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On Drake University's campus in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines, Drake Knapp Center brings Bulldogs basketball, volleyball, campus events, and community programming into a compact college-arena setting where the seats stay close to the court. Drake Knapp Center tickets put fans inside the home arena for Drake Bulldogs men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball, with an atmosphere built around Missouri Valley Conference competition.
This page covers everything you need to know before you go — from finding the right seats to getting there, navigating the venue, and buying with confidence.
Drake Knapp Center is an indoor arena on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Opened in 1992 and operated by Drake University, the venue holds approximately 7,000 fans for basketball and is also known locally as the Knapp Center or “The Knapp.” It sits at 2601 Forest Ave as part of the university's broader athletics complex, which also includes the adjacent Shivers Basketball Practice Facility.
The arena is best known as the home of Drake Bulldogs Men's Basketball, Drake Bulldogs Women's Basketball, and Drake Bulldogs Volleyball, all competing in NCAA Division I as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Its event calendar is led by college basketball and volleyball, with additional campus events, community programming, and occasional concerts or special events indoors.
The Knapp Center is known for a compact, on-campus design where seating wraps close to the court, creating a loud and engaged game-night environment during Drake Bulldogs matchups.
Drake Knapp Center is located at 2601 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 — on Drake University's campus in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines.
Driving and Parking: Most attendees arrive by car. Campus and nearby surface lots serve the arena, with on-street parking also available in the surrounding neighborhood. For busier game nights, especially popular conference matchups, lots fill closer to tip-off, so arriving early gives you the best chance at a convenient space.
Transit: DART bus service operates in the area around Drake University. Transit can be a useful supporting option for fans coming from elsewhere in Des Moines, though driving remains the most common way to reach the arena.
Rideshare: Uber and Lyft operate throughout Des Moines, and drop-off and pickup near the arena entrances on Forest Avenue are straightforward. After larger events, expect the typical short post-event wait as crowds leave the area.
Nearby Accommodation: Lodging is available in and around downtown Des Moines, a short drive from campus. Additional hotel options can be found along nearby interstate corridors for fans traveling in for Bulldogs games or special events.
Drake Knapp Center has a compact single-bowl layout surrounding the basketball court, which makes the venue easier to understand than larger multi-level arenas. Knowing the basic flow before arrival helps you move from entry to concourse to seating with less delay.
Entrances and Access: Main entrances front the arena along the campus side facing Forest Avenue. These entrances feed into the concourse that surrounds the seating bowl and connects guests to seating sections, concessions, and restrooms.
Seating Levels: The arena uses a single continuous seating bowl around the court. Lower rows sit nearest the floor, while seating rises toward upper rows along the concourse, giving fans a clear sense of proximity when choosing seats.
Accessibility: Accessible seating and services are available, and Drake University athletics facilities provide ADA accommodations for guests attending events.
Getting to Your Section: The compact bowl makes sections easy to locate from the concourse. Standard signage and staff direction help guide fans to the correct section, row, concessions, and restrooms.
Concession stands inside Drake Knapp Center offer standard arena fare, including snacks, soft drinks, and quick-service food. For the smoothest experience, plan concessions time before tip-off or during natural breaks in the event.
The Drake neighborhood along University Avenue and Forest Avenue offers local restaurants, bars, and cafes within a short distance of the arena. Downtown Des Moines also provides a broader dining scene a short drive from campus, making it a practical option for a pregame meal or post-event stop.
Drake Knapp Center maintains security and venue policies that are updated regularly and may vary by event. Before attending, reviewing the current policy on the venue's official website is strongly recommended.
Bag Policy: Drake athletics events typically follow a clear-bag or limited-bag policy with size restrictions. Smaller permitted bags may be subject to inspection at entry.
Commonly Prohibited Items: Commonly restricted items include weapons, outside food and drink, and professional camera equipment. Items deemed a safety risk can also be restricted by venue staff.
Re-Entry: Re-entry is generally not permitted once you exit. Re-entry rules can vary by event and are shown on the event listing.
Entry Procedures: Expect bag checks and digital ticket verification at entry. Arriving with a compliant bag and pre-downloaded tickets helps speed the process at the arena entrance.
Drake Knapp Center is part of a larger Des Moines live-events market that includes college sports, major arena concerts, historic theaters, outdoor performances, and minor-league baseball. Fans looking across the metro can find a wide mix of venues for games, concerts, comedy, festivals, and performing arts.
Drake Knapp Center ticket prices vary significantly depending on the type of event, the artist or team, seating section, and demand — which is what you'd expect from a venue that hosts everything from volleyball and campus events to marquee Missouri Valley Conference basketball matchups.
For Drake Bulldogs basketball regular-season games, tickets can start as low as roughly $10–$20 for upper rows, baseline seats, or other value areas. Premium midcourt seating can rise to around $30–$60 or more depending on the opponent, matchup, men's or women's event, day of week, and overall demand.
For volleyball and other events, pricing is typically lower, often starting around $5–$15. Seating location and event type still matter, but these events generally provide a more affordable entry point into the arena.
Buying earlier generally secures better seat selection and pricing, especially for high-demand conference matchups. As inventory shrinks closer to event day, the best remaining seats can become more expensive, particularly in premium midcourt areas and lower rows near the court.
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Drake Knapp Center uses a single continuous seating bowl around the basketball court, so seat choice is largely about balancing proximity, sideline angle, and price. Lower rows bring you close to the action, while upper rows and corner or baseline areas often deliver strong value.
You can view an interactive seating map for Drake Knapp Center events directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections side by side, check row depth and distance from the court, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.
Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your position in the venue, your distance from the court, and whether you're in lower rows near the floor, along the sidelines, or in upper rows near the concourse — so the tickets you choose match exactly what you're looking for on event night.
Once your tickets are confirmed, a few practical preparations make your visit run significantly smoother — especially for a college arena event on the Drake University campus.
Yes — Box Office Ticket Sales is a fully verified, secure ticketing platform that has served over 1 million customers since 2012. When you buy Drake Knapp Center tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com, here's what backs every purchase:
Drake Knapp Center events — particularly popular conference matchups, rivalry games, and occasional special events — move fast. The best-value listings disappear well before event night, and inventory for popular events tightens quickly once demand builds. If you have a specific event in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Drake Knapp Center tickets now and lock in your spot before inventory moves.
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