garden is one of the most historic venues on Earth, so it came as no surprise to me that this was the best arena in regard to legacy. I loved going around the concourse looking at the Garden 366 exhibition, which shows an iconic event that has taken place at MSG every single day of the year (including Feb. 29th for leap years).  Whether I was touring the arena, attending concerts, or watching the Rangers and Knicks in action, the Garden’s rich history was present in every moment, making each visit feel like a connection to something much bigger.

Best for first-time NBA fans: Moda Center (Portland Trail Blazers)

Moda Center was one of the most surprising venues to me for how welcoming and engaging it was. There was a ton of great food, fun activities to get involved in before the game, and the overall atmosphere was exciting but not overwhelming. I found that the volume of the announcers and music to be just a touch lower than other arenas which made it easier to pay attention to the game. They were on top of their replays on the screen and had a great stat board to follow along with if you are newer to basketball.

Best for families: Kia Center (Orlando Magic)

Kia Center was such a great venue to explore. Disney is a huge sponsor for the team, and given that Disney World isn’t too far away, it is fun to see the Disney brand represented in murals, graphics, and the culture of the team - giving the experience a playful, distinctly Orlando feel. There’s also a catchy victory song that plays after an Orlando Magic win, which adds an extra layer of fun to the game-day experience. I found the crowd to be excited about the game but not too loud or obnoxious, and there were plenty of kids at the game I went to. This is a great team/venue to introduce kids to basketball games and is perfect for the whole family.

Best for basketball purists: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles Lakers)

The Lakers are one of the legendary teams in the league, so besides having an overall great venue, you can spot so many of L.A.’s greatest players immortalized as statues outside the arena. If you are catching a Lakers game, be sure to plan for some time to walk around and take pictures with your favorite players like Shaq, Kareem, Magic, Kobe, and more. Attending a Lakers game now also gives you the opportunity to see history in the making as the all-time leading scorer, LeBron James is playing his 23rd season during the 2025-26 campaign. He is continuing to break records, but with time inevitably catching up to even the greatest players, there’s something special about the chance to see him play while you still can.

Best cheap-seat experience: Barclays Center (Brooklyn Nets)

While MSG has some of the most expensive game tickets across the NBA, just a few miles away, you can find some of the most inexpensive at Barclays Center. I have gone to several Nets games now for less than $20 a ticket. I’ve spent more on a pretzel and a soda at the game than the ticket itself. The Nets aren't quite a title contender yet, but they do have a great entertainment lineup with dance teams, hype squads, a drumline, and a great DJ. The low ticket cost makes this venue accessible to everyone and I highly recommend checking out a Nets game if you’re ever in Brooklyn.

Best surrounding neighborhood: Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards)

There is no shortage of things to do in D.C., but taking a walk near Capital One Arena can bring you to some of the most consequential places in the U.S. Before going to the Wizards game, I headed over to the National Portrait Gallery, Ford’s Theater, and the National Archives (all free to visit) to take in some history. There were also a wide variety of fabulous restaurants to check out before or after the game. I could have spent days exploring just within a few blocks of the venue.

Easiest to get to: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia 76ers)

While most major cities have public transit that can get fans close to sporting venues, I found it incredibly easy to navigate SEPTA to get to and from Xfinity Mobile Arena. I love that Philly has their major sports venues all in one giant parking lot, so you can always plan to be headed to the same place regardless of if you are seeing the 76ers, Phillies, Flyers or Eagles.

Most contemporary: Delta Center (Utah Jazz)

Many arenas are being renovated or having new facilities built altogether, but the upgrades that have been made at Delta Center truly set it apart from other venues. I was amazed by how clean, crisp and modern the space was. Even with ongoing renovations still in progress, the improvements are already noticeable and elevate the overall fan experience. It’s exciting to see how the venue is evolving, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the transformation continues.

Best mascot: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix Suns)

What started out as a singing birthday telegram that got invited into an arena by security in the 80s, has turned into one of the most chaotic but engaging mascots in the NBA. “Go”, the gorilla, is an icon and part of the fun is how completely random he is—after all, gorillas have absolutely nothing to do with Phoenix or the sun. Between over-the-top comedy routines, high-flying trampoline dunks, and seasonal twists like the GORINCH during the holidays, Go constantly finds new ways to keep the Mortgage Matchup Center crowd engaged.

Best giveaways: Rocket Arena (Cleveland Cavaliers)

At the Cavaliers game I attended, the giveaway was a SeatGeek Donovan Mitchell bobblehead—which is an excellent giveaway (especially working at SeatGeek). But I know that the Cavs have a lot of other fun giveaways like picnic blankets, duffel bags, t-shirts, snow globes, water bottles and more. A lot of teams have great giveaways, but I think the Cavs do a great job of having a wide variety of options at Rocket Arena.

Friendliest fans: Ball Arena (Denver Nuggets)

Denver fans are very passionate about their team, but are some of the most genuinely kind people I have ever met at a game. I had fans seated all around me engage in conversations with strangers that I simply had not seen at other venues. The staff was incredibly welcoming. While Ball Arena is not the newest modern facility, it also is not a historic venue either. It sits at this nostalgic place that feels old school and welcoming and the fans fit that same vibe. Attending a game here is like visiting a friendly place from your past, even if you had never set foot in the arena before. The Nuggets fans are less about flash and more about genuine connection, both with the team and the community.

Loudest crowd: Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks)

It is no secret that New Yorkers are loud, but they are ESPECIALLY loud when it comes to the Knicks. What I found hilarious is that most fans just get quiet when their team is doing poorly, but Knick fans aren’t ashamed to boo their own team. I heard some of the loudest cheering ever when the Knicks started making a comeback, but the loudest booing when shots were missed at the end, losing the game. A game at MSG is truly fully immersive with fans like these.

Best dance team: Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards)

This category was definitely a close race, however I have decided to go with a relatively unexpected answer: the Wizards Dancers. There is a wide variety of dance squads ranging from classic cheerleader styles to high-energy hip-hop crews, and everything in between. What sets the Wizards Dancers apart is their versatility, effortlessly switching between styles throughout the game. Their energy was contagious. It was clear that this was an incredibly talented and dedicated group, and I loved watching them. Other honorable mentions include The Suns Dancers and The Brooklynettes.

Best game hosts/MC: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix Suns)

I attended several Phoenix Suns games when I lived in Arizona, and without a doubt, this arena does have the very best game hosts. They keep the energy up throughout the game, have great activities/trivia for fans, and are really funny. In all honesty, I looked forward to seeing Weezy and Alicia almost as much as watching the game itself. They do such a great job and I cannot recommend them enough.

Best fan activities: Moda Center (Portland Trail Blazers)

The Portland Trail Blazers sure know how to get fans engaged. Around the concourse they had a wide variety of fun activities to participate in - poster making, face painting, games, giveaways, a GREAT selection of team merch, and so much more. If you want to experience everything the arena has to offer, make sure to arrive early. The pre-game atmosphere alone is worth it, and it’s a fantastic way to get fully immersed in the energy of a Trail Blazers game.

Best venue to splurge on seats: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles Lakers)

While I have never sat courtside at a game, the closest I have gotten was sitting front row along the Lakers tunnel. I high-fived the whole team each time they went in/out of the locker room, got autographs and had a great view of the game. If you are a huge Lakers fan, or simply love being up close in the action of the game, this is the arena to splurge on. This was the best experience I have ever had at a basketball game.

Mikayla Rogers is an event expert as part of the marketplace operations team at SeatGeek. She has two more trips planned in the next month, and will be visiting FedExForum for a Grizzlies game and TD Garden to catch the Celtics play. That might be all for the 2025-26 season for her, but once the schedule drops for next season, she’ll start planning her next arena adventure!