The Best NHL Arenas to Visit This Season

The five best arenas for NHL hockey.

Staples Center, Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings will be raising another Stanley Cup banner – the teams second in three years – to the rafters of the Staples Center this fall. Aside from watching the reigning champions take the ice, the Staples Center is just one part of the 4,000,000- square-foot L.A. Live entertainment complex designed to bring entertainment and retail to the downtown Los Angeles area.

United Center, Chicago Blackhawks

Designed to be similar to the legendary Chicago Stadium, the United Center is one of the largest arenas in the league and continues the tradition of being a tough test for opposing teams. Not only do visitors have to take on the high-flying Blackhawks, the arena is built specifically to replicate the roar of the crowd that made the Chicago Stadium so famous.

Bell Centre, Montreal Canadiens

Located downtown in the heart of hockey-mad Montreal, the Bell Centre is the largest hockey arena in the world. The historic home of the Canadiens offers a unique experience as the only team located in French-speaking Quebec. The passionate Montreal fan base provides a truly compelling atmosphere not only inside the arena, but also throughout the entire city.

Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota Wild

Some of the most passionate fans in the United States can be found in the State of Hockey Minnesota, home of the Wild. According to the best stadium experience – a metric gauging quality of venue, game-day promotions and friendliness of environment – from ESPN, the Xcel Energy Center ranks as the fourth highest in North America, the highest ranking for any NHL team.

Air Canada Centre, Toronto Maple Leafs

For any hockey fanatic looking to make a pilgrimage, Toronto is the place to visit. Not only is the Air Canada Centre home to the iconic Toronto Maple Leafs – one of the most storied franchises in the league – it’s also just a short walk away from the mecca of hockey, the Hockey Hall of Fame.