The NBA is the home of the basketball’s biggest stars and such talent is best appreciated in the finest arenas. A top basketball venue can enhance the experience for the players and the fans alike. But, regardless of your personal affiliation, which are the best arenas to watch basketball? Here are five of the best.
5 – Madison Square Garden – New York Knicks
Sometimes known as ‘The Garden’ or ‘MSG,’ this iconic multi-purpose venue in New York City is home to the New York Knicks of the NBA. The venue has hosted numerous important sporting events and music concerts over the decades, including two of the three Muhammad Ali- Joe Frazier boxing fights, and you can sense the history inside the building. The Garden holds around 20,000 spectators for basketball and is one of the must-visit venues for anyone visiting the city.
4 – Amway Center – Orlando Magic
Since opening in 2010, the Amway Center has proven to be a popular venue with fans thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities – including the largest high definition scoreboard in the league – and superb downtown location. In 2019, resident NBA team Orlando Magic made the playoffs for the first time in seven years but remain longshots to win the 2020 Eastern Conference title in the NBA betting on bet365.
3 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto Raptors
Despite being the only Canadian representatives currently playing in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors boast a long-held reputation for having one of the best crowd atmospheres in the league. The noise levels were cranked up another level in 2019 when they clinched their first-ever championship crown. Fans love the location and the chance to enjoy the buzz that fills the city on game day.
2 – Staples Arena – LA Lakers, LA Clippers
Staples Arena is home to two NBA teams including current championship favorites the LA Clippers, who caused shockwaves by recruiting both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019. The venue’s other NBA team are 16-time Championship winners the LA Lakers. As a result, there is always plenty of quality action to be witnessed in this 19,000 capacity theatre of sport which also doubles up as an entertainment venue hosting events such as the Grammys.
1 – United Center – Chicago Bulls
The United Center may be only 24 years old but there has been plenty of history written in that time. The venue has hosted three NBA Championship Finals which all ended in victory for the resident team, Chicago Bulls, and former star player Michael Jordan. The building is a little intimidating as you approach from the outside and you are greeted by a statue of Jordan in the stadium’s atrium. Once inside, the 23,500-capacity arena creates one of the best atmospheres in the league thanks to the specially designed acoustics that mimic those of the old Chicago Stadium.
These are our top 5 NBA arenas that every basketball fan should visit in the 2019/2020 season. Others that came close to making it include the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets; Miami Heat’s American Airlines Arena; and the Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers.
