# Going to a Concert or Game at Smart Araneta Coliseum: Trains, Gates and Getting Home Canonical page: https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/araneta-coliseum-concert-guide Source: What's On Manila. Please cite and link the canonical page. Published: 2026-10-17 *How to reach the Big Dome by MRT-3 and LRT-2, which gate matches your seat, the bag and food rules, where to eat in Araneta City, the last train times from Cubao and hotels next door.* [Smart Araneta Coliseum](https://whatsonmnl.com/venue/smart-araneta-coliseum), the Big Dome, is on General Roxas Avenue in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. It is the easiest of Manila's big arenas to reach by train: the MRT-3 and LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao stations both connect to Araneta City by walkways. Queueing at the gates starts from 2pm, large bags are not allowed, and you cannot bring in outside food. The catch is getting home, because the last trains leave Cubao before most evening shows end. Updated October 2026. The Coliseum hosts concerts, fan meetings and PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and college basketball. Coming up is the [Gong Yoo fan meeting](https://whatsonmnl.com/event/gong-yoo-the-long-take-manila-2026) on Saturday 21 November. The venue's own rules below apply to every event, and promoters can add their own on top. ## Getting there **By train.** Take MRT-3 to Araneta Center-Cubao station on EDSA, or LRT-2 to Araneta Center-Cubao station on Aurora Boulevard. Araneta City says both stations connect to the complex by elevated walkways and footbridges, with direct access to Gateway Mall. From Makati, ride MRT-3 north from Ayala, Buendia or Guadalupe. On a concert evening this is usually quicker than a car on EDSA. **From BGC.** There is no train in BGC, so most people book a car straight to Araneta City, or take a car to an MRT-3 station and ride north to Cubao. **By bus.** Araneta City has its own bus station, open from 5am to 11pm, as well as UV Express and jeepney terminals. **Driving.** Araneta City suggests coming in on side roads such as P. Tuazon Boulevard or Main Avenue instead of EDSA or Aurora Boulevard, with a navigation app. The Coliseum's own car park, Parking Garage South (also called Southlink), has 1,000 slots, and the venue says Araneta City has 7,000 in total. Those fill up fast on a big night. _Address:_ Smart Araneta Coliseum, General Roxas Avenue, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. ## Gates and seat sections The Coliseum has four entrances, and the one you use depends on your ticket: - **Green Gate:** Patron and Lower Box A. - **Red Gate:** Lower Box B and Upper Box. - **Yellow Gate:** General Admission. - **2nd Level Southlink:** all ticket holders except General Admission. Gate opening times depend on the show, but the venue says queueing only starts at 2pm, so there is no point turning up in the morning. In the basketball layout, the sections from the court outward are Courtside (131 seats), Patron (2,153), Lower Box (1,570), Upper Box A (1,208), Upper Box B (4,362) and General Admission (5,000), for a total of 14,429. Concerts change this. Promoters often add a floor section in front of the stage and rename or split the boxes, so the seat plan on your event's ticketing page is the one that counts. ## What you can and cannot bring **Bags.** Large bags and oversized backpacks are not allowed. There is a baggage counter at the Green Gate interior lobby and at the Yellow Gate, but using it slows you down, so bring a small bag. **Not allowed inside**, according to the venue: illegal substances, outside food and drinks, smoking, firearms and other weapons, still and video cameras and other recording devices, glass, bottles, cans and hard plastic containers, oversized banners and campaign materials, and pointy objects such as umbrellas. Promoters can set different camera rules, so check your event page. **No re-entry.** Once you leave the venue you cannot go back in. Smoking is only allowed in the area just outside the Green Gate exterior lobby. **Children.** For PBA games and concerts, depending on the show, children below 3 feet tall can go in free but do not get a guaranteed seat. Ushers measure height at the gate. For family shows, every child needs a ticket. **Discounts.** The venue gives senior citizens and persons with disabilities 20% off, and ushers help wheelchair users to their seats. **Tickets.** The venue says to buy only from Ticketnet online or its authorised outlets, and warns that lost, stolen or damaged physical tickets cannot be refunded, exchanged or replaced. It also accepts e-tickets. Do not make copies of yours. ## Food in Araneta City There are food stalls inside the Coliseum, and canned beer is sold, but it is poured into a disposable cup before you take it to your seat. For a proper meal, eat before you queue. **Gateway Mall** has direct access from the train stations and is the easiest choice. Ali Mall and New Farmers Plaza are also inside Araneta City. Araneta City's mall hours are 10am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, so the malls will usually be closing by the time your show ends. The venue also lists **Coliseum Circle** among its dining options. If you need dinner after the show, our guide to [late-night food in Manila](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/late-night-food-in-manila) has places that stay open. ## Getting home after the show **Check the last trains before you go.** These are the times from Araneta Center-Cubao, as published by the train operators: - **MRT-3 southbound** (towards Ortigas, Makati and Taft Avenue): last train 10:38pm on weekdays, 9:38pm at weekends. The station entrance closes a few minutes earlier, at 10:32pm and 9:32pm. - **MRT-3 northbound** (towards Quezon Avenue and North Avenue): last train 11:33pm on weekdays, 10:32pm at weekends. - **LRT-2:** the last trips leave Antipolo at 9pm and Recto at 9:30pm, so LRT-2 is rarely an option after an evening show. If your show starts at 8pm on a Saturday, you will almost certainly miss the last southbound MRT-3. Plan for a car, or stay the night. **Taxis and Grab.** Araneta City has a taxi bay on General Malvar Street by Gateway Mall, and a taxi and Grab pick-up point. Queues build quickly when a sold-out show lets out. Walking a few minutes away from the Coliseum before you book, or waiting half an hour for the first rush to clear, can help. **Driving out.** Parking Garage South empties slowly after a full house. If you are not in a hurry, eat somewhere nearby first and leave once the traffic has thinned. ## Where to stay Two hotels are inside Araneta City, which means you can walk back after the show and skip the ride home entirely. **Novotel Manila Araneta City** is a four-star hotel on General Aguinaldo Avenue, inside Araneta City. _Address:_ General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. **ibis Styles Manila Araneta City** is the simpler of the two, a three-star hotel that is part of Gateway Square. The hotel says Gateway Mall is a two-minute walk away. _Address:_ General Roxas Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. Both are a good fit if you are flying in from the provinces for a show, or if your concert finishes after the last train. ## Questions people ask **How do I get to Araneta Coliseum by train?** Take MRT-3 or LRT-2 to Araneta Center-Cubao. Both stations connect to Araneta City by walkways, and the Coliseum is a short walk from there. **What time is the last MRT-3 train from Cubao?** Southbound, 10:38pm on weekdays and 9:38pm at weekends. Northbound, 11:33pm on weekdays and 10:32pm at weekends. The entrance closes a few minutes before the last train. **Which gate do I use at Araneta Coliseum?** Green Gate for Patron and Lower Box A, Red Gate for Lower Box B and Upper Box, Yellow Gate for General Admission. The 2nd Level Southlink entrance takes everyone except General Admission. **Can I bring a backpack into Araneta Coliseum?** Large bags and oversized backpacks are not allowed. You can leave them at the baggage counter at the Green Gate interior lobby or the Yellow Gate. **Can I bring food into the Big Dome?** No. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, but food and drinks are sold inside. **What time can I start queueing?** From 2pm. Gate opening times depend on the show. Planning your next night out? See our list of [concerts in Manila for the rest of 2026](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/concerts-in-manila-end-of-2026), or our guide to [things to do in Manila at night](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/things-to-do-in-manila-at-night).