MVP Arena

For other venues, teams and events nearby, see the Albany guide.

Albany's arena, formerly the Times Union Center

MVP Arena is the downtown arena at 51 South Pearl Street in Albany, New York. It seats up to 15,500 for sports and can be set anywhere from about 6,000 to 17,500 for concerts. It is home to Siena Saints men's basketball, which has played here since the building opened, and to the Albany Firebirds arena football team, and it books arena tours, Monster Jam, PBR bull riding and WWE. The best seats are the center sections of the lower level, 105 and 120; upstairs, 207 and 229 are the center-court value seats.

The arena has had four names. It opened in 1990 as the Knickerbocker Arena, became the Pepsi Arena in 1997 and the Times Union Center on January 1, 2007, after the Albany newspaper bought the naming rights. The Times Union gave up the rights in October 2021; MVP Health Care's deal was announced on November 15, 2021, and the MVP Arena name took effect on January 1, 2022. Many locals still say "the Times Union Center"; it is the same building.

How the 100 and 200 levels are numbered

Section numbers here come from the arena's own end-stage event map on its seating charts page.

100 level: sections 101–130

The lower bowl wraps the floor with 30 sections. The two long sides are 103–107, with 105 at center, and 118–122, with 120 at center. One end is 111–114 and the other 126–128, with the corners filled by 101–102, 108–110, 115–117, 123–125 and 129–130. Floor-access aisles sit between 102 and 103 and between 122 and 123.

200 level: sections 201–244

The upper bowl circles the whole arena with 44 sections. The sideline blocks are 205–209 (207 at center) above the 103–107 side and 227–231 (229 at center) above the 118–122 side. The ends run roughly 215–221 and 237–243.

Suites and premium seats

The arena has 25 suites with 16 seats each. As of 2026 its premium seat program, with in-seat tickets to all events and an express concession lane, is sold out and not offered event by event.

A curtaining system installed in 1993 lets the arena shrink from about 17,000 to 6,000 in minutes, which is why some shows sell only part of the 200 level.

Best seats for Siena basketball and concerts

Siena basketball and other sports

• Best view: 104–106 and 119–121, middle rows, for a sideline look at the whole floor.
• Best value: 206–208 and 228–230. These 200-level sections sit directly above the lower sideline and stay in line with center court.
• Behind the baskets: 112–113 and 127 are cheaper but foreshortened; better for atmosphere than for watching plays develop.

End-stage concerts

On the arena's end-stage maps, the stage sits at the 111–114 end and floor sections 1–9 are numbered from the stage back. The best raised seats are the lower sections closest to the stage on each side, 107–108 and 117–118. The far end, 126–128 and the 200-level sections above it (237–241), faces the stage straight on and shows the full production.

Center-stage shows

For in-the-round concerts and wrestling, the lower center sections 105 and 120 and their neighbors are the closest elevated seats in every direction.

Seats to avoid

• Stage-end sections (111–114 and 215–221) for an end-stage show unless they are sold as clear view.
• Top rows of the 200 corners, the longest sightlines in the building.
• Seats beside the floor-access aisles near 102–103 and 122–123, where foot traffic passes during shows.

MVP Arena capacity

Wikipedia lists a maximum of 15,500 seats for sporting events, and an overall range of about 6,000 to 17,500 depending on how the floor and curtains are set; the arena's own fact page describes the curtained range as 17,000 down to 6,000. Arena concerts fall somewhere in that span, depending on the stage and how much of the 200 level is open.

Big draws have tested the top of that range. Garth Brooks sold 51,000 tickets in under three hours for a three-day run in 1997, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra has played the arena more than 20 times, and as of October 2024 Phish held the building's all-time ticket-sales record across 16 shows.

MVP Arena parking and getting downtown

The MVP Arena Parking Garage is attached to the back of the arena; use 1 Market Street, Albany, NY 12207 for GPS. As of 2026, event rates generally run 15 to 25 dollars per vehicle, posted on each event page, and cash and cards are accepted. There are no advance parking sales; the garage is first come, first served, and its clearance is 6 feet 6 inches. If you park there, enter the arena from garage level 3.

• Other garages and lots: the Park Albany and Downtown Albany sites list nearby options; rates there are set by their operators.
• Street parking: meters inside the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District are free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends and major holidays.
• Construction: as of 2026, the arena advises avoiding the Eagle Street to Howard Street to Wendell and Lodge Streets route because of nearby construction.
• By train: the arena suggests Amtrak to the Albany-Rensselaer station for out-of-town visitors.
• Drop-off: accessible curb drop-off is on South Pearl Street at the bus loading zone, on Market Street, and at Beaver and South Pearl Streets.

MVP Arena clear-bag policy and entry rules

Since September 14, 2022, MVP Arena has enforced a clear-bag policy, and it remains in place as of 2026. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches are allowed, along with a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches that does not need to be clear. Diaper bags are allowed and searched. There is no storage or check for prohibited bags, so leave backpacks in the car.

• Screening: walk-through metal detectors at every entrance; arrive early.
• Payment: concessions and merchandise are cashless. A reverse ATM near section 126 turns cash into a prepaid card with no fee.
• Strollers: discouraged; designated stroller parking is just before security, and strollers cannot go past the checkpoint.
• Cameras: point-and-shoot cameras are generally allowed; professional lenses, recorders and selfie sticks are not.
• Nursing: a Mamava lactation pod is on the atrium landing near sections 101 and 130.

Check the arena's Know Before You Go page before you go.

From Sinatra to the River Rats and the Royal Rumble

The arena cost 69.4 million dollars and opened on January 30, 1990, with Frank Sinatra. Hockey shaped its first decades: the AHL's Albany River Rats moved in in 1993 and won the 1995 Calder Cup, and on April 24, 2008, the River Rats lost to the Philadelphia Phantoms in the fifth overtime, one of the longest games in AHL history. The Albany Devils followed from 2010 until moving to Binghamton in 2017.

The building hosted the 1992 Frozen Four as the Knickerbocker Arena, the 2003 NCAA East Regional won by Syracuse on the way to its first national title, and many Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournaments. WWE history runs deep here, from Ric Flair's 1992 Royal Rumble win to the first-ever Money in the Bank cash-in, by Edge, in 2006, and the arena is home to the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Wikipedia entry has the full record.

Sources

• Wikipedia – MVP Arena
• MVP Arena – Know Before You Go
• MVP Arena – Directions and parking
• MVP Arena – Seating charts
• MVP Arena – Did you know
• MVP Arena – Security procedures