Photo Attributed to TFC forever
Review by Rich Kurtzman, Stadium Journey Correspondent
As the Pepsi Center eclipses its first decade of use in 2010, the arena remains state-of-the-art both inside and out. Located in the heart of Denver, Pepsi is definitely the center of attention on many Colorado nights—and the stunning multi-use arena is befitting the beautiful capital of the Centennial State. It is home of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth, and it regularly hosts the world’s biggest musical performers when they come to town.
The Pepsi Center catches the fan and any architecture lover’s eye right away. It combines soft curves and an overall elliptical shape, contrasting them with sharp triangle-like protrusions that are made up of hundreds of windows—creating awesome glass facades, giving everyone a “wow” sensation when it is admired from close or afar.
The many doors at the main entrance of the Pepsi Center and the plentiful number of ushers eager to help in any way possible makes going into the building a breeze. After entering, the “Altitude Authentics” team store invites visitors and is seemingly always packed. Fans can find all the latest gear for both the Nuggets and Avalanche and the store offers all the hats, jerseys and other memorabilia that can’t be found anywhere else.
As you travel up the great escalators in the huge entrance of the Pepsi Center, you notice a massive and visually interesting hanging statue, half made up of hockey players, half basketballers.
Once on the first, second or third level, food and drink stands and bathrooms are abundant while their lines are usually nonexistent. When it comes to watching a game, there’s literally not a bad seat in the house as the Pepsi Center is a marvelous place to catch a competitive contest.
FANFARE Score: 29
Food and Beverage: 4
At first glance, it seems as though the Pepsi Center’s food and beverage is run of the mill, but there is more to discover depending on what floor the fan is on.
Hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries and popcorn can be found on both the first and third floors mixed intermittently with Old Chicago pizza stands. But what separates the Pepsi from others is the out of the ordinary food choices as well. Carved sandwiches of roasted meats, fajitas, buffalo burgers and Dippin’ Dots ice cream stands dot the arena as well and entice the fan’s appetite for great food.
Domestic beers can be found at any place food is sold, and the soft drink of choice is of course Pepsi. Also, Jack Daniels mixed drink stands are on every level and their bartenders make a variety of potent potables if beer is not your taste.
But where the food and drink get interesting are at the Pepsi Center’s in-house bar (Blue Sky Grill) and restaurant (The Ridgeline). Both of these special destinations are located within the club level although The Ridgeline can be accessed by any fan within five minutes left in the game. The Ridgeline offers a full and unique menu with a long wine list as well. Plus, The Ridgeline has many micro-brew options for the more picky beer drinker and it features its own patio in case a fan needs to step outside for some fresh air. Blue Sky Grill is a full-service bar and restaurant that focuses on Western cuisine, including buffalo tenderloin, buffalo ribeye and ribs.
Atmosphere: 4
Pepsi Center’s atmosphere is always fun and designed with the fan in mind first.
The great atrium entryway includes around 10 large television screens that show other games, pregame coverage or live coverage of the night’s game for the late arrivals.
Once in your seat, fans are in for an entertaining evening.
There are no bad seats in the Pepsi Center, believe me, I’ve sat almost everywhere. Even from the top row, players are easy to make out and there are no obstructed views. Of course, suite section comes with the amenities of food and drink from a private box, and sitting in the lower level puts the observer in the action—whether it’s the giants of the hardwood or the monsters on the ice.
Also, there is a Nuggets’ dance team that dances during timeouts, and a cheer-leading squad to catch the observer’s eye. “Super mascot” Rocky is the best in the NBA and if he makes his trademark backwards over the head shot from half court, the crowd will go crazy.
Neighborhood: 5
Pepsi is in a prime location, just minutes from downtown Denver. The Arena is located adjacent of Six Flags: Elich Gardens, making a full day of fun at both places a feasible option.
But the best part is that Pepsi Center is in LODO (Lower Downtown), the happening place to be in Denver. LODO is home to dozens of bars, clubs and robust restaurants and it’s all within 10 minutes walking distance from the arena.
Brooklyn’s is an upscale feeling sports bar with good, if not great food. The restaurant’s front door is literally within 100 feet of Pepsi and it makes for a great place to pre or postgame party. They boast 10 HD plasma TVs, which make watching the game there almost as fun as in Pepsi, plus 15 beers on tap and 15 on bottle. Burgers run under $10, can be buffalo, chicken, beef or veggie, and they are delicious.
Braun’s Bar & Grill is located next door to Brooklyn’s, making it convenient to eat or drink there before a game. But while Brooklyn’s menu is more sports bar oriented, Braun’s is elaborate and classier. Their restaurant offers a variety of salads and sandwiches as well as pastas and steaks. The chicken Portobello ravioli is a dinner special, as is the crab and shrimp boil that sounds exquisite.
Suite 200 is the newest club, and officially the hottest night spot in Denver now (the Nuggets Kenyon Martin, Clippers’ Marcus Camby both have had birthday parties there). Club Bash is also a wild club scene and The Church offers techno music.
For a more quaint time, there are a seemingly endless number of smaller bars and “dive bars” in LODO to accommodate anyone’s taste.
Fans: 4
Nuggets fans are a bit different, in the fact that Denver didn’t make the playoffs from 1994-2003 and many became disenfranchised with professional basketball. But, with the drafting of Carmelo Anthony in 2003, the Nuggets made a dramatic turnaround and the fans have come back.
While many are newer to basketball, the arena can remain quiet for much of games but the Nuggets are still exceptional when playing in the mile high city.
Access: 4
Bathrooms are bountiful in the Pepsi Center and waiting in line is nonexistent compared to any other sports venue in Colorado.
Photo Attributed to KM Newnhan
Also, the Pepsi Center parking lot is large, although entering and exiting can be a taste of patience and the cost is $20. But, there is plenty of parking downtown and walking a few blocks can cut that cost in half easily. If parking downtown doesn’t work, Denver’s lightrail trains take around 30 minutes from anywhere in the city and cost only a few dollars for a round trip.
Return on Investment: 4
A night out to the Pepsi Center offers a good time and solid return on the dollar.
The cheapest seats to a Nuggets game are a mere $10, two drinks and food will run around $20 and splitting parking with a friend will cut that cost to around $5 if you’re willing to walk a little.
Extra Points: 4
The Pepsi Center has already seen one championship, with the Avalanche’s second Stanley Cup win in 2001. Although the building is a decade old, it remains one of the cleanest and still has a modern feel. Plus, the arena is absolutely amazing architecturally and its location is second to none.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, the Pepsi Center itself, holding games for not only the Nuggets, but the Colorado Avalanche, Crush, Mammoth lacrosse, concerts, and other events, is state-of-the art through-and-through.
The Pepsi Center should be regarded as one of the best in all sports, for its many great aspects.
Rich Kurtzman is the Denver Nuggets Featured Columnist from Bleacherreport.com. He also writes about the Colorado State Rams for Examiner.com.
