Hockey

Best & Worst NHL Arenas Ranked For 2026-27

Gary Pearson Aug 06, 2026, 9:58 AM
min read
The Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues warm up before an NHL hockey game at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Las Vegas.
(AP Photo/David Becker)

A lot goes into a perfect hockey-watching experience, including location, atmosphere, attendance rates, entertainment, comfort, and the quality of the on-ice product, among others. 

Here are the NHL arenas ranked from best to worst. 

Best NHL Arenas (and the Worst)

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1. Vegas Golden Knights — T-Mobile Arena

If NHL odds were based on the quality of arenas, the Vegas Golden Knights would be the favourite. 

Smack dab in the middle of the Vegas Strip, T-Mobile Arena is the third-newest building (2017-18) and offers all the trimmings, glitz, and glamour you’d expect from Sin City. 

Plus, the fans get rowdy, accentuating the enjoyment factor. But remember you’ll be paying a pretty penny for everything. 

2. Montreal Canadiens — Bell Centre

The Bell Centre has the highest capacity (21,105) and an excellent layout conducive to superb hockey-watching. Montreal knows how to host hockey games, so you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable experience. 

From European-style singing to an intimidating atmosphere, the Bell Centre represents a bucket-list arena to visit. 

3. Edmonton Oilers — Rogers Place 

Rogers Place is the fifth-newest arena in the NHL (2016-17). The designers thought of everything. Its footprint is designed like an oil drop, and the sightlines are unparalleled. The designers thought of everything. Its footprint is designed like an oil drop, and the sightlines are unparalleled.

Edmonton is also a hockey-first city, offering raucous atmospheres (especially in the playoffs) and a knowledgeable fan base. It helps that the team is consistently among the Stanley Cup odds favourites. 

4. Nashville Predators — Bridgestone Arena 

What an atmosphere. Bridgestone Arena is perfectly situated on Broadway, across from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The local area is oozing with life, seeping into the arena. 

Plus, you might catch a glimpse of Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, or both. 

5. New York Rangers — Madison Square Garden 

Technically, Madison Square Garden is the oldest arena in the NHL. However, one of the most storied and well-known venues in sports underwent a whopping $1 billion renovation, giving it a modern-day feel while staying true to its roots. 

The fans are passionate and knowledgeable, and the venue is located a few blocks from the Empire State Building in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Now, all it needs is a winning on-ice product. 

6. Chicago Blackhawks — United Center 

While the United Center is tied for the sixth-oldest arena (1994-95), it is one of the venues most hockey fans want to visit. Steeped with history, the United Center was home to the dynastic Blackhawks team led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. 

If you go see a game in 2026-27, you’ll get to see Kane in his second stint with the team he led to glory three times. 

It’s pretty well-kept, considering its age and has a capacity of 19,717, making it the second-largest NHL venue. 

7. Seattle Kraken — Climate Pledge Arena 

Opening after a massive redevelopment in 2021-22, Climate Pledge Arena is the first carbon-neutral arena. It’s powered with 100% renewable energy and uses rainwater to fill the ice surface. The beer cups are aluminum, and a living plant wall is on the lower concourse. 

If that’s not enough, the passionate fan base accentuates the viewing experience.  

8. Detroit Red Wings — Little Caesars Arena 

Opened in 2017-18, Little Caesars Arena is a sparkling venue in midtown Detroit. It’s part of a 50-block entertainment district that has helped gentrify Detroit. The building features stunning concourses and amazing seating bowls that glow in different colours. 

Considering the team hasn’t secured a playoff berth since 2016, it comes as no surprise that the atmosphere can be a little bit quiet. You’ll also be hard-pressed these days to see an octopus thrown on the surface. 

9. Minnesota Wild — Grand Casino Arena

In 2004, ESPN named the Grand Casino Arena the best sports venue in the US. In 2010, it was ranked third. While the building is obviously more dated, it’s an incredible place to go and watch a hockey game. 

Packed to the rafters regardless of the team’s quality, the Grand Casino Arena is among the best attendance rates in the NHL. Plus, people in Minnesota know their hockey, and most who go are die-hard fans, accentuating the experience. 

10. Pittsburgh Penguins – PPG Paints Arena

Who doesn’t want to see Sid the Kid, the aging phenom, live? Aside from the main attraction, PPG Paints Arena is an architectural masterpiece, with glass windows adorning one side and a tree-filled plaza enhancing the aesthetics. 

There are more than 2,000 club seats, a fine-dining restaurant, and a ton of concession vendors, many of which serve one of the best Primanti Bros. sandwiches you’ll find. 

11. Tampa Bay Lightning – Benchmark International Arena

Fancy a relaxing night of hockey-watching? Head to Tampa Bay to watch the Lightning play. Benchmark International Arena is in the middle of downtown and filled with chill hockey fans. 

While all attendees aren’t of the die-hard variety, the stadium is always full thanks to consistent top-tier on-ice product.

12. Colorado Avalanche – Ball Arena

Ball Arena is in a perfect location, situated centrally in the neighbourhoods of Lower Downtown, the River North Art District, and Highland. 

It’s a bustling area with inviting bars and restaurants. Beer is prioritized in Colorado, with a number of craft options, including the attached Breckenridge Brewery Mountain House.

And if you love a good singalong, you’re in luck. Just make sure you know the words to “All the Small Things.”

13. Columbus Blue Jackets – Nationwide Arena

If only the hockey team is a contender because Nationwide Arena basically has everything else. From an exquisite selection of craft beer to dozens of nearby eclectic restaurants and excellent sightlines, Nationwide Arena offers one of the best viewing experiences. 

The entertainment plaza contains plenty of restaurants and bars with wide and comfortable concourses. Oh, and the team’s practice rink is on a second sheet of ice in the same arena.

14. San Jose Sharks – SAP Center 

The SAP Center doesn’t feel like the fourth-oldest venue. Opened in 1993-94, it has been kept in pristine condition. It features glass pyramids, a stainless steel facade, and, you guessed it, palm trees. Sounds idyllic, right? 

Despite having Macklin Celebrini dazzle nightly with his arsenal of otherworldly skills, the SAP Center had the fifth-worst average attendance in 2025-26. At least it was an improvement from the second-lowest in the previous campaign.  

15. Toronto Maple Leafs – Scotiabank Arena

Scotiabank Arena offers all the trimmings and is a staple of Canadian sports venues. It’s a bucket-list experience, but many people can’t go too often because of the high price point on just about everything.

Fans can turn on the team pretty quickly if things aren’t going their way. If all is well on the ice, the atmosphere flips to raucous.  

16. Los Angeles Kings – Crypto.com Arena

Watching a game at Crypto.com Arena offers a quintessential Los Angeles experience. The building is superbly situated and offers countless food and beverage options. The Grammy Museum, a movie theatre, a bowling alley, and a shopping plaza are all close by. 

That sounds like a cushy experience. Plus, the fans are mostly chill.

17. Washington Capitals – Capital One Arena

Capital One Arena offers a proper East Coast experience. Grab a delicious Chick-fil-A sandwich while watching one of the countless massive flat-screen scoreboard displays. 

There are more craft beer choices than you’ll know what to do with, and the atmosphere is often frenzied. And if you like to bet on hockey, you’re in luck as a sportsbook is on the premises. 

Plus, like any good building, it’s in the middle of the downtown core. 

18. New York Islanders – UBS Arena

The UBS Arena is the newest in the NHL. 

Opened at the start of the 2021-22 season, it offers a wonderful viewing experience. Sightlines are good wherever you are, and the lower bowl is large and relatively steep. The designers kept the ceiling relatively low to get the most out of the acoustics. 

19. St. Louis Blues – Enterprise Center

Tied for the sixth-oldest arena, the Enterprise Center underwent a $150-million renovation to modernize. Blues fans care about hockey a great deal, augmenting your game-day experience. Plus, the team still has an organist, accompanied by serenading fans. 

20. New Jersey Devils – Prudential Center

Thanks to its towering ceilings, the Prudential Center seems larger inside than it is. It’s a well-designed hockey arena that focuses on fan experience. 

Food is one of the highlights, offering Taylor ham, disco fries, Jersey-style pizza, Italian hot dogs, and Portuguese delicacies. 

21. Dallas Stars – American Airlines Center

The American Airlines Center has padded lower-bowl seats. Sounds comfy, right? The atmosphere can be hit or miss, but it’s definitely a hit in the playoffs, where almost everyone in the lower bowl stands in crunch time. 

It also has one of the league’s best attendance rates, helped by an outstanding on-ice product. 

22. Boston Bruins – TD Garden

TD Garden is a must-visit for any hockey fan. 

However, their recent renovation replaced the old seats with new, stylish, padded ones with high armrests. According to the Stadium Dude, it makes things feel cramped. 

Regardless, the Boston Bruins are an Original Six team, so it should be on everyone’s bucket list. Plus, the central location makes for a good time. 

23. Philadelphia Flyers – Xfinity Mobile Arena

Xfinity Mobile Arena features the world’s first kinetic 4K scoreboard—pretty cool, right? It’s also home to a passionate fanbase.

The location leaves a lot to be desired, as there’s not much to do before or after the game. That said, a recent $50-million renovation on the club seating area improves the overall proposition.

24. Winnipeg Jets – Canada Life Centre

Watching playoff hockey in Winnipeg is awesome, as the whiteout offers one of the best atmospheres. 

However, it has one of the lowest attendance rates during the regular season, and the concourses are too tight for comfort. 

25. Carolina Hurricanes – Lenovo Center

Lenovo Center is all about the food offerings. It has a Shake Shack, which offers PDQ chicken tenders, and a BBQ stand that offers scrumptious selections. 

However, the location—next to Carter-Finley Stadium in West Raleigh—isn’t great. 

26. Florida Panthers – Amerant Bank Arena

Like the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Amerant Bank Arena is located in the middle of nowhere, about 64 kilometres from South Beach, Miami. 

Its attendance rate is high, and the on-ice product is fantastic, which improves the overall experience.

27. Buffalo Sabres – KeyBank Center

KeyBank Center had the worst attendance rate during the 2023-24 season, which improved drastically in 2025-26 thanks to the team making the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. 

While it’s one of the older buildings, opening in 1996,  the on-ice improvements have made going there a pleasurable experience for the first time in ages.  

28. Anaheim Ducks – Honda Center

Located in SoCal suburbia, the Honda Center is the fourth-oldest building (1993-94). Freeways and parking lots surround it, and aside from being near Disneyland and boasting a team on the ascendancy, it doesn’t offer much else. 

29. Utah Mammoth – Delta Center

Opening night at the Delta Center saw more than $120,000 in beer sales, breaking the previous record. The home of the Utah Mammoth is the third-oldest building (1991-92), 

30. Vancouver Canucks – Rogers Arena

Rogers Arena is in downtown Vancouver. It’s wedged between intersecting roads, which feels peculiar at first sight. That part of the offering grows on you. 

While the mountains and the Pacific Ocean provide an awe-inspiring backdrop, the team is not holding up their end of the bargain.  

Otherwise, it’s your run-of-the-mill arena. 

31. Calgary Flames – Scotiabank Saddledome

Oh, the Scotiabank Saddledome, known for its cool exterior design that resembles, well, a saddle. Unfortunately, the building and amenities are archaic. If you don’t go to one of the washrooms with more than 10 stalls, you’ll miss a chunk of the action due to the chaotic lines. 

It also has one of the league’s lowest attendance rates. Surprised? I was, too. Thankfully, a new building will soon arrive in Calgary.

32. Ottawa Senators – Canadian Tire Centre

The Canadian Tire Centre is literally located in the middle of nowhere. Fans can’t stand travelling to it, and I can see why. 

That doesn’t make for an enjoyable experience, especially when the mercury drops mid-winter. Also, the attendance rate is relatively low comparatively. I wonder why…

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