Drake Knapp Center Tickets

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Drake Knapp Center Tickets & Events

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.

About Drake Knapp Center

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.

Location & Transportation

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.

Venue Navigation

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.

Dining Options

Inside Drake Knapp Center

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.

Outside the Venue — Drake Neighborhood

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.

Security & Policies

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.

Other Venues in the Des Moines Area

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.

  • Wells Fargo Arena Tickets — Major indoor arena in downtown Des Moines; home of the Iowa Wolves (NBA G League) and Iowa Wild (AHL), hosting concerts and large events
  • Casey's Center Tickets — Downtown Des Moines convention and event complex hosting concerts, trade shows, and community events
  • Drake Stadium Tickets — Historic outdoor track-and-field stadium on Drake University's campus; home of the Drake Relays
  • Vibrant Music Hall Tickets — Concert venue in the Des Moines suburb of Waukee hosting touring music acts
  • Hoyt Sherman Place Tickets — Historic theater and performing-arts venue in Des Moines hosting concerts, comedy, and stage productions
  • Des Moines Civic Center Tickets — Downtown performing-arts theater hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and cultural programming
  • Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park Tickets — Outdoor amphitheater hosting concerts and festivals
  • Principal Park Tickets — Downtown ballpark; home of the Iowa Cubs (Minor League Baseball, Triple-A)
  • xBk Live Tickets — Intimate live music venue in Des Moines hosting touring and local acts

How Much Do Tickets to Drake Knapp Center Cost?

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.

> No hidden fees. At Box Office Ticket Sales, the price you see is the price you pay. All fees are shown before checkout — no surprise charges when you reach the final step.

How to Buy Drake Knapp Center Tickets

Getting your tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and secure. Here's how the process works:

  1. Browse Drake Knapp Center events — Search for Drake Knapp Center tickets and select the show, game, or event you want to attend
  2. Pick your seats — Use the interactive seating map to compare sections, rows, views, and real-time pricing side by side
  3. Secure checkout — Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Affirm for flexible payment options
  4. Receive your tickets — Digital tickets are delivered to your email or mobile wallet before the event, ready to scan at the arena entrance

Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and all event details you need before show night.

Drake Knapp Center Seating Guide

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.

Best Seats at Drake Knapp Center

  • Best value: Upper rows, baseline sections, and corner seating are typically the most affordable choices, offering a full view of the court at a lower price point.
  • Closest to the action: Lower rows directly along the sidelines and baselines put fans nearest the court for the most immediate game-night experience.
  • Best overall experience: Midcourt sections along the sidelines provide the strongest overall combination of sightlines, proximity, and atmosphere.
  • Premium and group options: Premium midcourt seating and group blocks are available, giving fans options for elevated viewing locations or coordinated group seating.
  • General admission when available: Some sections or events can use general-admission seating, while most basketball seating is reserved. When browsing listings, review the seat type shown before purchase.

Drake Knapp Center Seating Chart

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.

Can I See Where My Seats Are?

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.

Getting Ready for Your Drake Knapp Center Event

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.

  • Download your tickets before you leave. Standard mobile coverage is available across the Des Moines campus area, but crowded events can slow things down. Save your tickets to your phone's wallet or screenshot them before departing so you're ready at the arena entrance without needing a signal.
  • Charge your phone fully. Digital ticketing is standard, and your phone is your entry. A portable battery pack is worth having for a full evening.
  • Arrive early. Give yourself extra time for parking and entry, especially for popular conference games when nearby lots can fill closer to tip-off.
  • Wear the right footwear. The venue is indoors, but the seating bowl includes standard stairs between rows and the concourse. Comfortable shoes help when moving through the arena.
  • Dress for the walk from parking. Drake Knapp Center is an indoor venue, so weather matters most before and after the event. During basketball season, dress for Iowa winter conditions on the way in and out.
  • Build extra time into your arrival plan. Arriving ahead of the crowd makes parking easier and gives you time to settle into your seat before tip-off.
  • Know your entrance. The compact layout makes entrance choice less complicated than at larger venues, but checking your ticket before arrival helps you move directly toward the right area.
  • Check the bag policy in advance. Reviewing the venue's guidelines before packing prevents delays at security.

Is Box Office Ticket Sales Legit?

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:

  • 100% verified ticket listings — every listing is authenticated before it reaches you
  • On-time delivery guarantee — your tickets arrive before the event, or we make it right
  • All seats together unless explicitly noted otherwise in the listing
  • SSL-encrypted checkout — your payment information is protected at every step
  • 24/7 TrustGuard monitoring — active security oversight around the clock
  • Access to 125,000+ live events nationwide, from Drake Knapp Center concerts and games to major sports and entertainment across the country
  • BoxOfficeTicketSales.com has been selling tickets for 21 years and is BBB accredited

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.

Need Help With Your Drake Knapp Center Tickets?

Our support team is available before, during, and after your purchase. Reach us through any of these channels:

  • Live chat: Log in to your account at BoxOfficeTicketSales.com to chat with an agent
  • Email: customersupport@boxofficeticketsales.com
  • Phone: Call the number on your order confirmation invoice
  • Buy by phone: Call 1-800-515-2171 to purchase tickets directly with a representative

Drake Knapp Center Upcoming Events Schedule

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