Oct. 24 NBA/TNT On-Campus Event and Related Impacts

Published: Oct. 20, 2023

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Auraria Campus will host a large event related to the start of the NBA basketball season—with potential impacts for all CU Denver community members to be aware of.  

The NBA on TNT Road Show event—free and open to the public (including CU Denver students, faculty, and staff)—will begin on the Tivoli Quad at 3 p.m. Activities will include: 

  • Live hosting and commentary from NBA legends Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal and others 
  • A big-screen fan watch party for two NBA games (including the 5:30 p.m. Nuggets/Lakers game) 
  • Live broadcast of the ring ceremony for the 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets 
  • Musical performances by the Chainsmokers and Dermot Kennedy 

Logistics setup around the Tivoli quad will begin Friday, Oct. 20 (see event map) with the largest impacts expected from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Oct. 24. More details are available on this page.  

Please note that campus will remain open and classes will be held on a normal schedule before, during, and after the event. Be aware of and consider this guidance:  

  • Faculty holding Oct. 24 campus classes, especially between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.:  
    • Be alert to impacts and consider accommodations for students who may face challenges coming to campus.  
    • Give your students advance notice of class accommodations you may make—ideally, before this weekend—and consider rearranging certain activities if increased sound on campus may significantly impact them. 
  • Plan for increased sound levels in campus vicinity during event: Ambient noise from the Tivoli Quad between 3 p.m. to after 11 p.m. Oct. 24 is expected to be higher than normal, especially during the live-music portion (8 p.m.-10 p.m.). Though the concert stage will be across the quad from North Classroom and the Plaza Building (two classroom buildings nearest the event), precise sound impacts are unknown. 
  • Allow extra time to navigate on or to campus: The event is expected to draw up to its capacity of 6,500 attendees, and the sold-out Nuggets/Lakers basketball game at Ball Arena next to campus will draw at least another 20,000 individuals to the area. We expect the campus and its facilities to remain ADA-accessible, though plan for crowds. Some building hours and badging access protocols may also be adjusted. 
  • Note campus road closures: Campus roads to be closed Oct. 23-26 include Walnut Street (from 10th to 11th), and 11th Street (from Walnut to Larimer). Some metered parking spots next to the Tivoli Quad will not be accessible. 
  • Consider public transportation: RTD is expected to maintain normal bus and rail schedules, though extra congestion is expected and slight rerouting may occur around campus road closures. 
  • Use 7th Street Garage, if you must drive: Most public-access lots on or near campus should fill up early—though the 7th Street Garage on the Auraria Campus will be open exclusively for registered student, faculty, and staff vehicles (register your vehicle here if you have not done so). Tivoli Parking Garage will shift to event pricing at noon Tuesday. Campus parking impacts may begin as early as Friday, Oct. 20. Parking garages on the city side of campus will be unaffected. 
  • Be aware of event security and protocols: The event will be held in a fenced area with secured entrances and exits, with metal detectors and bag checks based on Ball Arena policies. Event organizers will employ private security and manage Tivoli Quad access Oct. 24. The Auraria Campus Police Department will have increased presence on campus and will strictly enforce laws—including vaping and substance use.  
  • Join the celebration! Tuesday night marks the official start of the NBA season and the eyes of basketball fans across America will be on our campus. If your schedule permits, put on your Lynx gear, take advantage of CU Denver’s amazing downtown location, and be part of the excitement. 

Check this page for updates as they may arise, and we will follow up with any other critical updates about this event. Thank you for your flexibility and for all you do at CU Denver.  

Constancio Nakuma, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs