BYU Basketball Capacity
The Marriott Center, located in Provo, Utah, is more than just a basketball arena; it’s a testament to the community’s love of the sport. With a capacity of up to 18,987 spectators, it represents one of the largest homes of college basketball in the country. This grand venue, charged with energy and excitement during games, is the proud home of the BYU Cougars.
BYU Basketball Tickets
To buy BYU Basketball tickets, head to SeatGeek, where you can sift through various dates and seating choices for upcoming matchups. Pick the contest you want to attend, select your seats, and proceed with the purchase process to confirm your tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Marriott Center address?
500 East University Parkway, Pleasant View, Provo, UT 84602
What is the fastest way to get to the Marriott Center?
The quickest way to the Marriott Center is via taxi or ride-sharing. If you’re coming from the SLC airport, you skip the line and the wait. Check out the Utah Valley shuttle bus options if time is on your side.
Is there bus service to the Marriott Center?
Yes, there is bus service. The Utah Valley Express: 830X route will take you directly to the BYU arena.
What is the Marriott Center bag policy?
The Marriott Center enforces a clear bag policy at all BYU basketball games; size permitting clear bags, Ziploc bags, and small clutch purses are allowed entry. The venue prohibits bags like backpacks, cinch bags, diaper bags, fanny packs, and tote bags. Learn more about the Marriott Center bag policy before your next event.
Marriott Center Concert Capacity
The Marriott Center can accommodate approximately 18,987 fans for concerts and large-scale live events, though floor configurations and stage setups may reduce that number depending on the show. The arena regularly hosts major concerts, dance performances, firesides, and community gatherings in addition to its primary role as a basketball venue. Traditionally, annual events like BYU’s Homecoming Spectacular and Christmas Around the World are performed on the Marriott Center court, and nationally recognized artists such as Kristin Chenoweth and David Archuleta have performed there.
For non-sporting events, the Marriott Center has demonstrated it can hold even larger crowds when needed. The all-time attendance record at the arena stands at 25,875, set on October 17, 1995, during a devotional address — achieved through standing-room accommodations and overflow viewing arrangements beyond the standard seating capacity. Touring comedians, speakers, and chart-topping musical acts regularly route through the Marriott Center, making it one of the premier large-capacity indoor venues in the state of Utah.
Marriott Center Seating Chart Overview
The Marriott Center seating chart is organized into a lower bowl and an upper bowl wrapping around a central basketball court, with roughly 40 percent of seats located below the concourse level. The arena contains approximately 10,100 chair seats, with the remainder being bleacher-style seating in the upper levels. A continuous concourse encircles the building with 22 portals leading into the seating area, making it easy to access any section.
The lower bowl — including sections like 101 through 106 — puts fans closest to the court and offers an immersive atmosphere on game day. Following a multi-phase renovation project completed in 2022, all seats in the arena are now all-blue padded chairs, providing improved comfort and consistent sightlines throughout. Modern video boards centered above the court are visible from virtually every seat in the building, and suite or VIP seating options may be available for select events. For an interactive look at row and seat numbers, fans can use the SeatGeek seating chart tool linked on this page.
Marriott Center History and Renovations
The Marriott Center opened on December 3, 1971, with its inaugural men’s basketball game drawing a near-capacity crowd of over 22,000 spectators. When it opened, it surpassed the University of Minnesota’s Williams Arena as the largest college basketball arena in the nation and was even larger than any NBA or ABA arena at the time. It held that distinction until the University of Kentucky opened Rupp Arena in 1976, and remained the largest basketball-specific facility on a U.S. college campus until the University of Tennessee opened Thompson–Boling Arena in 1987. The arena was named in honor of J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Corporation, following a substantial donation from the Marriott family that supported its construction.
The venue has undergone several significant renovations since its opening. In 2006, the original suspended hardwood floor installed in 1971 was replaced with a modern Connor Uniforce system, and seismic upgrades were completed. Exterior and interior improvements followed in 2007, including glass exterior walls and new lighting. In 2012, BYU replaced lower-bowl bench seating on the north side with prime chair seating, installed a new sound system, and renovated the men’s and women’s locker rooms. In 2015, the remaining lower-bowl seating was upgraded to padded chair seating and a new state-of-the-art scoreboard with four LED screens was installed.
Ground was broken in 2015 for the Marriott Center Annex — a 38,000-square-foot practice facility dedicated on February 7, 2017 — which includes two full-size courts, a strength and conditioning center, a training room, office suites, team lounge areas, and a Basketball Hall of Honor. A multi-phase seating project concluded in 2022 when the remaining yellow upper-bowl seats were replaced with wider, padded all-blue chairs, lowering the official capacity to 17,978. Most recently, in 2024, a new L-Acoustics K2 audio system was installed to deliver improved sound quality throughout the venue for games and events.
