Pinnacle Bank Arena

Lincoln's arena in the West Haymarket

Pinnacle Bank Arena is the 15,500-seat arena at 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive in Lincoln's West Haymarket District, just southwest of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's City Campus and a short walk from Memorial Stadium. It is home to Nebraska Cornhuskers men's and women's basketball, hosts the Nebraska School Activities Association state basketball tournaments each March, and is the city's main stop for arena concerts. For a Husker game, the best seats are the lower-level sideline sections 105–108 and 116–119; for value, take the center of the 200 level.

During construction the building was called the West Haymarket Arena, and some fans still use that name or the nickname "The Vault." Pinnacle Bank signed a 25-year naming-rights agreement in December 2011, before the arena opened, so Pinnacle Bank Arena is the only name it has used for events.

How the 100, 200 and 300 levels are laid out

Nebraska Athletics describes the building as two bowls, lower and upper, divided into three levels: 100, 200 and 300. Section numbers below come from the RateYourSeats section directory, which matches that structure.

100 level: sections 101–122

The lower bowl wraps the court. Sections 105–108 and 116–119 are the sideline sections, with the rest running around the ends. Courtside seats sit at floor level on three sides.

Premium level

Suites and loge boxes are on the Stonebrook Exterior Premium Level, between the 100 and 200 levels, with a private lounge, bar and outdoor deck. The arena opened with 36 executive suites, 20 loge boxes and 832 club seats.

200 and 300 levels: sections 201–222 and 301–322

The upper bowl is split into a lower 200 level and a higher 300 level. RateYourSeats places midcourt at 204 and 219 on the 200 level and at 304 and 319 on the 300 level. There is no upper deck at the north end, which leaves room for a future expansion to roughly 18,500 seats and, for now, a graphics display behind the north basket.

Best seats for Husker basketball and concerts

Nebraska basketball

• Best view: 106–107 and 117–118, the middle of each sideline. Lower-bowl season seats carry a donation requirement, so single-game availability depends on the opponent.
• Best value: the 200 level near 204 and 219. The upper bowl is split in two, so the 200 rows are noticeably closer than the 300 rows.
• Budget: the 300 level, the arena's least expensive tier, works best at the sideline near 304 and 319.
• Student section: the Red Zone sits at court level. When the arena opened it was placed at midcourt behind the team benches; a later Stadium Journey review describes it behind the visitors' basket. Ask before buying nearby if you want to sit down all game.

Concerts

RateYourSeats lists floor sections 50–52, 60–62 and 70–72 for concerts, with 51, 61 and 71 down the center. For end-stage shows, the sideline sections closest to the stage give the best raised view, and seats facing the stage from the far end show the full production. Check the event's map, since stage placement and the north-end configuration vary by tour.

Seats to avoid

• Top rows of the 300 corners, the farthest seats in the building.
• Low baseline rows for basketball, where the stanchion and backboard sit in your line to the far end.
• Anything marked limited view beside the stage for a concert.

Pinnacle Bank Arena capacity and records

The arena's standard listed capacity is 15,500; Nebraska Athletics gave 15,391 for basketball when the building opened. It is the second-largest arena in Nebraska and the fifth-largest in the Big Ten.

The largest non-basketball crowd was 15,823 for Eric Church on May 20, 2015. George Strait set the arena's gross-sales record on April 23, 2022. Nebraska's men's team has ranked in the national top 25 in attendance every season it has played here, and the women's program has never ranked lower than 20th.

Pinnacle Bank Arena parking and entrances

As of 2026, the arena lists three main parking options. Rates vary by event; check the event page.

• Festival Lot: the large surface lot northwest of the arena, typically 5 to 10 dollars. A pedestrian bridge lands at the arena's northeast corner. Reach it from West O Street via Sun Valley Boulevard and Line Drive.
• Premium Garage: attached to the southwest side of the arena, typically 10 to 35 dollars, with an 8-foot-2-inch height clearance. Spaces are sold per event as available.
• Park & Go garages: the city's Red 1, Green 2, Blue 3 and Gold 4 garages are an easy walk from the arena and the Haymarket restaurants.

The main entrance is on the south side along R Street; the second public entrance is at the end of the pedestrian bridge. Your mobile ticket may suggest an entrance, but you can use either.

Pinnacle Bank Arena bag policy and entry rules

As of 2026, Pinnacle Bank Arena allows one of the following: a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch or wallet up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Diaper bags must also be clear, and medically necessary items are allowed after inspection. The arena does not store prohibited items.

• Screening: the arena uses Evolv walk-through weapons detection.
• Re-entry: strictly prohibited once you exit.
• Smoking: not allowed inside; the outdoor smoking areas are on the Capitol Terrace and Stadium Terrace off the main concourse.
• Help: First Aid and Guest Services are on the main concourse behind section 112.

See the arena's policies and FAQ before you go.

From a rail yard to The Vault

Lincoln voters approved a 25-million-dollar bond for the arena in May 2010, and the rest of the West Haymarket project was financed by a dedicated occupation tax on restaurants, bars, hotels and rental cars. Construction began in 2011 on a cramped site between two rail lines, which forced crews to build the arena "inside out" while about 50 million dollars went to rerouting track and cleaning up the ground.

The first event was UNL's summer commencement on August 16, 2013; Michael Bublé played the first concert on September 13, and both Husker basketball teams won their openers on November 8. The men's team went 15–1 at home in that first season and reached the NCAA tournament, and a decade later beat top-ranked Purdue here. The arena has also hosted 2014 NCAA women's regional games, NBA preseason games, and Terence Crawford's 2017 win over Julius Indongo for the undisputed light welterweight title.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Pinnacle Bank Arena
• Pinnacle Bank Arena – Arena policies and FAQ
• Pinnacle Bank Arena – Directions and parking
• Pinnacle Bank Arena – Premium seating FAQs
• Huskers.com – Pinnacle Bank Arena FAQ
• RateYourSeats – Pinnacle Bank Arena sections
• Stadium Journey – Pinnacle Bank Arena