Worst stadium in the NBA

[infinite11285]

Capital One Arena: where dreams go to die under fluorescent lighting. Smack in the middle of Chinatown in downtown DC, it’s surrounded by chain restaurants no one admits to liking and dive bars that smell like regret. Inside, it’s sticky, cramped, and somehow always feels like a Greyhound bus terminal during a snowstorm.

Parking costs more than your ticket, and concessions? Enjoy a 30-minute wait for $40 chicken tenders that taste like they’ve been on sabbatical under a heat lamp since the Clinton administration. The only real upgrade they’ve made in 25 years is perfecting the art of charging $19 for a Bud Light.

Honestly, the best game plan is to show up already drunk and pray you blackout before halftime. Even worse, you're more likely to get tetanus than the Wiz to win the game you're attending.

[ImmortalD24]

I know this is a thread about the worst, but. The Fieldhouse in Indy is now 25 years old. It was considered the best "basketball" arena in the world when it was first built. Still top notch, from what I've been told. I've never been to another one.

This list is before the new Clipper Arena was finished (Currenting being scheduled for demolition)

2024-25 NBA Arena Rank Top to Bottom
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41557829/top-nba-arenas-td-garden-intuit-dome-more

yup usual suspects. Spurs and Memphis.


But look at the utter nonsense they said about the AAA Center (Dallas Mavericks):

Dallas has been known to show highlights on the jumbotron even if its own player is the one getting posterized. After the Celtics' Jaylen Brown dropped Luka Doncic on a crossover during last season's Finals, the Mavericks ran the replay on the jumbotron, much to the dismay of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Markieff Morris. ESPN's Tim MacMahon later said this has been a trend for years spearheaded by Mark Cuban, and this entertainment factor likely contributes to the eleventh overall fan experience ranking. Sometimes, it really be your own people.

What a bogus thing to complain about.. I actually find it refreshing tbqh. Hate to say it but W Mark Cuban here.

Just for that alone… I give this list a big F.

[Godymas]

Capital One Arena: where dreams go to die under fluorescent lighting. Smack in the middle of Chinatown in downtown DC, it’s surrounded by chain restaurants no one admits to liking and dive bars that smell like regret. Inside, it’s sticky, cramped, and somehow always feels like a Greyhound bus terminal during a snowstorm.

Parking costs more than your ticket, and concessions? Enjoy a 30-minute wait for $40 chicken tenders that taste like they’ve been on sabbatical under a heat lamp since the Clinton administration. The only real upgrade they’ve made in 25 years is perfecting the art of charging $19 for a Bud Light.

Honestly, the best game plan is to show up already drunk and pray you blackout before halftime. Even worse, you're more likely to get tetanus than the Wiz to win the game you're attending.

That’s crazy. First of all you made a mistake parking. It’s super convenient by metro. Second of all, it’s right by Chinatown. You’ve got Clyde’s, which is iconic. Sure a few chains, but some excellent dining is right around the corner.

[G R E Y]

We'll be getting a new stadium downtown soon after building a new training facility complex. So that's exciting.

8 years from now at the earliest.

Whenever the current lease on current arena runs out. But process has already started with site vacated by previous tenant and sold by owners, Project Marvel going through city approval steps, and construction afterwards. In other words, it'll be ready by the time current lease expires or team will pay to get out of lease if done sooner.

[Kent]

I know this is a thread about the worst, but. The Fieldhouse in Indy is now 25 years old. It was considered the best "basketball" arena in the world when it was first built. Still top notch, from what I've been told. I've never been to another one.

This list is before the new Clipper Arena was finished (Currenting being scheduled for demolition)

2024-25 NBA Arena Rank Top to Bottom
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41557829/top-nba-arenas-td-garden-intuit-dome-more

If you're in the mood for a different take...

https://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/stadium-journey-s-nba-arena-rankings-2025

[LAvision]

Can't believe it has been mentioned, but people around the league think smoothie king is a complete ****hole.

[Old_Blue]

Can't believe it has been mentioned, but people around the league think smoothie king is a complete ****hole.

Well, New Orleans in general is a complete ****hole. So, singling out one specific part of it is kind of overkill.

[G R E Y]

I know this is a thread about the worst, but. The Fieldhouse in Indy is now 25 years old. It was considered the best "basketball" arena in the world when it was first built. Still top notch, from what I've been told. I've never been to another one.

This list is before the new Clipper Arena was finished (Currenting being scheduled for demolition)

2024-25 NBA Arena Rank Top to Bottom
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41557829/top-nba-arenas-td-garden-intuit-dome-more

I've been to MSG and of course Scotiabank arena, and the biggest detraction for the Frost Bank Center is location. Sightlines, staff, concessions, actual fan engagement are excellent. I'd say fan engagement has been most manufactured via sound of fans through speakers in Scotiabank, MSG most expensive by a lot, and though both are easy to get to by public transit, MSG has a better layout for people to move around. Scotiabank has a long tunnel if you're getting there by train or subway, and then it bottlenecks badly at the arena end where you get checked in for tickets.

Can't wait for the new Spurs arena to be downtown among actual other things to do and accessible in multiple ways beyond car, car, or car.

[Uncle Mxy]

When you attend an Oklahoma City Thunder game, you have to deal with a pre-game religious invocation where everyone is supposed to pray to Jesus. So, there's that to consider...

Watch on YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/iamjamesfortune.4real/videos/thunder-opening-prayer/638276808968876/

Wow, this is something...

It's the Bible Belt. Getting directions to, say, the church at the intersection of 1st and Main isn't specific enough. There will be three freakin' churches at three corners of that intersection (and a gas station at the fourth corner). And yes, Talladega Nights is amazing!

[infinite11285]

Capital One Arena: where dreams go to die under fluorescent lighting. Smack in the middle of Chinatown in downtown DC, it’s surrounded by chain restaurants no one admits to liking and dive bars that smell like regret. Inside, it’s sticky, cramped, and somehow always feels like a Greyhound bus terminal during a snowstorm.

Parking costs more than your ticket, and concessions? Enjoy a 30-minute wait for $40 chicken tenders that taste like they’ve been on sabbatical under a heat lamp since the Clinton administration. The only real upgrade they’ve made in 25 years is perfecting the art of charging $19 for a Bud Light.

Honestly, the best game plan is to show up already drunk and pray you blackout before halftime. Even worse, you're more likely to get tetanus than the Wiz to win the game you're attending.

That’s crazy. First of all you made a mistake parking. It’s super convenient by metro. Second of all, it’s right by Chinatown. You’ve got Clyde’s, which is iconic. Sure a few chains, but some excellent dining is right around the corner.

Love Clyde’s. Wings with mumbo sauce with a few Long Islands gets me right. That's one of the gems on that strip.

Don't get me started on (overpriced) Metro. At least the local kids play some good music when you get off. The excellent dining you're referring to, the fancy spots, charge a premium for a dinner you can finish in two spoonfuls; no thanks.

[Dacost]

San Antonio arena is just all around awful.

Smoothie king in New Orleans is a close second.

[Mephariel]

According to a bunch of reports.. people complain about Memphis a whole lot and players hate the practice facility as it feels like a dungeon (no windows).

San Antonio might be up there but it's a hush hush type of town where they don't want to besmerich their city in any way. Even the controversies of that organization doesn't get talked enough and would be the laughing stock of the league if it made it to mainstream headlines.

That is crazy. Because even the LA Sparks is building a modern, glamorous, practice facility.

[UcanUwill]

Can't believe it has been mentioned, but people around the league think smoothie king is a complete ****hole.

Well, New Orleans in general is a complete ****hole. So, singling out one specific part of it is kind of overkill.

I have never been to US, I do not know much about it, I wouldn't want to live there, but if I had to choose where to live there if I had to, I feel New Orleans would be one of my first options. It seems cool and distinct, but this all could be in my head, IDK.

[UcanUwill]

According to a bunch of reports.. people complain about Memphis a whole lot and players hate the practice facility as it feels like a dungeon (no windows).

San Antonio might be up there but it's a hush hush type of town where they don't want to besmerich their city in any way. Even the controversies of that organization doesn't get talked enough and would be the laughing stock of the league if it made it to mainstream headlines.

That is crazy. Because even the LA Sparks is building a modern, glamorous, practice facility.

Wow, this looks dope. I didn't know no windows was a huge gripe, here in Euroleague, our team is known to have one of the best practice facilities and it is literally underground, I do not think most people care as long as facility itself is good, tho standards in Europe and NBA are obviously diffferent (tho some NBA teams I have no doubt have worse facilities also).
Speaking about underground facilities, the entire Monaco basketball arena is under their Football stadium.

[OrlandoMagic198]

According to a bunch of reports.. people complain about Memphis a whole lot and players hate the practice facility as it feels like a dungeon (no windows).

San Antonio might be up there but it's a hush hush type of town where they don't want to besmerich their city in any way. Even the controversies of that organization doesn't get talked enough and would be the laughing stock of the league if it made it to mainstream headlines.

That is crazy. Because even the LA Sparks is building a modern, glamorous, practice facility.

It looks ugly to me but I will say I like the pool, that looks nice!

[BigDan245]

The worst one I've been to is Philly (Xfinity Mobile Arena)

I've been to:

Golden 1 Center (Kings)
Crypto.com Arena (Lakers)
TD Garden (Celtics)
Little Caesers Arena (Pistons)
Fiserv Forum (Bucks)
United Center (Bulls)
Target Center (Timberwolves)
Kaseya Arena (Heat)
PHX Arena (Suns)
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (Cavaliers)
Ball Arena (Nuggets)
Toyota Center (Rockets)
Capital One Arena (Wizards)
Xfinity Mobile Arena (76ers)

[Godymas]

Capital One Arena: where dreams go to die under fluorescent lighting. Smack in the middle of Chinatown in downtown DC, it’s surrounded by chain restaurants no one admits to liking and dive bars that smell like regret. Inside, it’s sticky, cramped, and somehow always feels like a Greyhound bus terminal during a snowstorm.

Parking costs more than your ticket, and concessions? Enjoy a 30-minute wait for $40 chicken tenders that taste like they’ve been on sabbatical under a heat lamp since the Clinton administration. The only real upgrade they’ve made in 25 years is perfecting the art of charging $19 for a Bud Light.

Honestly, the best game plan is to show up already drunk and pray you blackout before halftime. Even worse, you're more likely to get tetanus than the Wiz to win the game you're attending.

That’s crazy. First of all you made a mistake parking. It’s super convenient by metro. Second of all, it’s right by Chinatown. You’ve got Clyde’s, which is iconic. Sure a few chains, but some excellent dining is right around the corner.

Love Clyde’s. Wings with mumbo sauce with a few Long Islands gets me right. That's one of the gems on that strip.

Don't get me started on (overpriced) Metro. At least the local kids play some good music when you get off. The excellent dining you're referring to, the fancy spots, charge a premium for a dinner you can finish in two spoonfuls; no thanks.

$2.90 is the same price as the NY subway.

Also Chinatown has some underrated eats. Irish Channel around the corner too is a nice pub. Bulldog too. Jackpot nice little dive bar with free popcorn.

[Calvin Klein]

Capital One Arena: where dreams go to die under fluorescent lighting. Smack in the middle of Chinatown in downtown DC, it’s surrounded by chain restaurants no one admits to liking and dive bars that smell like regret. Inside, it’s sticky, cramped, and somehow always feels like a Greyhound bus terminal during a snowstorm.

Parking costs more than your ticket, and concessions? Enjoy a 30-minute wait for $40 chicken tenders that taste like they’ve been on sabbatical under a heat lamp since the Clinton administration. The only real upgrade they’ve made in 25 years is perfecting the art of charging $19 for a Bud Light.

Honestly, the best game plan is to show up already drunk and pray you blackout before halftime. Even worse, you're more likely to get tetanus than the Wiz to win the game you're attending.

are these really the prices on every arena? That's criminal. How much is parking?

[HotelVitale]

Can't believe it has been mentioned, but people around the league think smoothie king is a complete ****hole.

Well, New Orleans in general is a complete ****hole. So, singling out one specific part of it is kind of overkill.

I have never been to US, I do not know much about it, I wouldn't want to live there, but if I had to choose where to live there if I had to, I feel New Orleans would be one of my first options. It seems cool and distinct, but this all could be in my head, IDK.

It is cool and distinct, but it's also a strange place with a limited economy that mostly gets by because it's interesting and pretty. It's the smallest NBA market I believe, and it's also quite poor relative to other cities.

Part of that is just being a city in the deep south--the poorest metro areas in the country are mostly in the deep south, since the economy as a whole there just didn't jump to industry and then to service like most of the rest of the US. And part is that, unlike some other cities that were its size around the country, it didn't develop as a center for a newer 20th/21st century industry (e.g. Seattle, Austin, Raleigh-Durham, etc). So it's remained smaller and less wealthy than other US cities, and still has a major reliance on tourism and its culture industry. But yeah it's pretty cool.

[Bankai]

Only been to Air Canada(Scotiabank) Centre and it takes me 5 mins to go to the washroom. Thats 4 minutes too long. Bad design.