Многофункциональная арена «Болл Арена» в Денвере

Multi purpose indoor arena in Denver

Ball Arena (formerly known as Pepsi Center) is a multi purpose indoor arena located in Denver, Colorado. It is situated at Speer Boulevard, a main thoroughfare in downtown Denver, and is served by two nearby exits off Interstate 25. A light rail station is on the western side of the complex. Opened in 1999, it is the home arena of the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

Ball Arena has hosted a wide array of music concerts and other events since opening in 1999. Celine Dion performed a sold out show at the venue the first event of any kind at the location, on October 1, 1999. Celine dedicated the show to the Columbine community following the school shooting that occurred less than six months prior. Since then, artists such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, Pink, NSYNC, Shania Twain, Cher, KISS, Justin Timberlake, Elton John, and Madonna have held concerts at the arena. During the week of July 2–8, 2007, the arena hosted the International Convention and Contests of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a men's singing organization. After a short lived race at the Denver Civic Center in the early 1990s, the Champ Car World Series ran an annual street circuit race around Pepsi Center, the Grand Prix of Denver. The race was discontinued after the 2006 event. The majority of the 2008 Democratic National Convention was held at the arena, culminating with the official nomination of then Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's candidate for the 2008 presidential election. However, the closing night of the convention, including Obama's acceptance speech, was instead held at Invesco Field at Mile High. Madonna's concert on October 18, 2012 as part of her MDNA Tour (2012) drew controversy and complaints from critics and fans alike. Not only was the show reported to have started three hours late, but it also used fake guns during a violence inspired performance of her tracks "Revolver" and "Gang Bang". The performance took place less than three months after a mass shooting at a movie theatre in nearby Aurora, Colorado, driving feelings that its inclusion was insensitive and in poor taste.