About this Location

Facility Overview

The Tacoma Lot is a designated official open-air surface parking facility serving Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center) in downtown Denver, Colorado. Located along Chopper Circle directly south of the arena complex, the lot provides level, paved parking specifically designed to handle large volumes of eventgoers and visitors to the Central Platte Valley district. Because the Tacoma Lot is a fully outdoor surface facility, it has virtually unrestricted vertical clearance, making it exceptionally accommodating for oversized vehicles, tall pickup trucks, high-roof utility vans, and full-size SUVs that often struggle with the restricted ceiling heights of downtown parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned on the Ball Arena campus at 1199 Chopper Circle, this lot offers unbeatable access to premier sports and entertainment venues. Key destinations within immediate walking distance include:

Ball Arena: Directly adjacent, offering a 2- to 3-minute walk to main concourse entrances for Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), and Colorado Mammoth (NLL) games, as well as major headline arena tours.
Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park: Located just west across the light rail tracks, roughly a 5- to 7-minute stroll.
Downtown Aquarium & Children\'s Museum: Located just across the South Platte River pedestrian pathways, approximately 10 to 12 minutes away on foot.
Auraria Higher Education Campus: Located immediately across Auraria Parkway, providing fast pedestrian access to CU Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver.
LoDo (Lower Downtown) & Larimer Square: Historic dining, boutique shopping, and craft brew houses are reachable in 10 to 15 minutes via the Cherry Creek Trail pedestrian crossing or Speer Boulevard.
Denver Union Station: Approximately a 15-minute walk north along the Wynkoop pedestrian corridor.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle access to the Tacoma Lot is routed via Chopper Circle, accessible directly from Auraria Parkway or 9th Street. Its strategic placement adjacent to Auraria Parkway allows rapid transit to and from Interstate 25 (Exit 210B / Colfax Ave or Exit 212A / Speer Blvd), facilitating a smoother departure after major concerts and sporting events compared to interior downtown garages. For multimodal travelers, the Ball Arena / Elitch Gardens RTD Light Rail Station (serving the E and W lines) sits just steps away on the west side of the arena, providing direct rail connections throughout the greater Denver metropolitan area.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Ample headroom without clearance barriers, ideal for tall passenger trucks, SUVs, and roof-rack accessories.
Designated Accessible Spaces: ADA-compliant parking stalls situated near pedestrian walkways leading directly to arena entrances.
Digital Payment & Reservation: Seamless integration with Ball Arena event parking services, ParkMobile, and pre-paid mobile passes.
High-Visibility Lighting & Security: Bright LED floodlighting and on-site event staff, parking attendants, and Denver Police traffic directors during major events.
Well-Marked Stalls: Paved asphalt with clear striping and directed traffic routing for organized inbound and outbound vehicle circulation.

Ideal For

Sports & Concert Enthusiasts: Fans attending Denver Nuggets basketball games, Colorado Avalanche hockey matches, and major national concert tours at Ball Arena.
Elitch Gardens Visitors: Families and theme park visitors looking for convenient parking near park gates.
Auraria Campus Visitors: Students, faculty, and campus event attendees seeking surface parking near academic facilities.
Drivers of Tall & Oversized Vehicles: Pickup truck and SUV owners looking to avoid cramped downtown parking decks.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Due to high attendance during sell-out games and arena concerts, parking spots fill up quickly and traffic on Auraria Parkway can back up significantly. Drivers are strongly encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance through the venue\'s official ticketing or digital parking apps to secure entry. Plan to arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before scheduled event times to avoid long queues at ingress gates. Following the conclusion of events, traffic control officers direct outbound vehicles; following their designated turn routes will ensure the fastest return to I-25 or downtown Denver.