The NBA remains as the pinnacle of all major basketball leagues and aims to provide fans with a unique experience and involvement within the state-of-the-art facilities listed by each of the thirty respected franchises.

With the 2021/22 NBA regular season now reaching its fruition and the NBA playoffs now dawning on the horizon, the excitement brewing ahead of the season’s climax is palpable.

If you are interested in placing any bets for the upcoming NBA playoff matchups, you can now add your NBA picks at OLBG and place your predictions as to who you think will be claiming the coveted Larry O’Brien championship this year.

Each NBA franchise is now housed in a range of prestigious and majorly impressive venues across the country, and even across the border.

But which arenas present the largest overall capacity for fans that can make for a raucous atmosphere and a thrilling gameday experience?

These are the top ten biggest NBA arenas currently in operation, meaning that the Oracle arena will not be included as the Golden State Warriors have since moved to the Chase Center which unfortunately ranks outside of the top ten NBA arenas that are grouped by capacity.

10: Target Center – Minnesota Timberwolves

While the Timberwolves franchise hasn’t had much to cheer about after lackluster trades and poor Draft choices, they now bolster an exciting roster of young talent that makes the Target Center a great place to catch a ball game these days.

Built: 1990
Capacity: 19,356

9: American Airlines Arena – Miami Heat

Downtown Miami, Check.

A championship-contending team, Check.

Arguably the NBA’s most impressive venue, Check.

This is a must-have venue for any sports fans bucket list and eager tourists.

Built: 1999
Capacity: 19,600

8: Scotiabank Arena – Toronto Raptors

The only NBA team that currently operates out of Canada and given the great amount of success that this team has brought to the league, we’re sure that they won’t be the only Canadian franchise in the league for long.

Built: 1999
Capacity: 19,800

7: Madison Square Garden – New York Knicks

The most famous and prestigious venue that the world has to offer and also the NBA’s oldest arena. Even after 50 years since the competition of this esteemed venue, the Garden remains as arguably the greatest arena to watch any ball game (even if the New York Knicks remain as one of the league’s worst teams on a consistent basis).

Built: 1968
Capacity: 19,812

6: Moda Center – Portland Trail Blazers

It’s been a tough stretch for the Blazers in recent months following on from another early playoff exit and the departure of CJ McCollum, but Blazers fans can always be proud of their imposing venue and the loyalty shown by their superstar point guard Damian Lillard that could help the team rise again.

Built: 1995
Capacity: 19,980

5: Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia 76ers

With the departure of Ben Simmons and the arrival of former MVP James Harden in the efforts to form a formidable duo with Joel Embiid, the Sixers fanbase has a lot to look forward to in the coming months as they hope to finally complete ‘The Process’ and bring a long-awaited championship back to the city of ‘Brotherly Love’.

Built: 1996
Capacity: 20,328

4: Capital One Arena – Washington Wizards

The Wizards franchise have loomed in mediocrity for a large stretch of time, but this arena is still a great place to catch a game with team now adding Kristaps Porzingis to partner Bradley Beal, which could make for some exciting highlight plays if both All-Stars stay healthy.

Built: 1997
Capacity: 20,356

3: Little Cesars Arena – Detroit Pistons

For the first time in over 50 years, the historic Detroit Pistons franchise earned the first overall pick in this year’s Draft lottery, selecting Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State which is arguably the main selling point for fans to head to this arena as the Pistons look to return to playoff contention within the coming years.

Built: 2017
Capacity: 20,491

2: Rocket Mortgage Field House – Cleveland Cavaliers

Hot off the heels of hosting the 2022 NBA All-Star game and now bolstering an imposing group of young talent, the Cavs are arguably the NBA’s biggest surprise package of the 2021/22 season making this arena a viable place to catch a game.

Built: 1994
Capacity: 20,562

1: United Center – Chicago Bulls

An arena with legendary status, a contending team and a passionate fanbase, the United Center remains as the league’s biggest arena and atop of a number of fans’ wish list of must visit venues.

Built: 1994
Capacity: 20,917

(United Center Tour)
Every NBA team has a unique selling point when heading to their respected venue, whether that being a team in playoff contention, a superstar caliber player or a unique fan experience, there is something for every fan to enjoy when heading out to a ball game no matter what arena you may intend to visit as even the NBA’s smaller market teams play out of state-of-the-art venues.