What Foods Are Served at NBA Stadiums?
Whether you’re a season ticket holder or just looking to attend a one-off NBA game, there’s a good chance that you may stop by a concession stand for a quick bite to eat. And whether you decide to grab a quick bite to eat during the game or the halftime entertainment, it’s useful to know just exactly what types of food are served at the various stadiums and arenas across the country.
That’s why, below, we are going to discuss and review just what foods are served at NBA stadiums across the country. We will be looking at each individual team stadium and will list out just what foods and drinks are served there.
In addition, we will be looking at the average prices for each food item, which should better help you to determine total cost you can expect to spend at the game.
Why Should You Purchase Food and Drink at the Stadium?
For many of us looking to attend an NBA game, purchasing tickets to the game is just the beginning of the total expected cost. Factoring in parking, gear and merchandise, and food at the stadium, the total costs can quickly add up.
And if you are wondering whether or not you should purchase food while at the game, we would highly recommend doing so. Food and drink, particularly those items served at the arena, go extremely well with the game.
Oftentimes, the food served at the game is meant to be eaten and enjoyed while watching the game or the halftime show. The food, while not exactly nutritious, helps to elevate the mood and your overall enjoyment of the game.
It’s no secret that food has the ability to enhance our moods and allows us to better enjoy the moment. And this is even more true while at the game. From watching spectacular highlights by your favorite player or simply enjoying the antics by the team mascot, food can make the whole experience better and is a great way to enjoy the live action.
How Much Are Food and Drink Items at an NBA Game?
Perhaps the biggest question we receive is just how much are food and drink items at an NBA game? An important question, understanding how much you can expect to spend on food and drink items will better help you to determine your overall budget and better allow you to understand the total cost of attending an NBA game.
Below, we have compiled an average cost list of food items from NBA stadiums and arenas across the country.
- Hamburgers – $11-$15
- Hotdogs – $7-$9
- Assorted Snacks – $4-$6
- Bottled Water – $3-$4
- Loaded Nachos – $6.50-$7.50
- Candy – $5-$6.50
- Chicken Tenders – $7.50-$9
- Chicken Sandwich – $9-$11
- Salted Pretzel – $8-$10
- French Fries – $6-$7.50
- Ice Cream – $5.50-$6.50
- Macaroni and Cheese – $6.50-$8
- Slice of Pizza – $6.50-$8
- Bottled Soda – $4.50-$5.50
- Fountain Soda – $5.50-$6.50
- Alcoholic Beverages – $9-$11
Why Are Food and Drink Prices so Expensive at NBA Stadiums?
Contrary to popular belief, most NBA teams, and the league in general, gross much of their annual revenue from additional products, services, merchandise, and broadcast rights and not merely from the sale of stadium tickets. And with an NBA franchises annual revenue projected to be just over $263 million, those additional services and sales can quickly add up.
But there are a few reasons as to why food and drink items are so expensive at an NBA game.
- Player and personnel salaries – perhaps the biggest reason as to why food and drink items are so expensive is due to the high cost of player and personnel salary. With the average NBA player getting paid over $7.5 million per year, NBA teams are forced to increase the prices of food items to help offset that cost.
- High costs of running an NBA team – similarly, running an NBA team is expensive. From the cost of leasing the stadium to the cost of transporting players to away games to the cost of developing and manufacturing NBA championship rings, costs can quickly exceed the hundreds of millions. As such, NBA teams are often forced to pass down those costs to the end consumer.
- Fans Have Few Other Options – and lastly, for a hungry or thirsty fan, oftentimes their only option to satiate their thirst or hunger is to purchase from a concession stand within the stadium. With few teams allowing for food or drink from outside, a fan is forced to purchase from within the arena, which allows for NBA teams to set higher than average prices.
Full List of Food Items at NBA Arenas
Below, you can find the full list of food items and restaurants found at the various NBA stadiums and arenas across the country. Each individual team stadium and arena will have their own unique list of food items and restaurants, so be sure to look out for your home team’s offerings.
- Atlanta Hawks – State Farm Arena
- Zac Brown’s Social Club
- Hawk Walk Market
- Front Porch
- Gio’s Little Italia
- Scofflaw Beer Barn
- A-Town Eats
- Chick-fil-A
- Boston Celtics – TD Arena
- Sal’s Pizza
- Hub Hot Dog
- Craft Beer Garden
- Haymarket
- Bulfinch Bar
- Lucky’s Chicken
- Big Bad Burger
- North End Butcher
- Brooklyn Nets – Barclays Center
- Destination Dumplings
- Kelewele
- BK Lobster
- Nene’s Taqueria
- Fedoroff’s
- Crabby Shack
- Pig Beach
- Parm
- Charlotte Hornets – Spectrum Stadium
- Carolina Moonshine Bar-B-Que
- The Hive
- JJ’s Red Hots
- Smoke & Pour
- Center City Grill
- Crunchtime Grills
- Blacktop Grill
- Noda Cantina Stand
- Technical Fowl
- Buzzed Fisherman
- Dippin Dots
- Sweets
- Chicago Bulls – United Center
- Legacy Burger
- LQ Chicken Shack
- Lillie’s Q
- Mindy’s
- Mrs. Levy’s Deli
- Bar One
- Chicago Dish
- Goose Island Pub
- Madison Street Eats
- Monroe Street Eats
- Vienna Beef
- West Side Deli and Bar
- Ironworks
- Giordano’s
- The Little Goat Taqueria
- Honey Butter Fried Chicken
- Cleveland Cavaliers – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Symon’s Burger Joint
- Fahrenheit at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Fanfare
- Rocco’s At The Q
- Quaker Steak and Lube
- Fin & Feathers
- Elmore Smith’s Smokehouse
- Dallas Mavericks – American Airlines Center
- Avo Eats
- Lexus Platinum Club
- Bud & Burgers
- Hot Popped and Twister
- Hero
- Imoto Restaurant
- Mio Nonno Trattoria
- Denver Nuggets – Ball Arena
- Brooklyn’s at Ball Arena
- Colorado Social
- Breckenridge Brewery Mountain House Restaurant
- Degree Metropolitan Food + Drink
- Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
- Detroit Pistons – Little Caesars Arena
- Mike’s Pizza Bar
- UWM District Market
- Harry’s Detroit Bar & Grill
- Bakersfield
- Hockeytown Café
- ZZ Market & Grill
- Golden State Warriors – Chase Center
- Bakesale Betty
- Hot Dog Bills
- Dumpling Time Thrive City
- STEM Kitchen & Garden
- Gott’s Roadside
- Sam’s Chowder House
- Houston Rockets – Toyota Center
- Pizza Hut Express
- Levy Restaurant
- Pappasito’s Cantina
- 1600 Bar + Grill
- China Garden Restaurant
- MKT Bar
- Indiana Pacers – Gainbridge FieldHouse
- Subito
- Hinata Japanese Fine Dining
- Sauce on the Side
- Varsity Club Restaurant
- The District Tap
- 1913 Restaurant
- The Old Spaghetti Factory
- Los Angeles Clippers & Lakers – Crypto.com Arena
- Hyde Lounge at Crypto.com Arena
- Panini Kabob Grill
- Metropole Bar + Kitchen
- The Original Pantry Café
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
- Smashburger
- Yard House
- Memphis Grizzlies – FedEx Forum
- Dyer’s Burgers
- Wet Willie’s
- Lunchbox Eats
- Blues City Café
- Miami Heat – FTX Arena
- Kuenko
- Ms. Cheezious
- Mojo Donuts
- Milwaukee Bucks – Fiserv Arena
- The Laughing Taco
- Care Street Pizzeria
- Sobelman’s Burgers
- Gold Rush Chicken
- Iron Grate BBQ
- Minnesota Timberwolves – Target Center
- Levy’s Kimchi Hot Dog
- Parlour Burger
- Levy’s Loaded Pork Burger
- Fhima’s Organic Chicken Tulips
- Life Café’s Tuna Togarashi
- Mother Dough Bakery’s Organic Cookies
- City Girl Coffee and Espresso
- New Orleans Pelicans – Smoothie King Center
- NOLA Nachos
- NOLA Popcorn
- Pier 121
- Crescent City Cuisine
- Three Point Grill
- Sweet Shack
- Backcourt Burgers
- Big Easy Daiquiri
- Geaux Mac
- Smoothie King
- Zatarain’s Kitchen
- New York Knicks – Madison Square Garden
- Top Dog
- Paulie Gee’s
- Garden Market
- The Shack
- Fratelli’s Beretta
- Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque
- Mike’s Hot Honey
- Oklahoma City Thunder – Paycom Center
- Mazzio’s
- Budweiser Brew House
- Old No. 7
- Orlando Magic – Amway Center
- Gringos Locos Amway
- Jernigan’s Restaurant
- Fields Ultimate Lounge
- Silver Spoon
- Philadelphia 76ers – Wells Fargo Center
- Cadillac Grille
- Shake Shack
- Chickie’s & Pete’s Wells Fargo Center
- Campo’s
- Dunkin’
- Phoenix Suns – Footprint Center
- Benihana
- Ingo’s Tasty Food
- Nocawich
- El Sol Foods
- Willie’s Taco Joint
- Portland Trail Blazers – Moda Center
- Dr. Jack’s at the Rose Quarter
- Mumbo Gumbo PDX-Moda
- Little Big Burger
- Pine State Biscuits
- Sacramento Kings – Golden 1 Center
- Big Cheese Dog House
- Café Bernardo
- Star Ginger
- Selland’s Market Café
- Block Butcher Bar
- Porchetta House
- San Antonio Spurs – AT&T Center
- Rock & Brews
- Terrace Restaurant
- Whataburger
- Texas Burger Company
- Subway
- Toronto Raptors – Scotiabank Arena
- Food Junction
- Butter Chicken Roti
- Taverna Mercatto
- The Fox
- Utah Jazz – Vivint Arena
- Chick-fil-A
- Cupbop
- R&R BBQ
- Salt City Panini
- Frank’s
- Washington Wizards – Capital One Arena
- Dunkin’
- District Grill
- Stella Lounge
- Tenders. Love & Chicken
- Federal Favorites