About this Location

Facility Overview

The RAV4 Lot at Ball Arena (located at 1476 11th Street in Denver, Colorado) is one of the premier official surface parking facilities serving the downtown Denver sports, entertainment, and campus corridor. Positioned directly alongside Ball Arena and adjacent to the Auraria Higher Education Center, this spacious open-air surface parking facility offers convenient ground-level parking with no overhead height restrictions. Because there are no low clearance beams, the lot comfortably accommodates a broad range of passenger vehicles, including standard cars, full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, and high-roof passenger vans. Its paved surface, well-defined directional striping, and multiple wide access lanes ensure straightforward navigation even during high-volume ingress and egress periods.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Boasting an unbeatable location at the intersection of downtown excitement and collegiate energy, the RAV4 Lot places visitors within immediate walking distance of top Denver attractions:

Ball Arena: Just a 2 to 4-minute walk to main entrances for Denver Nuggets (NBA) basketball, Colorado Avalanche (NHL) hockey, Colorado Mammoth (NLL) lacrosse, and headline touring concerts.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park: Located less than an 8-minute walk to the north, offering seasonal roller coasters, family rides, and water attractions.
Auraria Campus: Directly bordering the campus grounds serving the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver.
Larimer Square & Lower Downtown (LoDo): A scenic 10 to 12-minute walk across Cherry Creek to Denver\'s historic dining, craft brewery, and nightlife quarter.
Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC) & Colorado Convention Center: Roughly 15 minutes away on foot or a short light rail transfer.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing the RAV4 Lot is straightforward via Auraria Parkway, Speer Boulevard, and 11th Street. Drivers arriving from Interstate 25 can take Exit 210B (Colfax Avenue) or Exit 212A (Speer Boulevard) for swift, direct access to the arena grounds without navigating tight downtown side streets. When exiting after capacity events, Denver Police and event traffic staff actively direct outbound flow toward major arteries to minimize gridlock. For public transit users, the RTD Light Rail Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens Station (served by the E and W lines) is situated just steps away, offering effortless rail access throughout the Denver metropolitan region.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-air surface parking with unrestricted vertical clearance suitable for tall vehicles and roof racks.
Designated accessible ADA parking spaces situated close to main arena pedestrian walkways.
Equipped with high-output perimeter floodlighting and 24/7 security surveillance during arena events.
Cashless payment operations supported via on-site kiosks, ParkMobile app integration, and event pre-paid mobile passes.
Active on-site parking attendants and traffic controllers during major concerts, playoffs, and sporting fixtures.

Ideal For

Sports & Concert Fans: Unmatched proximity for attendees heading to Ball Arena fixtures and shows.
Theme Park Guests: Convenient daily overflow parking for visitors spending the day at Elitch Gardens.
Downtown Commuters & Eventgoers: Excellent gateway parking for LoDo dining, events at the Auraria Campus, or festivals along Cherry Creek.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because the RAV4 Lot serves major arena games and high-profile stadium tours, parking operates on dynamic event-rate pricing during scheduled events. Drivers are strongly advised to purchase parking passes in advance via official arena ticketing platforms or ParkMobile to lock in their space and enjoy streamlined entry. When attending sold-out events, plan to arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before tip-off or puck drop to beat neighborhood traffic bottlenecks along Auraria Parkway and Speer Boulevard.