Everything I Could Find About MVP Arena, Home of 2025 CrossFit Games

The 2025 CrossFit Games are moving to Albany, New York. As such, the MVP Arena will host the fittest athletes from around the world for three days from August 1-3. CrossFit held the East Regionals at MVP Arena (then it was called Times Union Center) years ago so there is history there, but I wanted to learn more about the new home of the Games.

So I started researching and here is everything I could find about the MVP Arena.

HISTORY

Built in 1990, it was originally called Knickerbocker Arena. Fun fact…Frank Sinatra christened the building on January 30, 1990.

From 1997 to 2007 it was known as Pepsi Arena. It was then changed to Times Union Center where we saw the East Regionals held. And finally, in 2021, it came to be known as the MVP Arena.

MVP Arena is owned by Albany County and operated by ASM Global, a company that manages over 300 stadiums and arenas around the world.

CrossFit Regionals

The CrossFit East Regional was held at the Times Union Center from 2016-2018. Mat Fraser won the East Regional in 2016 and 2017 before moving to Tennessee in 2018. Pat Vellner won the 2018 East Regional.

Katrin Davidsdottir won 2016 and 2018, but Carol-Ann Reason-Thibault edged out Davidsdottir in 2017. 

SEATING CAPACITY

MVP Arena is configurable such that seating capacity can range between 6,000 to 17,500 people. However, for sporting events the maximum seating capacity is 15,500. 

On the MVP Arena website, they show various seating charts. The two most likely seating charts are for hockey/basketball or for something like Monster Jam. 

The Monster Jam seating chart removes some of the lower seats on the sides to accommodate a wider, larger floor area.

The Hockey seating plan allows for 14,236 spectators. Arena Football and Lacrosse seating has a capacity near 13,800.

Regardless of the floor plan, MVP Arena has 25 luxury suites, each with a private bathroom, refrigerator and cable TV.

STADIUM POLICIES

Fans at the CrossFit Games had to abide by the policies set for by Dickies Arena – no outside food/drink, clear bag policy, etc. It would be expected that those attending the 2025 CrossFit Games will have to follow MVP Arena’s policies.

Bag Policy

CLEAR plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12” will be allowed. Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” (approximately the size of a hand) will be allowed and do not need to be clear. Larger and other types of bags are prohibited.

There are no restrictions on the style of bag as long as it does not exceed the maximum size allowed.

There is no storage or check-in for prohibited bags. For patrons with young children in attendance, diaper bags are allowed and subject to search.

Concessions

CrossFit was limited to the food offerings inside Dickies Arena. MVP Arena prohibits outside food and beverages so there is a chance that happens for the CrossFit Games, too.

If it does, MVP Arena is cashless, so bring a credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

PARKING

The MVP Arena Garage is attached to MVP Arena. For events, rates vary between $10 to $20 per vehicle and there is a 6’6″ clearance (so leave your big vehicles at home).

Thre are other parking options nearby. The Green-Hudson Garage is recommended and is a 4-minute walk to MVP Arena.

RV Park/Campground

With MVP Arena downtown, there is not a campground space like there was in Madison. And by the looks of it, there isn’t even a parking lot with RV connections nearby. So it appears that those who have enjoyed bringing their RV to the Games will not get the same opportunity this year.

There are two RV parks in the Albany area, but the closest is 14 miles from MVP Arena. Schodack Island State Park has a small RV park, but it appears that there is limited availability that first weekend in August and only small (less than 30-feet) RVs are still available.

The other is Arrowhead Marina & RV Park. It is 24 miles away from downtown Albany.

EXHIBIT HALL

MVP Arena also features a 25,000-square foot exhibit hall that can accommodate 75 booths.

If that is not enough space, CrossFit could look next door…

ALBANY CAPITAL CENTER

Adjacent to MVP Arena is the Albany Capital Center, a convention center that hosts trade shows, conventions and other gatherings. The Albany Capital Center includes 22,500 square feet multi-purpose space, 9,200 square feet of meeting space and another 13,600 square feet of “pre-function” area.

While that sounds like a lot, the Will Rogers Memorial Center that housed Vendor Village in Ft. Worth encompassed 100,000 square feet.

The Albany Capital Center and MVP Arena are part of The Capital Complex. The Capital Complex is made up of four buildings that combine to over 159,000 square feet of event space. Could CrossFit utilize some of this?

The yellow line connecting the four facilities is actually a fully enclosed walkway that allows attendees to move between venues regardless of season. Between this and hearing that the roads around MVP Arena are sometimes closed for large events, it could make moving between venues relatively easy.

 

 

YouTube video

Trending Articles