List of ice hockey arenas by capacity
The following is a list of ice hockey arenas by capacity. Only those arenas that regularly host ice hockey games with paid admission are included. Outdoor stadiums that have hosted occasional hockey games are not included. Buildings under construction are not included. Buildings which no longer host hockey matches are listed but not ranked, and the capacity for defunct buildings is the capacity at the time of closing, or last use for hockey, unless otherwise mentioned. Buildings are ranked by their current maximum capacity for hockey games, not for other events—which is often substantially different because of ice hockey's unique playing surface, the ice rink. Capacities do not include standing room tickets. All arenas with a capacity of more than 15,000 are included.
The majority of these arenas are in Canada and the United States, with a small number in Europe; none are on any other continent. Most of the largest arenas are home to professional teams, mainly from the National Hockey League. All 31 current NHL arenas are listed. None of the teams in the top leagues in Finland or Sweden, and only one team each in the top league of Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and the international Kontinental Hockey League , play in an arena with a capacity of 15,000 or larger.
Arenas by capacity
Defunct arenas by seating
In this table, "defunct" refers to its status as an ice hockey venue. Many of the venues listed here remain in use for other sports.| Rank | Arena | Capacity | City | Country | Home Team |
| 1 | Thunderdome | 28,183 | St. Petersburg | United States | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2 | Greensboro Coliseum Complex | 21,273 | Greensboro | United States | Carolina Hurricanes , Carolina Monarchs , Greensboro Monarchs |
| 3 | The Palace | 20,804 | Auburn Hills | United States | Detroit Vipers |
| 4 | Joe Louis Arena | 20,027 | Detroit | United States | Detroit Red Wings |
| 5 | Vélodrome d'hiver | 20,000 | Paris | France | Club des Patineurs , Racing Club , Stade Français , Français Volants |
| 6 | Izod Center | 19,040 | East Rutherford | United States | New Jersey Devils |
| 7 | Richfield Coliseum | 18,544 | Richfield, Ohio | United States | Cleveland Crusaders , Cleveland Barons |
| 8 | Capital Centre | 18,130 | Landover | United States | Washington Capitals |
| 9 | Chesapeake Energy Arena | 18,036 | Oklahoma City | United States | Oklahoma City Blazers |
| 10 | BMO Harris Bradley Center | 17,845 | Milwaukee | United States | Milwaukee Admirals |
| 11 | Toyota Center | 17,800 | Houston | United States | Houston Aeros |
| 12 | Kemper Arena | 17,647 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas City Scouts , Kansas City Blues , Kansas City Blades , Kansas City Outlaws |
| 13 | Philips Arena | 17,624 | Atlanta | United States | Atlanta Thrashers |
| 14 | Manchester Arena | 17,500 | Manchester |  United Kingdom | Manchester Storm |
| 15 | Wachovia Spectrum | 17,380 | Philadelphia | United States | Philadelphia Flyers , Philadelphia Phantoms |
| 16 | Chicago Stadium | 17,317 | Chicago | United States | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 17 | St. Louis Arena | 17,188 | St. Louis | United States | St. Louis Eagles , St. Louis Blues |
| 18 | Reunion Arena | 17,001 | Dallas | United States | Dallas Stars |
| 19 | Verizon Arena | 17,000 | North Little Rock | United States | Arkansas RiverBlades |
| 20 | Civic Arena | 16,958 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Hornets , Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 21 | Northlands Coliseum | 16,839 | Edmonton | Canada | Edmonton Oilers , Edmonton Oilers , Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 22 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | 16,433 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Bisons , Buffalo Sabres |
| 23 | Montreal Forum | 16,400 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Maroons , Montreal Canadiens , Montreal Junior Canadiens , Montreal Voyageurs , Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge , Montreal Juniors |
| 24 | Maple Leaf Gardens | 16,307 | Toronto | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs , Toronto Marlboros , Toronto Toros |
| 25 | Pacific Coliseum | 16,281 | Vancouver | Canada | Vancouver Canucks , Vancouver Canucks , Vancouver Nats , Vancouver Blazers , Vancouver Voodoo , Vancouver Giants |
| 26 | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 16,234 | Uniondale | United States | New York Islanders |
| 27 | US Airways Center | 16,210 | Phoenix | United States | Phoenix Coyotes , Phoenix RoadRunners |
| 28 | McNichols Sports Arena | 16,061 | Denver | United States | Colorado Rockies , Colorado Flames , Denver Grizzlies , Colorado Avalanche |
| 29 | The Forum | 16,005 | Inglewood | United States | Los Angeles Kings |
| 30 | CenturyLink Center Omaha | 15,959 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey |
| 31 | Amway Arena | 15,948 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Solar Bears , Orlando Seals |
| 32 | Madison Square Garden | 15,925 | New York City | United States | New York Rangers , New York Americans |
| 33 | Winnipeg Arena | 15,565 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Warriors , Winnipeg Monarchs, Winnipeg Jets , Winnipeg Warriors , Manitoba Moose |
| 34 | Omni Coliseum | 15,278 | Atlanta | United States | Atlanta Flames , Atlanta Knights |
| 35 | Colisée Pepsi | 15,176 | Quebec City | Canada | Quebec Aces , Quebec Nordiques,, Quebec Rafales , Quebec Citadelles , Quebec Remparts |
| 36 | London Arena | 15,000 | London | London Knights | |
| 37 | Detroit Olympia | 15,000 | Detroit | United States | Detroit Cougars/Falcons/Red Wings |
| 38 | Met Center | 15,000 | Bloomington | United States | Minnesota North Stars |
| 39 | Boston Garden | 14,448 | Boston | United States | Boston Bruins , Boston Braves 1971–1974, New England Whalers 1972–1974 |