A comprehensive list of NBA arenas by capacity, from the biggest NBA stadium to the smallest in the United States and Canada.
The NBA is one of the biggest sports institutions in the world. The league is composed of 30 teams, split equally between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
Part of the charm and excitement of the NBA is built by the fans. Without the fans, the NBA would not be what it is today.
As a basketball fan, you may be lucky enough to attend the games of your favorite team. This means several visits to your team’s stadium every season, where the atmosphere is unrivalled.
But just how many fans can each NBA franchise pack into their arena? We’re here to share with you the biggest and smallest NBA stadiums by capacity.
What is the Biggest NBA Stadium?
The biggest NBA stadium by capacity is United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls and where Michael Jordan amazed fans for many seasons.
The Bulls are a very successful franchise. In fact, they are the fourth-most successful franchise in NBA history. It makes sense that the Bulls boast the biggest arena in the NBA.
Opened in 1994, United Center can accommodate 20,917 fans. It is the biggest NBA arena and just one of four that can host more than 20,000 people. The other three, in descending order of capacity, are Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia 76ers), Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards) and Little Caesars Arena (Detroit Pistons).
Full List of NBA Arenas Ranked by Capacity
There are currently 29 stadiums in the NBA, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers sharing the Crypto.com Arena. In 2024, the Clippers will have their very own Intuit Dome.
It is worth noting that the capacities listed below are for NBA games specifically. Crowd capacity varies depending on the sport or event taking place due to a number of factors.
| Stadium | Capacity | Team(s) |
| United Center | 20,917 | Chicago Bulls |
| Wells Fargo Center | 20,478 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Capital One Arena | 20,356 | Washington Wizards |
| Little Caesars Arena | 20,332 | Detroit Pistons |
| Madison Square Garden | 19,812 | New York Knicks |
| Scotiabank Arena | 19,800 | Toronto Raptors |
| Kaseya Arena | 19,600 | Miami Heat |
| Ball Arena | 19,520 | Denver Nuggets |
| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | 19,432 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Moda Center | 19,393 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| American Airlines Center | 19,200 | Dallas Mavericks |
| TD Garden | 19,156 | Boston Celtics |
| Spectrum Center | 19,077 | Charlotte Hornets |
| Crypto.com Arena | 19,067 | Los Angeles Lakers & Los Angeles Clippers |
| Amway Center | 18,846 | Orlando Magic |
| Target Center | 18,798 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| AT&T Stadium | 18,418 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Delta Center | 18,306 | Utah Jazz |
| Paycom Center | 18,203 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Chase Center | 18,064 | Golden State Warriors |
| Toyota Center | 18,055 | Houston Rockets |
| Intuit Dome | 18,000 | Los Angeles Clippers (*opens 2024) |
| Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 17,923 | Indiana Pacers |
| FedEx Forum | 17,794 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Barclays Center | 17,732 | Brooklyn Nets |
| Golden 1 Center | 17,608 | Sacramento Kings |
| Fiserv Forum | 17,385 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Footprint Center | 17,071 | Phoenix Suns |
| State Farm Arena | 16,888 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Smoothie King Center | 16,867 | New Orleans Pelicans |
NBA Stadiums FAQ
What is the biggest NBA arena?
The biggest NBA stadium by capacity is United Center. The Chicago Bulls play their home basketball games here, with a capacity of 20,917.
What is the smallest NBA stadium?
The smallest stadium in the NBA is Smoothie King Center, with a maximum capacity of 16,867. This is where the New Orleans Pelicans play their home games.
How many NBA stadiums are there?
There are currently 29 NBA arenas between 30 teams in the league. However, Intuit Dome will open in 2024 and will be the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Once it opens, there will be 30 stadiums.
What is the oldest NBA stadium?
Madison Square Garden is the oldest NBA stadium, which is where the New York Knicks play. The arena opened its doors way back in 1968.
Is there an NBA stadium in Las Vegas?
There is no NBA stadium in Las Vegas. However, talks are underway surrounding the use of the Sphere to host NBA games in the future.
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