Ball Arena Pregame Guide
Denver Nuggets · Denver, CO
Ball Arena is one of the few arenas in either league where a tailgate is permitted at all — the venue's own wording is that tailgating is allowed, but not encouraged. What that means in practice is a tailgate without the two things that usually define one: open consumption of alcohol is prohibited across every Toyota parking lot, and charcoal grills and log fires are both banned, leaving propane under 20 lbs as the only fuel. There are no designated tailgating areas, so you work within the spaces you actually bought, and the lots are monitored throughout. They open three hours before tip-off and take cards.
Tips & Fan Reports
Propane only, under 20 lbs. Charcoal grills and log fires are both prohibited, so the usual stadium kit does not transfer.
This is one of the few arenas where a tailgate is permitted at all — but it is allowed rather than encouraged, and the lots are monitored throughout.
Lots open three hours before the event and take cards, so there is no cash-at-the-gate step.
No open alcohol anywhere in the Toyota lots, which is the sharpest difference from an NFL tailgate.
Where to Go Before the Game
The Toyota parking lots
The lots surrounding the arena, named for Toyota models — Camry, Tundra, Rav4 and 4Runner. They open three hours before the event, take credit and debit cards, and are monitored throughout. There are no designated tailgating areas within them: you may occupy only the spaces you actually paid for.
Known for Open 3 hours before · Card accepted · Only the spaces you bought
Camry, Tundra, Rav4 and 4Runner lots
The individually named lots around Ball Arena, each with accessible parking options. Which one your pass names decides where you end up, and saving a space in any of them for a friend is not allowed.
Known for Named by model · Accessible options · No saving spaces
The alcohol line
Open consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in every Toyota parking lot around the arena — the rule that most distinguishes this from a stadium tailgate, since the tailgate itself is permitted.
Known for No open alcohol · All lots · Monitored
Rules to Know
What Ball Arena allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is allowed, but not encouraged, outside Ball Arena.
- There are no designated tailgating areas within the Toyota parking lots, and guests may occupy only the number of spaces they have purchased.
- Saving spaces is not allowed, and all Toyota parking lots are monitored at all times during events.
- Open consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all Toyota parking lots surrounding Ball Arena.
- Open fires using logs, and charcoal grills, are prohibited. Propane tanks must be less than 20 lbs.
- Ball Arena parking lots open three hours prior to the start of the event.
- Credit and debit cards are accepted at all Toyota Ball Arena parking lots for all events.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Only clutches, wristlets, and fanny packs up to 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches are allowed; purses and backpacks are prohibited.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are prohibited, but an empty metal or plastic non-glass water bottle up to 32 ounces is allowed.
- A card or a phone wallet
Concessions, suites, and premium locations are primarily cashless and accept debit and credit cards.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
All event tickets and parking passes are digital and should be added to a mobile wallet before arrival.
- A coat for the walk in
December lows average 21°F between the lot and the door at Ball Arena.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open three hours before the event.
- A propane tank under 20 lbs — charcoal grills and log fires are both prohibited
- No open alcohol: consumption is prohibited across every Toyota lot
- A setup inside the spaces you actually purchased, since there are no designated tailgate areas
- A card rather than cash for the lot
Denver Nuggets Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Denver Nuggets gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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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.
- Pregame
Ball Arena official site: Arena Policies & FAQ, and Parking & Directions
- Venue policies
Current Ball Arena policy, accessibility, bag, prohibited-items, food-and-beverage, and parking pages reviewed for Denver Nuggets game-day policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals