Guide To The Pepsi Center
Denver is one of only a few cities with teams in each of the four major American pro sports leagues, and you can watch two of them play at the Pepsi Center. The Pepsi Center is home to the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche, and it's also where the Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team play. It opened in October 1999 and was the venue that housed the majority of the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008. It also hosts a variety of other events, including concerts and circuses.
Owned by Stanley Kroenke, the Pepsi Center is 675,000 square feet and contains five levels. It seats 19,099 for Nuggets games and 18,077 for hockey and lacrosse games. There are 95 luxury seats in the center.
Interesting Facts
The Pepsi Center is one of the few sports facilities in the country to offer a separate practice facility for its team. The full-sized court is used by the Nuggets for all of the team's practices.
When watching one of the pro teams play at the Pepsi Center you'll likely spot one of their mascots. For the Nuggets it's Rocky, a very popular mountain lion. For the Avalanche it used to be Howler the Yeti but now it's Bernie, a St. Bernard. For the Mammoth it's Wooly, a mammoth.
The Pepsi Center has its own in-house broadcast and commercial production facility. The facility can produce specialty television programs, television commercials, web casts and two-way broadcasts.
The total weight of the Nuggets' basketball court is 41,625 pounds. The court includes 233 pieces that weigh 180 pounds each.
There are 149 panes of half inch thick glass that surround the Avalanche ice area. The panels weigh between 50 and 250 pounds each. It takes 2 forklifts and 8 people 45 minutes to "hang" the entire rink.
It cost $180 million in private funds to build the Pepsi Center.
For an average sporting event at the Pepsi Center, 2,439 fountain sodas are sold. This calculates out to 69,184 ounces, or just over 540 gallons of soda. The Pepsi Center also sells 584 soft pretzels, 884 bags of popcorn and 725 nachos during a typical game.
Dining
The Ridgeline offers fine dining for as many as 350 people in a rustic ski lodge-like atmosphere. It's located on the club level of the Pepsi Center and is exclusive to club level and suite ticket holders. Call (303) 595-3987 for reservations.
The Blue Sky Grill is a casual place to dine offering Western cuisine. It's located on the ground level of the Pepsi Center and the menu includes bison steak, pork chops, Rocky Mountain trout and elk. Call (303) 405-6090 for reservations.
The Denver Post Newsroom is open to club level ticket holders, suite holders and the first row of courtside or rinkside seat holders. The restaurant serves hand-carved sandwiches and has a full bar.
Getting Tickets
TicketHorse.com is the place to go to make online ticket purchases. To purchase tickets on the phone call (866) 461-6556. You can also call the box office at (303) 405-1111 ext. 0 for information on all ticket sales. For season tickets call the following numbers: Denver Nuggets: (303) 405-1212, Colorado Avalanche: (303) 405-1212, Colorado Mammoth: (303) 405-1101.
During sporting events, tickets can be purchased at the advanced ticket sales window, located across from section 144. Dick's Sporting Goods locations also offer a ticket kiosk for event tickets.
Visitors can find the Pepsi Center box office and will call lobby between 9th and 11th Streets on Chopper Circle. The box office is adjacent to the Altitude Authentics retail store. Use the doors at the south side of the arena to find the office. The box office is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's only open on Saturday and Sunday if there is a ticketed event going on.
ADT Club Level
The home security system company ADT bought the naming rights to the club level at the Pepsi Center. Seats in the ADT Club Level are available for purchase during Nuggets and Avalanche games and club seats can also be purchased for both the Avalanche and Nuggets' seasons. Tickets per person per season for the Nuggets in the club level are between approximately $2,800 and $3,400. For the Avalanche it ranges from $4,200 and $4,600. To purchase tickets for both the Avalanche and the Nuggets seasons on this level you'll be shelling out more than $10,000. Benefits of club level seats include access to the exclusive Ridgeline Restaurant, discounts at the team store and the first right to purchase club seats during Pepsi Center concerts. Call (303) 405-1250 for more information or go to PepsiCenter.com/clubseating
Suite Seating
Suite seating at the Pepsi Center annually ranges in price from $125,000 to $265,000. Suites generally include 12 tickets and the opportunity to purchase additional barstool seating. Suites are also available for one-time event rentals. Event attendees get to enter the facility through a special VIP entrance. The suites themselves include granite countertops, a bar, cable TV, Internet access and access to club level private clubs and concierge services. To learn more call (303)405-6161 or visit PepsiCenter.com/Facility/Seating.
Sports Apparel & Merchandise
Altitude Authentics sells sports apparel from the Nuggets and Avs as well as several other local teams. The store is located in the Pepsi Center's Grand Atrium. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Call (303) 405-1300 or (888) 287-6847 to place and order or for store information.
Getting There
Directions
From the north on Interstate 25 take the Speer Boulevard exit and turn left. From Speer turn right at the second stoplight onto Chopper Circle. From the south on I-25 take the Auraria Parkway exit then turn left on 7th Street. From downtown take Speer to Auraria Parkway. Go west on Auraria Parkway and turn right on 7th.
Parking
The Pepsi Center has 4,534 parking spaces on its grounds. (See map) Six Flags Elitch Gardens provides an additional 2,000 spaces and the Auraria Campus, located across Auraria Parkway, also provides parking. Lot A is a VIP lot. Visitors using lot A must have a VIP pass. Lots B and F provide parking to permit holders and the general public. Lot C provides parking to the general public. Lot G provides premiere parking -- the lot has the closest parking spaces to the Pepsi Center and is available to the general public. Spaces can be found for guests with special needs in lots A, F and G.
Kia Motors provides valet parking on Chopper Circle outside of the East Atrium.
Getting There By Bus Or Train
An RTD stop is available adjacent to the Pepsi Center grounds. Both the C and E light rail lines stop at the Pepsi Center and Elitch Gardens. Light rail service increases during major Pepsi Center events. To get an RTD bus route schedule call (303)299-6000 or (800) 366-7433 or go to rtd-denver.com.
