Attending an NBA game is a great way to enjoy a core part of American culture. For the best experience (2009)—try one of these iconic arenas:
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse is the home of the Indiana Pacers. Built to mirror the high-energy atmosphere of a college basketball arena, the fieldhouse features a distinct retro feel. Pairing Indiana’s rich basketball history with a passionate college-esce environment allows for a truly unique experience for visitors. While the Pacers have struggled in recent years, their knowledgeable fans continue to pack the arena.
Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks)
Madison Square Garden is the legendary stomping ground of the New York Knicks. Located above Penn Station, MSG has hosted a massive variety of premier sporting events, ranging from championship boxing to the Stanley Cup hockey. Its rich history and prime location in the heart of New York City has made “The Garden” popular among NBA players. Michael Jordan was just one of many who brought their best performances to MSG.
Delta Arena is the home of the Utah Jazz. As the only major professional sports team in Utah, the Jazz command the full attention of local sports fans. The venue is designed in a way that gives fans an ultra-close view. The passion of the fans makes it one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. An added benefit of attending a game is witnessing the toughness of the teams under Coach Jerry Sloan. Sloan is the longest tenured (23 years) coach in professional sports.
TD Garden is the home of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are the one of most successful team in NBA history, boasting with 17 championships. With legends like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Larry Bird, fans have experienced decades of great basketball. Despite a tough stretch after the “Bird era,” the Celtics returned to glory in 2008 with their 17th title. The arena itself isn’t spectacular, but the passion of the Boston fans make up for it. Catch a game before the Pierce, Garnett, and Allen trio breaks apart.
Rose Garden (Portland Trail Blazers)
The Rose Garden is the stomping ground of the Portland Trail Blazers. As with Utah, Portland has only one major professional sports team, which has led to a similar raucous atmosphere. With the Blazers returning to form over the past couple of years, the state-of-the-art venue has been filled to the brim. Because Paul Allen (Microsoft) owns the team, Portland will have no problem keeping its young nucleus together.
Staples Center (Los Angeles Lakers)
The Staples Center is the home of the Los Angeles Lakers (and the Los Angeles Clippers). The Lakers are second to the Boston Celtics with 14 NBA championships. Their history is equally rich, featuring Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Today, Kobe Bryant leads a Lakers team that is looking to return to championship form.
New Arena Names Updated
Minor updates and edits were made from the original article.
Featured Photo © Gennaro Salamone
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Please contact him with questions regarding article or photo submissions.