Denver food lovers aren’t content with cookie-cutter concessions; we want our local heroes cooking up their best bites whether we’re at Denver International Airport, Coors Field, or Empower Field. Why would it be any different at a hockey or basketball game?

The folks at Ball Arena get it, so they’ve freshened up the food options for fans this season, just in time for tip off. Now game-goers can nosh on grub from local staples like Redeemer Pizza, Illegal Burger, Nola Jane, and more. If you’re ballin’ on a budget, feast on the new $5 Fan Friendly menu, which features classic concessions (popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, boxed candy) for a Lincoln, and wash it all down with a $10 20-ounce domestic draft. Below, the nine best bites to devour during the next Nuggs or Avs game.

Related Articles

1. Bacon Barbecue Chicken Melt

A wooden board with grilled sandwiches cut into quarters and a pile of potato chips
The bacon barbecue chicken sandwich at Ball Arena. Photo by Mark Antonation

The Ford Champions Club is generally exclusive to club ticket holders, but this season during Avalanche games only, all ticket holders can order from the menu. Our pick: the bacon barbecue chicken melt, which hits like a cross between a fried chicken sandwich and a toasty grilled cheese. But we wouldn’t reject a basket of Dubai chocolate funnel cake fries, too. (Ford Champions Club on the event level)

2. Braised Short Rib Mac

Ball Arena’s full-service restaurant, the Michelob Ultra Mountain House, opens at least an hour before basketball and hockey games, and stays open an hour after the final buzzer. Come early or stay late for a sit-down dinner—and if your meal goes long you can still catch the action on the eatery’s TVs in its ranch-style setting. The braised short rib mac and cheese is an all-star, but we’ve also been known to crush the throwback chicken Caesar salad. Reservations are strongly recommended, although the Mountain House always saves a few tables for walk-ins. (Ball Arena’s east side)

3. Brisket Burnt Ends

Barbecue pork ribs in a paper-lined basket on the left and glazed brisket burnt ends on the right.
Ribs and brisket burnt ends from Big Belly Brothers BBQ. Photo by Mark Antonation

Big Belly Brothers BBQ, from real-life brothers Jarrod, John, and Justin Andrews, has been slinging smoked goods in the streets of the Mile High City via three food trucks since 2021 and just opened its first brick-and-mortar in Aurora earlier this month. But if you’re not a street food aficionado, this may be your first chance to sample the brothers’ smoky, tender brisket burnt end cubes. They’ve also concocted a special raspberry chipotle glaze for their baby back ribs just for Ball Arena customers. (Sections 148 and 379)

4. Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

A disposable bowl filled with gumbo and a scoop of rice
Nola Jane’s gumbo. Photo by Mark Antonation

Nola Jane has been LoDo’s go-to for Cajun and Creole cuisine since the restaurant opened in 2021, and now Denver sports fans can add some spice to the game with a variety of Louisiana classics at Ball Arena. We recommend the rich, meaty gumbo loaded with chicken and andouille sausage, but you can’t go wrong with an andouille dog or a slow-cooked roast beef debris po’boy (don’t look at us, that’s what it’s called in Cajun country). (Section 303)

5. Fried Tacos

A trio of tacos topped with diced tomatoes and lettuce in a paper-lined basket
Mexico City’s famous fried tacos. Photo by Mark Antonation

Can you really call yourself a local if you haven’t feasted on the famous fried tacos at Ballpark’s Mexico City Restaurant & Lounge, a classic for more than 65 years? This season you can dig into chicken, ground beef, or steak tacos—crispy as the Avs’ puck handling—loaded with avocado, tomato, lettuce, and gooey cheese. (Sections 118 and 330)

6. Gluten-Free Baked Penne Pasta

A metal pan of baked pasta with browned cheese on top
Ball Arena’s gluten-free baked penne. Photo by Mark Antonation

Ball Arena’s in-house kitchen has added a couple of new items to its “gluten friendly” concession, the best of which is a generous personal pan of baked penne with sausage, marinara, and a blanket of mozzarella. On the sweet side, the same size pan holds a chocolate cookie topped with chocolate and caramel sauces and powdered sugar. The stand also pours GF beers. (Section 303)

7. Illegal Cream Cheese Burger

Illegal Cream Cheese Burger and fries
Illegal Cream Cheese Burger at Ball Arena. Photo by Mark Antonation

Illegal Burger was founded in Evergreen in 2013 before coming to LoDo in 2015. Known for fat, juicy patties and mountains of toppings, the microchain is now grilling up its finest for Avs and Nuggets fans. Try the jalapeño cream cheese burger mounded with fried onion strings. (Section 102)

8. Mini Doughnuts

Two paper baskets and one paper bag filled with mini doughnuts
Jake’s Little D’s mini doughnuts. Photo by Mark Antonation

Mobile doughnut squad Jake’s Baby D’s has been frying up its mini delights all over metro Denver since 2001, and now you can indulge your sweet tooth courtside or rinkside with bite-size rings topped with a variety of sprinkles and glazes. But be careful; these go down easier than Nikola Jokić’s floaters. (Section 134)

9. Pepperoni Pizza

A pepperoni pizza cut into square slices on a metal tray.
Redeemer uses two kinds of pepperoni on its pizzas. Photo by Mark Antonation

Redeemer Pizza opened in RiNo in 2021 and a year later made it onto our list of the 25 best restaurants in Denver. The artisan crust, dubbed “New York 2.0” by founders Spencer White and Alex Figura, is a big part of the allure, as are the two types of pepperoni used to double down on salty, spicy flavor on every slice. (Sections 126 and 342)