NBA Arenas Ranked: From Best to Worst

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a truly great NBA Arena Most of them are just fine, but some are better than others. Here’s a ranking of all 30 NBA arenas from best to worst.

Introduction

Whether it’s the excitement of the game, the anticipation of the playoffs, or the allure of the fanciest amenities, everyone has their own reasons for loving (or hating) their home NBA Arena

No matter how you feel about your team’s home turf, there’s no denying that some arenas are just better than others. From jumbotrons and scoreboards to restaurants and bars, these are the places where basketball fans can really let loose and enjoy themselves.

On the other hand, some arenas leave a lot to be desired – and not just in terms of their teams’ on-court performance. If you’re stuck in an aging arena with cramped seating and crummy concession options, it can really take away from your game-day experience.

So which arenas come out on top? And which ones should be avoided at all costs? Keep reading to find out as we rank every NBA arena from best to worst.

Top 10 NBA Arenas

The ranking of the arenas was based on a survey of NBA players The players were asked to rate the arenas on a scale of 1 to 5 in the following categories: facilities, fans, location and overall atmosphere. The ranking reflects the average score for each arena.

1. Staples Center – Los Angeles California
2. American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas
3. Oracle Arena – Oakland, California
4. Quicken Loans Arena – Cleveland, Ohio
5. Moda Center – Portland, Oregon
6. Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Vivint Smart Home Arena – Salt Lake City Utah
8. AT&T Center – San Antonio Texas
9. Capital One Arena – Washington D.C.
10. FedEx Forum – Memphis, Tennessee

Bottom 10 NBA Arenas

10. American Airlines Center Dallas Mavericks
This arena definitely falls into the “meh” category. It’s a perfectly fine place to watch a game, but there’s nothing that really makes it stand out. It’s also located in a rather uninspiring part of downtown Dallas.

9. Barclays Center: Brooklyn Nets
The Barclays Center is a great arena, but it has one big flaw: the sightlines are not good. This is due to the fact that the upper decks are too close to the court, which makes it difficult to see what’s going on if you’re not in one of the best seats in the house.

8. Spectrum Center: Charlotte Hornets
The Spectrum Center is a newer arena, so it has some features that older arenas don’t have, like luxury suites and club seats. But it doesn’t have anything that makes it truly special. Plus, it’s located in downtown Charlotte, which is not the most exciting city in the world.

7. United Center Chicago Bulls
The United Center is a large arena that can be noisy and intimidating for opposing teams. But it doesn’t have much in the way of amenities or creature comforts for fans. It also shares a parking lot with Soldier Field, so traffic can be a nightmare on game days.

What Makes a good NBA Arena?

To rank the best NBA arenas we took into account a number of factors. First and foremost, we looked at the facilities themselves. This included everything from the quality of the court and seats to the safety of the arena and ample parking. We also considered the fan experience, taking into account things like pubic transportation access, downtown entertainment options, and team history. Finally, we looked at each arena’s food options – because what’s a game day experience without some good eats?

What Makes a Bad NBA Arena?

Not all NBA arenas are created equal. In fact, some are far better than others. Here’s a look at the five worst arenas in the league, based on a variety of factors including fans’ experience, facilities, and overall environment.

Poor Sightlines
One of the worst things about going to an NBA game is when you can’t see what’s going on. It’s even worse when you have a good seat but there are still poor sightlines. This is a problem at a number of arenas, but it’s especially bad at Madison Square Garden where seats behind the baskets are so far away from the court that it’s hard to see what’s going on. Other arenas with poor sightlines include Bankers Life Fieldhouse Chesapeake Energy Arena and American Airlines Center

Lack of Compelling Features
An NBA arena should be more than just a place to Watch Basketball It should be an experience. But some arenas just don’t have much to offer outside of the actual basketball game The Bradley Center is one such arena. It’s functional but uninspired, and there’s really nothing to do there before or after the game. Other arenas that lack compelling features include Oracle Arena, Sleep Train Arena, and Wells Fargo Center.

Uncomfortable Seating
Going to an NBA game should be enjoyable from start to finish, but that’s not always the case when the seating is uncomfortable. This is an issue at a number of arenas around the league, but it’s especially bad at Staples Center where the seats are so close together that it feels like you’re being packed into a sardine can. Other arenas with uncomfortable seating include American Airlines Arena Madison Square Garden and Verizon Center.

Loud and Obnoxious Fans
No one wants to be surrounded by loud and obnoxious fans when they’re trying to watch a basketball game Unfortunately, this is often the case at certain NBA arenas. The worst offender is probably Oracle Arena, where Warriors fans are known for being particularly loud and obnoxious (though they do have good reason to be). Other arenas with loud and obnoxious fans include American Airlines Center (Mavericks), Target Center (Timberwolves), and Barclays Center (Nets).

Comparing NBA Arenas to Other Sports Venues

In the world of professional sports there are a variety of different venues that teams call home. From football stadiums to baseball parks to Hockey Rinks each sport has its own unique type of facility. And within each sport, there can be a wide range of quality when it comes to the actual arenas and stadiums themselves. So how do NBA arenas stack up against other types of sports venues?

To answer this question, we took a look at a variety of different factors and compiled them into a ranking of all 30 NBA arenas. Here are the results:

1. Staples Center (Los Angeles Lakers)
2. Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks)
3. Oracle Arena (Golden State Warriors)
4. Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland Cavaliers)
5. American Airlines Center (Dallas Mavericks)
6. Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers)
7. Moda Center (Portland Trail Blazers)
8. Vivint Smart Home Arena (Utah Jazz)
9. Toyota Center (Houston Rockets)

The Future of NBA Arenas

As the NBA landscape continues to change, arenas are becoming a more important factor in where players choose to sign. While most players still prioritize playing for a winning organization, others have begun to put an emphasis on playing in state-of-the-art facilities. With that in mind, here are the NBA’s best and worst arenas, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets is widely regarded as one of the worst arenas in the NBA. The arena, which opened in 2012, was designed for hockey first and basketball second. The result is poor sight lines for basketball games and a lack of intimacy that has made it tough for the Nets to build a true home-court advantage

At the other end of the spectrum is the Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings The arena, which opened in 2016, is one of the most modern and intimate in the NBA. It features excellent sight lines and a wide variety of amenities that make it a comfortable place to watch a game.

In between those two extremes are a number of arenas that are serviceable but unspectacular. These include spaces like Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks), American Airlines Center (Dallas Mavericks) and Toyota Center (Houston Rockets).

Conclusion

With a new arena comes a fresh start for many NBA teams In the past decade, we’ve seen arenas like the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento open up, giving their respective home teams state-of-the-art facilities to play in.

But not all arenas are created equal. In fact, some of them are downright terrible. From outdated arenas to arenas with terrible sightlines, these are the Worst NBA arenas in the league.

FAQ

1. What is the criteria for the ratings?
2. What are the top 5 arenas in the NBA?
3. What are the bottom 5 arenas in the NBA?
4. How many arenas were included in the study?
5. Who did the ranking?

The criteria for the ratings are as follows: atmosphere, design, facilities, and location. The top 5 arenas in the NBA are as follows:
1. Madison Square Garden New York Knicks
2. Staples Center- Los Angeles Lakers
3. American Airlines Arena Miami Heat
4. Oracle Arena- Golden State Warriors
5. Moda Center- Portland Trail Blazers
The bottom 5 arenas in the NBA are as follows:
1. BMO Harris Bradley Center- Milwaukee Bucks
2. Smoothie King Center New Orleans Pelicans
3. Capital One Arena- Washington Wizards
4. Spectrum Center- Charlotte Hornets
5 . FedExForum- Memphis Grizzlies

Sources

In order to make this definitive ranking of NBA arenas, we took into account a number of different factors. First, we consulted with experts in the field – both journalists who cover the NBA on a daily basis, and stadium architects who have designed some of the league’s most iconic arenas. We also took into account player feedback, both from current players and from those who have played in the league in years past. Finally, we looked at a number of objective factors such as capacity, square footage, and amenities.

With all of that said, here are our rankings of the best and worst NBA arenas, from #1 to #30.

#1: The Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings)
#2: American Airlines Center (Dallas Mavericks)
#3: Staples Center (Los Angeles Lakers/Los Angeles Clippers)
#4: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans Pelicans)
#5: Toyota Center (Houston Rockets)
#6: Moda Center (Portland Trail Blazers)
#7: Vivint Smart Home Arena (Utah Jazz)
#8: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City Thunder)