Smart Araneta Coliseum

The venue publishes five layouts: Basketball, Proscenium (stage at one end, the usual concert layout), Center Stage, Off Center and Boxing. In the basketball layout the sections, from the court outward, are Courtside, Patron, Lower Box, Upper Box A, Upper Box B and General Admission. Concerts often add a floor section (VIP Seated or Floor Standing) and promoters rename or split sections, for example Lower Box A and B, or LB Premium and LB Regular. Layouts change by show, so the seat plan on the event's own ticketing page is the one that counts.

• Courtside / Floor (VIP)

  Closest to the court or stage. For basketball it is 131 courtside seats. For concerts promoters sell the floor as VIP Seated or Floor Standing, and it is usually the most expensive ticket.

• Patron

  The lowest tier of fixed seats, closest to the floor (2,153 seats in the basketball layout). Patron ticket holders enter through the Green Gate.

• Lower Box

  The tier just above Patron (1,570 seats in the basketball layout). Some shows split it into Lower Box A and B. Lower Box A enters through the Green Gate, Lower Box B through the Red Gate.

• Upper Box A and B

  The upper tiers (1,208 and 4,362 seats in the basketball layout). Further from the stage but a full view of the arena. Upper Box enters through the Red Gate.

• General Admission

  The top level, with unreserved seating, about 5,000 places in the basketball layout. The cheapest ticket. Entry is through the Yellow Gate, and the 2nd Level Southlink entrance is not open to General Admission.

Official seat plan

• By train: the MRT-3 Araneta Center-Cubao station on EDSA and the LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao station on Aurora Boulevard both link to Araneta City by elevated walkways, and the Coliseum is a short walk from either.
• From Makati: ride MRT-3 north (from Ayala, Buendia or Guadalupe station) to Araneta Center-Cubao. On concert nights this is often faster than a car on EDSA.
• From BGC: there is no train station in BGC, so most people take a ride-hailing car or taxi straight to Araneta City, or ride to an MRT-3 station and take the train north to Cubao.
• Ride-hailing and taxis: Araneta City has a taxi bay on Gen. Malvar Street by Gateway Mall and a taxi and Grab pick-up point. Expect long queues for cars right after a big show ends.
• Parking: the Coliseum's own garage, Parking Garage South (Southlink), has about 1,000 slots, and Araneta City has about 7,000 slots in total across Gateway Mall 1 and 2, Ali Mall, Novotel and other buildings. Event nights fill up fast.
• Driving: Araneta City suggests side roads such as P. Tuazon Boulevard or Main Avenue instead of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard, with a navigation app.

• Large bags and oversized backpacks are not allowed. There is a baggage counter at the Green Gate interior lobby and the Yellow Gate.
• Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Food and drinks are sold inside, and canned beer is poured into a disposable cup before you take it to your seat.
• Still and video cameras and other recording devices are on the venue's list of prohibited items. Check the event's own rules, as promoters can set different camera rules.
• Also prohibited: glass, bottles, cans and hard plastic containers, umbrellas and other pointy objects, oversized banners, firearms and illegal substances.
• No re-entry: once you leave the venue you cannot go back in.
• Smoking is not allowed inside. The smoking area is just outside the Green Gate exterior lobby.
• Children: for PBA games and concerts, depending on the show, children under 3 feet tall may enter without a ticket but get no guaranteed seat. For family shows every age needs a ticket. Each concert can also set its own age limit, so check the ticketing page.
• Senior citizens and persons with disabilities get a 20% discount, and ushers help wheelchair users to their seats.
• Queueing at the gates starts only from 2pm, and gate opening times depend on the show. Check your ticket for your gate: Green (Patron, Lower Box A), Red (Lower Box B, Upper Box), Yellow (General Admission) or 2nd Level Southlink (all except General Admission).
• Buy only from Ticketnet online or its official outlets (or the promoter's named partner, such as Live Nation). The venue warns about fake tickets, and lost or damaged physical tickets cannot be replaced.
• Eat before the show in Araneta City: the Coliseum Circle restaurants, Gateway Mall and Farmers Market are all a few minutes' walk away. Tomas Morato and Katipunan are a short ride away if you want a sit-down dinner.
• Bring a small bag only. Anything large will have to go to the baggage counter, which slows you down at the gate.
• The train is usually the quickest way home, but plan for crowds at Araneta Center-Cubao station after a sold-out show, and check last train times before you go.
• Before the show, the emergency exit plan plays on the screens. Note your nearest portal and exit, especially if you sit on the 2nd floor.