The indoor arena theme of NBA stadiums can lead to some truly mesmeric noise, differing from its outdoor counterparts. Here are the top ten best NBA stadiums for atmosphere, ranked.
Basketball is the second most popular sport in the United States and has blossomed to become one of the most popular sports around the globe.
Michael Jordan’s documentary, The Last Dance, which was released during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, perhaps illustrated fittingly how global the interest has become.
As such, it is perhaps a dream of many fans to one day attend an NBA stadium to taste the atmosphere and watch the play in action. Whether you support a particular team or not, we are here to help you choose.
Here are the top ten best NBA stadiums for atmosphere, ranked.
10. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia 76ers – a consistent top performer
Kicking off our list of the top ten best NBA stadiums for atmosphere is the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia 76ers.
It opened back in 1994 and has a capacity of 21,000 seating and at least 21,500 standing. This crowd can quickly lift the roof off in the right circumstances.
Address: 3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, United States
9. Chase Center, Golden State Warriors – home of Steph Curry
Located in San Francisco, the Chase Center is next up. The state-of-the-art arena hosts around 200 events per year, highlighting its prowess.
The Warriors are one of the most widely followed teams, a side packed with star talent headed by the legendary Steph Curry.
Address: 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
8. AT&T Center, San Antonio Spurs – one of the best NBA stadiums for atmosphere
Built in 2000, the AT&T Center has a capacity of 18,418 for basketball games, helping to create one of the top atmospheres in the NBA.
Address: 1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219, United States
7. Paycom Center, Oklahoma City Thunder – a vociferous crowd
Next on our list of the best NBA stadiums for atmosphere is the Paycom Center, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder side.
The vociferous crowd make this a top stadium to visit for fans, with plenty of space available in its 18,203 capacity.
Address: 100 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, United States
6. American Airlines Center, Dallas Mavericks – one of the best-supported teams in the league
The Mavericks are among the best-supported teams in the league, with 20,000-odd fans regularly attending home games. With standing, the capacity shoots up to 21,146, creating an electric atmosphere.
The American Airlines Center is also home to one of the biggest gyms in the world.
Address: 2500 Victory Ave, Dallas, TX 75219, United States
5. Kaseya Center, Miami Heat – crowd bringing the Heat
Kicking off the top five of our list of the best NBA stadiums for atmosphere is the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
It has a capacity of 19,600. The atmosphere is consistently great, shown by the fact the stadium is near-100% capacity most seasons.
Address: 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, United States
4. TD Garden, Boston Celtics – an iconic NBA stadium
TD Garden. That is nearly all that needs to be said for this entry on our list of the best NBA stadiums for atmosphere.
The legendary Celtics and their roaring crowd are one of the most memorable across the league. The Celtics thrive on creating an intimidating atmosphere for their rivals.
Address: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114, United States
3. Staples Center, LA Clippers and LA Lakers – filled with passionate supporters
Another 20,000-capacity stadium, the Staples Center in Los Angeles is now known as Crypto.com Arena. It is home to both the LA Clippers and popular side LA Lakers. The passionate supporters of both these teams make it one of America’s best.
Address: STAPLES Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles
2. Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks – the Mecca of basketball
Madison Square Garden is perhaps the most iconic venue in all of sports in the USA, and it is no surprise it features so highly on this list.
It has witnessed some of the most famous sporting events in history. Home to the New York Knicks, it has often been nicknamed the ‘Mecca of basketball’.
Address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001
1. The United Center, Chicago Bulls – think back to the 1990s success
Think back to the 1990s and the dominance of the Chicago Bulls. Think specifically of the runout of the players, including Michael Jordan, the music, and the crowd.
Unsurprisingly, the United Center, home to the famous Chicago Bulls, takes the top spot on our list of the best NBA stadiums for atmosphere.
Address: 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 6061
