The largest NBA arenas are led by Chicago's United Center, which seats 20,917 fans for basketball as of October 2026, ahead of Washington and Detroit.
This Finepedia guide, written in October 2026, ranks the ten National Basketball Association arenas with the most seats for a basketball game. Only three of the league's 29 arenas can seat more than 20,000 fans, and the gap between first and tenth place is about 1,500 seats. Several of these buildings were renamed in 2025 under new sponsorship deals, so some may sound unfamiliar. For more great venues and busy places, see the Finepedia guides Largest Stadiums in the World: Top 10 and Busiest Cities in the World: Top 10.
How We Chose These
We ranked arenas by their official seating capacity for basketball, as published by the NBA and listed on Wikipedia, and checked the figures against Stadium Capacities, which uses the same numbers as of 2026. Seating for ice hockey and concerts is often different, and teams sometimes sell standing-room tickets that push crowds higher, so we used the basketball seating figure only. Arenas are named as they were in October 2026. All 30 teams play in 29 arenas in the United States and Canada; the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers now have separate homes.
The 10 Largest NBA Arenas at a Glance
| Rank | Arena | City | Team | Basketball seats | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Center | Chicago | Chicago Bulls | 20,917 | 1994 |
| 2 | Capital One Arena | Washington, D.C. | Washington Wizards | 20,333 | 1997 |
| 3 | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit | Detroit Pistons | 20,332 | 2017 |
| 4 | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Philadelphia | Philadelphia 76ers | 20,007 | 1996 |
| 5 | Madison Square Garden | New York | New York Knicks | 19,812 | 1968 |
| 6 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto | Toronto Raptors | 19,800 | 1999 |
| 7 | Kaseya Center | Miami | Miami Heat | 19,600 | 1999 |
| 8 | Ball Arena | Denver | Denver Nuggets | 19,520 | 1999 |
| 9 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland | Cleveland Cavaliers | 19,432 | 1994 |
| 10 | Moda Center | Portland | Portland Trail Blazers | 19,411 | 1995 |
1. United Center Is the Biggest Arena in the NBA
The United Center on Chicago's Near West Side has more seats for basketball than any other NBA arena, at 20,917. It opened in 1994 across the street from the old Chicago Stadium and is shared by the Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. For concerts it can hold up to about 23,500 people, and it often hosts more than 200 events a year.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 20,917
- Opened: 1994
- Teams: Chicago Bulls (NBA) and Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
- Building cost: about $175 million
Did You Know?
A bronze statue of Michael Jordan, frozen in mid-flight, has greeted fans since 1994. It now stands inside a glass atrium added in 2017. Across the 2023–24 regular season, Bulls home games averaged 20,624 fans, more than any other team.
2. Capital One Arena Sits Above a Metro Station
Capital One Arena, in the Chinatown area of downtown Washington, D.C., opened on 2 December 1997 as the MCI Center. It was called the Verizon Center from 2006 and took its present name in 2017. The arena is built right on top of the Gallery Place station of the Washington Metro, so many fans arrive by train. It seats 20,333 for basketball.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 20,333
- Opened: December 1997
- Teams: Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Capitals (NHL) and Georgetown University men's basketball
- Earlier names: MCI Center and Verizon Center
Why It Matters
In 2023 the teams' owner planned to move both clubs to a new arena in Alexandria, Virginia, but the plan fell apart in 2024. Instead, the city agreed to pay $515 million towards a renovation of about $1 billion, due to finish by the 2027–28 season, and the teams are set to stay until at least 2050.
3. Little Caesars Arena Is the Newest in the Top Three
Little Caesars Arena in Midtown Detroit opened in September 2017 at a cost of about $863 million. It brought the Pistons back downtown after almost three decades at a suburban arena, the Palace in Auburn Hills, and it took over from Joe Louis Arena as the Red Wings' hockey venue. It has 20,332 seats for basketball, just one fewer than the arena in Washington.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 20,332
- Opened: September 2017
- Teams: Detroit Pistons (NBA) and Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
- Building cost: about $863 million
Did You Know?
The playing floor lies about 12 m (40 ft) below street level. Shops, restaurants and offices wrap around the bowl under a glass roof, which creates an indoor street that stays open even on days with no game.
4. Xfinity Mobile Arena Has Had Five Names
The home of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Flyers hockey team opened in 1996 in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, where John F. Kennedy Stadium once stood. It cost about $210 million. Bank mergers and sponsorship deals have given it a string of names: it opened as the CoreStates Center, carried two more bank names, was the Wells Fargo Center from 2010 and became Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2025.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 20,007
- Opened: 1996
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
- Name since 2025: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Why It Matters
The 76ers and the Flyers' owners have agreed to build a new shared arena nearby in South Philadelphia, so this building's days as an NBA home are numbered.
5. Madison Square Garden Has Hosted NBA Games Longest
Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan opened on 11 February 1968, on top of Pennsylvania Station, so no current NBA home is older. It is the fourth building to carry the name; the first two stood beside Madison Square itself. A three-year, $1 billion renovation finished in 2013 rebuilt the seating bowl while keeping the famous round outer walls.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,812
- Opened: February 1968
- Teams: New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Rangers (NHL)
- Major renovations: 1991 and 2010–2013
Did You Know?
The Garden is the only arena to have hosted the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final at the same time, which happened twice, in 1972 and 1994. Knicks and Rangers fans shared the building during both championship runs.
6. Scotiabank Arena Is the Only NBA Home Outside the US
Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto is the home of the Raptors, the only NBA team based outside the United States, and the Maple Leafs hockey team. It opened on 19 February 1999 as the Air Canada Centre and was renamed on 1 July 2018. It has 19,800 seats for basketball.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,800
- Opened: February 1999
- Teams: Toronto Raptors (NBA) and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
- Former name: Air Canada Centre (1999–2018)
Why It Matters
The arena was built inside the old Toronto Postal Delivery Building of 1941. Its Art Deco limestone walls on Bay Street were kept and joined to the new arena, giving the city a modern venue with a historic front.
7. Kaseya Center Stands on Biscayne Bay
Kaseya Center, the home of the Miami Heat, opened on 31 December 1999 as the American Airlines Arena, at a cost of about $213 million. It sits on the edge of Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami. After a short time as FTX Arena, it took its present name in April 2023 under a 17-year deal. It seats 19,600 for basketball.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,600
- Opened: December 1999
- Team: Miami Heat (NBA)
- Name since 2023: Kaseya Center
Did You Know?
The Heat won the NBA title on their home court in 2012 and 2013. In 2024 the court was dedicated to Pat Riley, who coached the team and then led its front office for many years.
8. Ball Arena Hosts Two Recent Champions
Ball Arena in downtown Denver opened in October 1999 as the Pepsi Center and was renamed in October 2020. It is home to the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche hockey team and the Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team. It has 19,520 seats for basketball.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,520
- Opened: October 1999
- Teams: Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL) and Colorado Mammoth (NLL)
- Former name: Pepsi Center (1999–2020)
Why It Matters
Within about a year, both of the arena's main teams won titles: the Avalanche lifted the Stanley Cup in 2022, and the Nuggets won their first NBA championship in 2023. Denver's height of about 1,600 m above sea level is also known to tire visiting players.
9. Rocket Arena Took a New Name in 2025
Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland opened in October 1994 as Gund Arena, next to the city's baseball park. It became Quicken Loans Arena in 2005, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019 and Rocket Arena in 2025. A renovation costing about $185 million, finished in 2019, wrapped the building in a new glass front. It seats 19,432 for basketball.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,432
- Opened: October 1994
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)
- Name since 2025: Rocket Arena
Did You Know?
The giant main scoreboard is nicknamed the Humongotron and is one of the largest in the NBA. The Cavaliers won their only NBA title in 2016.
10. Moda Center Completes the List
Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, opened on 12 October 1995 as the Rose Garden and cost about $262 million. It took the name of the health insurer Moda Health in 2013, a change that upset many fans. It has 19,411 seats for basketball and is home to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Key Facts
- Basketball seats: 19,411
- Opened: October 1995
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)
- Former name: Rose Garden (1995–2013)
Why It Matters
The city of Portland owns the arena, and the team's lease keeps it there through October 2030. Plans for a major renovation, or a new arena on the nearby Coliseum site, are being studied as of 2026. Just missing the top ten are Dallas's American Airlines Center, with 19,200 seats, and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, with 19,077.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NBA arena is the smallest?
The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans has the fewest seats, about 16,867 for basketball. State Farm Arena in Atlanta (17,044) and the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix (17,071) also seat fewer than 17,100.
Why do arenas have different capacities for different events?
A basketball court is smaller than an ice rink, so more seats can be placed close to the floor for basketball. For concerts, fans can also stand or sit on the floor, which is why arenas like the United Center can hold far more people for a show.
Conclusion
The largest NBA arenas are led by Chicago's United Center, with Washington's Capital One Arena and Detroit's Little Caesars Arena close behind and only a single seat apart. The list mixes historic buildings such as Madison Square Garden with newer ones, and many of them have changed names several times. With renovations and new arenas planned in Washington, Philadelphia and Portland, the order may change in the next few seasons. For more record-breaking venues and places, read the Finepedia guides Largest Stadiums in the World: Top 10 and Busiest Cities in the World: Top 10.
- NBA.com, A Complete List of All 30 NBA Arenas by Team, accessed October 2026.
- Stadium Capacities, Largest NBA Arenas by Capacity (figures as of 2026), accessed October 2026.
- Wikipedia (accessed October 2026): List of NBA arenas, and the articles on each of the ten arenas.
- SportsPro, NBA 2025/26 Venues commercial guide, accessed October 2026.
- 10 Most Today, 10 NBA Arenas With Largest Capacity, 10mosttoday.com (topic reference).
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