Can You Vape at NBA Games?
The average NBA game lasts about two and a half hours, which can be quite a long time to go without nicotine if you’re a vaper. Unfortunately, NBA stadiums aren’t making things any easier for nicotine users these days, with more facilities than ever declaring themselves smoke-and-vape free.
No NBA stadium allows vaping while you’re in the seating area, although a few stadiums have areas where you can grab a few quick puffs without leaving the facility entirely. In this guide, we’re going to tell you what all 30 NBA stadiums have to say about vaping.
An important note: While you’ve watched basketball games on TV, there’s a good chance that you’ve noticed a few people in the crowd trying to grab a stealthy puff here and there. We strongly suggest against emulating that behavior because it’s likely that most of those people ultimately end up getting identified, shamed and banned from future games. If there’s nowhere to vape at your favorite NBA stadium, bring an alternative product like nicotine pouches or lozenges, so you won’t have to experience cravings.
So, are you free to use your favorite vapes at basketball games? Here’s what the rules are at all 30 NBA stadiums.
Atlanta Hawks (State Farm Arena)
Vapes are on the list of prohibited items at State Farm Arena, which means that you aren’t allowed to bring a vaping device into the stadium at all. If you’re attending a day game, don’t forget that it’s not safe to leave a vape in a car parked in direct sunlight. In this case, it’s best to leave your vape at home.
Boston Celtics (TD Garden)
Vapes are completely prohibited in TD Garden, and the facility’s rules page specifically states that attendants at the stadium may confiscate vaping devices.
Brooklyn Nets (Barclays Center)
Smoking and vaping aren’t allowed in Barclays Center or anywhere in the area immediately surrounding the facility. In addition, the rules page for the stadium states that if you leave the arena, you won’t be allowed back in. Although the list of prohibited items for Barclays Center doesn’t mention vapes, some people have reported that their vapes have been confiscated at the stadium.
Charlotte Hornets (Spectrum Center)
All smoking and vaping products are prohibited at Spectrum Center. Leave your vape outside if you don’t want to risk it being confiscated.
Chicago Bulls (United Center)
The rules page for United Center states that there is no smoking allowed anywhere in the facility or on the stadium’s campus. There is conflicting information on the stadium’s website, though, because another document states that a smoking area can be found outside Gate 7 on the 100 level. It is possible that the document applies only to members of the Lexus Club.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a completely smoke-free facility, which means that you aren’t allowed to smoke or vape anywhere in the stadium or in the immediate area surrounding the stadium. On the bright side, vapes aren’t on the stadium’s list of prohibited items, which means that you at least shouldn’t have to choose between leaving your vape in your car or potentially having it confiscated.
Dallas Mavericks (American Airlines Center)
American Airlines Center does allow vaping within two designated smoking areas, which are located at the ULTRA Club Patio and the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club Patio. Since these outdoor areas aren’t within the stadium’s security perimeter, you’ll need to be re-scanned by security when you wish to go back inside.
Denver Nuggets (Ball Arena)
Ball Arena doesn’t allow smoking or vaping anywhere in or near the facility. In addition, you’re not allowed to smoke or vape within 30 feet of any door. Vapes aren’t on the stadium’s list of prohibited items, though, which means that you’re unlikely to have your vaping device confiscated if you bring it to the facility instead of leaving it in your car.
Detroit Pistons (Little Caesars Arena)
Vaping isn’t allowed anywhere in Little Caesars Arena, although vapes aren’t on the list of prohibited items.
Golden State Warriors (Chase Center)
Chase Center has no designated smoking areas, and both smoking and vaping are forbidden anywhere within the facility. Vapes are not on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Houston Rockets (Toyota Center)
Toyota Center doesn’t allow smoking or vaping within the facility. However, the stadium has a designated outdoor area where you can vape. You’ll find the door to this area on the main concourse near Section 117.
Indiana Pacers (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse doesn’t allow smoking anywhere near the stadium or within eight feet of any door. However, the stadium does have designated outdoor smoking areas where you can vape. Those areas are located on the sidewalk outside the southwest stairwells on the Key Bank level and at the smoking terraces inside the ticket point.
Los Angeles Clippers (Intuit Dome)
Intuit Dome doesn’t allow vaping anywhere inside the stadium or in the area immediately surrounding the stadium. However, vapes aren’t mentioned on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Los Angeles Lakers (Crypto.com Arena)
Crypto.com Arena is a completely smoke-free facility, which means that you aren’t allowed to vape anywhere in the stadium or on the property. Vapes are not on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Memphis Grizzlies (FedEx Forum)
FedEx Forum was one of the last major sports stadiums to offer designated smoking areas in the facility, in the Pinnacle and Terrace levels. Unfortunately, it looks like those areas have recently been closed because the official FedEx Forum website no longer mentions them. According to the website, the only places where you can vape are in the designated smoking areas outside the stadium.
Miami Heat (Kaseya Center)
Vaping isn’t allowed anywhere in Kaseya Center or in any of the outdoor areas around the facility. However, vapes aren’t on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Milwaukee Bucks (Fiserv Forum)
Fiserv Forum does not allow vaping anywhere inside the facility or on the stadium property. However, vapes aren’t on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Target Center)
Target Center doesn’t allow vaping anywhere within the stadium. In addition, both cigarettes and vapes are on the facility’s list of prohibited items, which means that they may confiscate your vape if you attempt to bring it to an event.
New Orleans Pelicans (Smoothie King Center)
Smoothie King Center doesn’t allow vaping or smoking anywhere inside the stadium or in any location within the stadium’s security perimeter. However, vapes aren’t on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
New York Knicks (Madison Square Garden)
Madison Square Garden doesn’t allow vaping anywhere in the facility, although vapes aren’t mentioned on the stadium’s list of prohibited items. Note that some people have reported harsh treatment when smoking outside Madison Square Garden, so make sure that you’re in a designated smoking area if you want to vape.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Paycom Center)
Paycom Center doesn’t allow vaping anywhere in the facility or on the property. This is in accordance with an Oklahoma City ordinance stating that smoking isn’t allowed anywhere on any city property. Vapes are not on Paycom Center’s list of prohibited items.
Orlando Magic (Kia Center)
Kia Center doesn’t allow vaping within the arena. However, there is a designated smoking area during Magic games, which is located at the Magic Grill. In addition, for events other than Magic games, smoking and vaping are allowed in the ULTRA Lounge.
Philadelphia 76ers (Wells Fargo Center)
Vaping isn’t allowed in Wells Fargo Center, and the stadium’s official website also specifies that there are no designated smoking areas outside the arena. In addition, both vapes and cigarettes are on the facility’s list of prohibited items and are therefore potentially subject to confiscation at the security checkpoints.
Phoenix Suns (Footprint Center)
Footprint Center is designated as a smoke-free facility and has no indoor or outdoor smoking areas. However, vapes are not on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Portland Trail Blazers (Moda Center)
Moda Center does not allow vaping anywhere within the facility. In addition, vapes and cigarettes are both on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
Sacramento Kings (Golden 1 Center)
Golden 1 Center prohibits vaping and has no designated smoking areas in the facility or within 250 feet of the stadium. In addition, vapes and cigarettes are both on the stadium’s list of prohibited items.
San Antonio Spurs (Frost Bank Center)
The rules at Frost Bank Center are so strict that smoking and vaping are both prohibited anywhere within 500 feet of the stadium. In addition, vapes are on the stadium’s list of prohibited items and are potentially subject to confiscation – although cigarettes, interestingly enough, are not.
Toronto Raptors (Scotiabank Arena)
Scotiabank Arena doesn’t allow vaping and has no smoking areas anywhere within the facility. The stadium’s official website also states that anyone caught smoking or vaping at Raptors games will be immediately ejected and potentially fined.
Utah Jazz (Delta Center)
Delta Center has a designated smoking area where you are allowed to vape. You’ll find the smoking area on the stadium’s main level outside Door 9.
Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena)
Capital One Arena has no designated smoking areas and doesn’t allow vaping within the facility. However, it is one of the few venues that allows patrons to leave and reenter the stadium when they want to smoke or vape. To do this, you’ll need to exit the stadium through the F Street entrance. This is allowed during Wizards, Capitals and Georgetown games, but it’s not allowed during concerts.
Image Credits: Rich Mitchell, Alex Kehr, David Wilson, Dale Cruse, Otama, Kevin Hutchinson
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Jason Artman founded eCig One after switching from smoking to vaping in 2010 and has been a professional writer and SEO consultant since 2007. His work has been featured on television and in leading publications, and it has been referenced in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Jason works with leading vape brands around the world to generate targeted web traffic and increase their revenue.
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