Ball Arena Game Day Guide
Denver Nuggets · Denver, CO
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
Only clutches, wristlets, and fanny packs up to 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches are allowed; purses and backpacks are prohibited.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Medical and diaper bags up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches are allowed after X-ray screening at VIP/ADA Door 1 in the Grand or East Atrium.
- Bag storage
Paid Binbox lockers are near the Infinity Sculpture and Spires on the Grand Atrium Plaza, with prices starting at $12 per bag.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Lockers open 30 minutes before general doors, accept cards and mobile payments but not cash, and close one hour after the event. Stored bags cannot be accessed during the game because re-entry is prohibited.
- Gate opening
Doors generally open one hour before the game.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Confirm the game-specific opening time with Guest Relations at 303-405-8548.
- Mobile tickets
All event tickets and parking passes are digital and should be added to a mobile wallet before arrival.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- There is no in-person ticket purchasing at Ball Arena; tickets are purchased online and delivered electronically.
- Re-entry
Ball Arena does not permit re-entry after a guest exits.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Prohibited items
The arena prohibits weapons and self-defense items, outside alcohol, drugs, cans and glass, hard coolers, drones, fireworks, large or pointed umbrellas, lasers, noisemakers, laptops, professional camera equipment, recording gear, selfie sticks, and oversized bags.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Empty non-glass bottles up to 32 ounces, iPads, GoPros, and basketballs are permitted for Nuggets games. Check the current official list because event restrictions can change.
- First aid
The staffed First Aid Station is on the Lower Level across from Section 132, and paramedics patrol during events.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Ask any arena staff member for medical assistance.
- Nursing and lactation
UCHealth Nursing Suites are near Section 132 and on the Upper Level at Section 348; the Section 132 suite is wheelchair accessible.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- The suites include a fold-down table, benches, and outlets. Guests may also nurse at First Aid if both suites are occupied.
- Family restrooms
Accessible all-gender and family restrooms are available in the arena.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Baby-changing stations are installed in all men's, women's, family, and all-gender restrooms.
- Tickets for children
Children age 3 and older need a ticket for Nuggets games; younger children may sit on a ticketed guest's lap.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Guest services
Guest Relations kiosks are in the Grand Atrium lobby and near Sections 120 and 375.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Call 303-405-8548, email GuestRelations@TeamKSE.com, or text 920-520-2255 with your seat location and issue during an event.
- Service animals
Service animals assisting guests with disabilities are permitted and must remain leashed or harnessed in the guest's seating area.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Visit the Grand Atrium for directions to the animal relief exit and re-entry route; other animals are prohibited.
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are prohibited, and there are no smoking areas available during events.
Applies to: Denver Nuggets games
- Guests who leave to smoke cannot re-enter; city rules also prohibit smoking within 30 feet of entry doors.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at Ball Arena, hour by hour.
Arrive in LoDo or at the arena
Take the RTD light rail to Auraria West station or park in the arena lots. Explore LoDo's restaurants and breweries.
Pregame dining
Grab dinner at Wynkoop Brewing, Euclid Hall, or one of the Dairy Block restaurants. Green chile everything is the Denver way.
Doors open
Enter the arena and explore the concourse. The Nuggets team store has championship gear from 2023. Grab a green chile cheeseburger.
Find your seat
Settle in for the Nuggets' intro show and player introductions. The championship banner hangs in the rafters.
Game time
Nuggets games have an energized, championship-confident atmosphere. The altitude advantage is real, visiting teams tire in the fourth quarter. Total game time is about 2-2.5 hours.
Halftime break
Hit the concourse for Colorado craft beer or Rocky Mountain nachos. The arena's craft beer selection is outstanding.
Post-game scene
Walk to LoDo or take light rail to Union Station for post-game bars and restaurants. Denver's nightlife is concentrated in LoDo and RiNo.
Tips & Fan Reports
Play a round of bocce and get some food at Rhein Haus before the game then walk over to Ball Arena about an hour before tip-off. Plenty of time to get in, hit the restroom, grab a drink and get settled.
The RTD light rail drops you right at the arena, easier than parking.
Ball Arena altitude is 5,280 feet - visiting fans notice the thin air, especially if you've been drinking. Hydrate.
LoHi neighborhood (10 min walk) has some of Denver's best restaurants for pregame dinner.
Altitude is real at 5,280 feet, drink water between beers and don't overdo it. Alcohol hits harder up here.
Halftime food lines are shorter in the 300-level concourse.
The Platte River trail connects the arena to downtown - a scenic 15-minute walk on nice evenings.
Weather
Ball Arena is indoor, so these are the conditions for the parking lot and the walk in, not the seats.
Across the NBA season the warmest month is October, with an average high of 68°F, and the coldest is December, when the average low is 21°F. April is the wettest month at 2.0 inches and January the driest at 0.4 inches.
That December low ranks 7th coldest of the 30 NBA venues, and April here ranks 29th wettest.
October
1.2 inchesDecember
0.5 inchesJanuary
0.4 inchesMarch
1.1 inchesApril
2.0 inchesDenver Nuggets Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: Doors generally open one hour before the game.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current Ball Arena policy, accessibility, bag, prohibited-items, food-and-beverage, and parking pages reviewed for Denver Nuggets game-day policies.