The following is a list of ice hockey arenas by capacity . Only those arenas that regularly host ice hockey games with paid admission (e.g. professional, major junior, or university) are included. Outdoor stadiums that have hosted occasional hockey games are not included. Buildings under construction are not included. Buildings which no longer host hockey matches are listed but not ranked, and the capacity for defunct buildings in the capacity at the time of closing unless otherwise mentioned. Buildings are ranked by their current capacity for hockey games, not for other events, which is often substantially different because of ice hockey's unique playing surface, the ice rink. Capacities do not include standing room tickets. All arenas with a capacity of more than 15,000 are included.
The majority of these arenas are in Canada and the United States, with a small number in Europe, none are on any other continent. Most of the largest arenas are home to professional teams, mainly from the National Hockey League (NHL). All thirty current NHL arenas are listed. None of teams in the top leagues in Finland (SM-liiga ), Sweden (Elitserien ), or in the international Kontinental Hockey League (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Russia), and only one team each in the top league of Germany (Deutsche Eishockey Liga ) and Switzerland (National League A ) play in an arena with a capacity larger than 15,000 and most play in arenas of less than 10,000, despite the reputation of these leagues as Europe's best, and the KHL's recent attempt to compete with the NHL for talent. More arenas in the junior Western Hockey League or minor-professional American Hockey League are in the above 15,000-seat class than in all of the European leagues combined. The sample of the best European venues can be indentified by examining the host sites of the Ice Hockey World Championships .
Arenas by capacity [ ]
Rank
Arena
Capacity
City
Country
Home Team(s) (League, Dates)
defunct
Thunderdome
>28,180
St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) (1993–1996)
1
Bell Centre
21,273
Montreal
Canada
Montreal Canadiens
defunct
Greensboro Coliseum
21,273
Greensboro
United States
Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) (1997–1999), Carolina Monarchs (AHL) (1995–1997), Greensboro Monarchs (ECHL) (1989–1995), Greensboro Generals (EHL/SHL) (1959–1973)
defunct
The Palace
20,804
Auburn Hills
United States
Detroit Vipers (IHL) (1994–2001)
3
Joe Louis Arena
20,066
Detroit
United States
Detroit Red Wings
4
United Center
19,717 (formerly 20,500)
Chicago
United States
Chicago Blackhawks
5
Wachovia Center
19,519
Philadelphia
United States
Philadelphia Flyers
6
St. Pete Times Forum
19,500
Tampa
United States
Tampa Bay Lightning
7
Pengrowth Saddledome
19,289
Calgary
Canada
Calgary Flames , Calgary Hitmen
8
BankAtlantic Center
19,250
Sunrise
United States
Florida Panthers
9
Scotiabank Place
19,153
Ottawa
Canada
Ottawa Senators
10
Scottrade Center
19,150
St. Louis
United States
St. Louis Blues
defunct
Izod Center
19,040
East Rutherford
United States
New Jersey Devils (NHL) (1982–2007)
11
Air Canada Centre
18,819
Toronto
Canada
Toronto Maple Leafs
12
HSBC Arena
18,690
Buffalo
United States
Buffalo Sabres
13
RBC Center
18,680
Raleigh
United States
Carolina Hurricanes
14
General Motors Place
18,630
Vancouver
Canada
Vancouver Canucks
15
Philips Arena
18,545
Atlanta
United States
Atlanta Thrashers
16
American Airlines Center
18,532
Dallas
United States
Dallas Stars
17
Lanxess Arena
18,500
Cologne
Germany
Kölner Haie
18
Rose Garden
18,280
Portland
United States
Portland Winter Hawks
19
Verizon Center
18,277
Washington
United States
Washington Capitals
20
Madison Square Garden (IV)
18,200
New York City
United States
New York Rangers
21
Nationwide Arena
18,136
Columbus
United States
Columbus Blue Jackets
defunct
Capital Centre
18,130
Washington
United States
Washington Capitals (NHL) (1974–97)
22
Staples Center
18,118
Los Angeles
United States
Los Angeles Kings
23
Xcel Energy Center
18,064
St. Paul
United States
Minnesota Wild
24
Ford Center
18,036
Oklahoma City
United States
Oklahoma City Blazers
25
Pepsi Center
18,007
Denver
United States
Colorado Avalanche
26
Allstate Arena
18,000
Rosemont
United States
Chicago Wolves
27=
Bradley Center
17,800
Milwaukee
United States
Milwaukee Admirals
27=
Toyota Center
17,800
Houston
United States
Houston Aeros
28
Jobing.com Arena
17,799
Glendale
United States
Phoenix Coyotes
defunct
Kemper Arena
17,647
Kansas City
US
Kansas City Scouts (NHL) (1974–1976), Kansas City Blues (CHL) (1976–1977), Kansas City Blades (IHL) (1990–2001), Kansas City Outlaws (UHL) (2004–2005)
29
Prudential Center
17,625
Newark
United States
New Jersey Devils
30
TD Banknorth Garden
17,565
Boston
United States
Boston Bruins
31
Times Union Center
17,500
Albany
United States
Albany River Rats (AHL) (1993-present), Albany Choppers (IHL) (1990-1991)
defunct
Manchester Evening News Arena
17,500
Manchester
United Kingdom
Manchester Storm 1995-2002
32
HP Pavilion at San Jose
17,496
San Jose
United States
San Jose Sharks
33
FirstOntario Centre
17,383
Hamilton
Canada
Hamilton Bulldogs
34
Wachovia Spectrum
17,380
Philadelphia
United States
Philadelphia Phantoms
35
O2 Arena
17,360
Prague
Czech Republic
HC Slavia Praha
defunct
Chicago Stadium
17,317
Chicago
United States
Chicago Blackhawks 1929-1994
36
Honda Center
17,174
Anaheim
United States
Anaheim Ducks
37
Sommet Center
17,113
Nashville
United States
Nashville Predators
38
BOK Center
17,096
Tulsa
United States
Tulsa Oilers
39
Jerome Schottenstein Center
17,200
Columbus
United States
Ohio State Buckeyes
defunct
Reunion Arena
17,001
Dallas
United States
Dallas Stars (NHL) (1993–2001)
defunct
Verizon Arena
17,00
North Little Rock
United States
Arkansas Riverblades (ECHL) (1999-2003)
40
Mellon Arena
16,958
Pittsburgh
United States
Pittsburgh Penguins
41
Rexall Place
16,839
Edmonton
Canada
Edmonton Oilers , Edmonton Oil Kings
42
PostFinance Arena
16,789
Berne
Switzerland
SC Bern
43
Qwest Center Omaha
16,680
Omaha
United States
UNO Mavericks
defunct
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
16,433
Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons (AHL) (1940–1970), Buffalo Sabres (NHL) (1970–1996)
defunct
Montreal Forum
16,400
Montreal
Canada
Montreal Maroons (NHL) (1924-1938), Montreal Canadiens (NHL) (1926-1996), Montreal Junior Canadiens (QJHL, OHA) (1933-1972), Montreal Voyageurs (AHL) (1969-1971), Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL) (1972-1975), Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) (1975-1982)
defunct
Maple Leaf Gardens
16,307 (circa 1968)
Toronto
Canada
Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) (1931–1999), Toronto Marlboros (OHL) (1931–1989), Toronto Toros (WHA) (1974–1976)
44
Pacific Coliseum
16,281
Vancouver
Canada
Vancouver Giants
45
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
16,234 >
Uniondale
United States
New York Islanders
defunct
US Airways Center
16,210
Phoenix
United States
Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) (1996–2003), Phoenix RoadRunners (ECHL) (2005–2009)
defunct
McNichols Sports Arena
16,061
Denver
Colorado Rockies (NHL) (1976-1982), Colorado Flames (CHL) (1982-1984), Denver Grizzlies (IHL) (1994-1995), Colorado Avalanche (NHL) (1995-1999)
defunct
The Forum
16,005
Inglewood
United States
Los Angeles Kings (NHL) (1967-1999)
defunct
Amway Arena
15,948
Orlando
United States
Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) (1995–2001),Orlando Seals (ACHL/WHA2) (2002–2004)
defunct
Madison Square Garden (1925)
15,925
New York
United States
New York Rangers (NHL) (1926–1968), New York Americans (1925-1942)
defunct
Omni Coliseum
15,278
Atlanta
United States
Atlanta Flames (NHL) (1972-1980), Atlanta Knights (IHL) (1992-1996)
46
XL Center
15,635
Hartford
United States
Hartford Wolfpack
47
Wells Fargo Arena
15,581
Des Moines
United States
Iowa Chops
defunct
Winnipeg Arena
15,565 (1979-1996)
Winnipeg
Canada
Winnipeg Warriors (WHL) (1955-1961), Winnipeg Jets/Clubs/Monarchs (WCHL) (1967-1977), Winnipeg Jets (WHA, NHL) (1972-1996), Winnipeg Warriors (WHL) (1980-1984), Manitoba Moose (IHL, AHL) (1996-2004)
48
Colisée Pepsi
15,399
Quebec City
Canada
Quebec Remparts
49
Kohl Center
15,237
Madison
United States
Wisconsin Badgers
defunct
KeyArena
15,177
Seattle
United States
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) (1977-1994, 1995-2009)
51
MTS Centre
15,015
Winnipeg
Canada
Manitoba Moose
defunct
Detroit Olympia
15,000
Detroit
United States
Detroit Cougars/Falcons/Red Wings (NHL) (1927–1979)
defunct
Met Center
15,000
Bloomington
United States
Minnesota North Stars (NHL) (1967-1993)