Smart Araneta Coliseum

Stepping back into the Smart Araneta Coliseum always feels like a trip down memory lane. As someone who’s been coming here since the early 90s—from cheering at UAAP games to catching concerts and even a historic boxing match—this place isn’t just a venue; it’s a repository of personal nostalgia. My recent visit to see The Fray, however, showed me how thoughtfully it has evolved while holding onto its classic charm. I was pleasantly surprised by a few key upgrades: The most noticeable quality-of-life improvement was the restrooms. There are significantly more than I remembered, and they were impressively clean and fully stocked—right down to the tissue and, to my genuine surprise, bidets! While the fixtures show their age, the diligent maintenance was evident and very much appreciated. Food options have also expanded well beyond the classic concession stands. With outlets like Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and Gong Cha inside, you’re covered for a quick bite or drink. A heads-up: the guards are strict about not allowing outside food, but with these choices available, it’s less of an inconvenience than it might have been in the past. If there’s one point where the age shows, it’s in the seating. The seats felt a bit smaller and less comfortable than I recalled, which is something to mentally prepare for during a long event. Overall, the coliseum has been nicely maintained over the decades. It manages to modernize where it counts (cleanliness and concessions) while preserving the authentic, historic atmosphere that makes a visit here special.

Had a great experience at Araneta Coliseum! Spacious, well-organized, and the sound system was impressive. Plus points for the convenient location in Cubao. Easy to access with malls and transport nearby. A solid place for concerts and major events.

Although it is a relatively small venue for international headliners, it is still a good place. Especially to artists who doesn’t have a strong base in Philippines but has cult followings who can’t fill bigger stadiums. Big thanks to PULP live for bringing Babymetal here at Manila!

Best concert venue for smaller crowd! Was here for AHOF Rendezvous in Manila. Though we only secured GA Tix it was still pretty close compared to other venues. Love the speakers! Maybe you could improve GA area more. Open more entry and exit ways. And maybe airconditioning in the hallways.

First time watching a concert here. Some of the ushers felt like they too don’t exactly know where the seat is. You have very little food options. You’re stuck with either Pizza Hut, Taco Bell or Dairy Queen. And the weird part is, when you buy a water bottle, they will remove the cap for you and then cover it with plastic. Lol. Old venue, can be improved.

Perfect venue for concerts…o love “The Script” so much that i would love to share with you the memories we had.

Great place for events! I watched a fan meet for the firsg time here and i was impressed by their facilities. Well maintained and AC was working great. Washroom were well kept except when the event was ongoing. Rubbish bin overflowed.

Smart Araneta Coliseum, affectionately known as "The Big Dome," is a legendary venue in the Philippines. It's a fantastic choice for concerts, offering a unique blend of accessibility, comfort, and a vibrant atmosphere. Accessibility: One of the things that makes Smart Araneta Coliseum stand out is its numerous drop-off points. Whether you're arriving by car, taxi, or ride-hailing service, you'll find a gate conveniently located near your designated seating area. This eliminates the hassle of long walks and crowded entrances, ensuring a smooth and stress-free arrival. Finding Your Seats: The Coliseum's seating chart is well-organized and clearly labeled. You can easily locate your section and row number on the tickets, making it a breeze to find your seats. The venue also has helpful ushers who can guide you to your designated area. Overall Experience: The Coliseum's spacious interior and excellent acoustics create an immersive concert experience. The venue is well-maintained, with comfortable seating and ample legroom. The air conditioning is efficient, keeping the atmosphere cool and pleasant even during packed events. Food and Beverages: There are various food stalls and concessionaires inside the Coliseum, offering a diverse range of snacks and drinks. However, it's worth noting that outside food and beverages are not allowed. Final Thoughts: Overall, Smart Araneta Coliseum is a top-notch venue for concerts in the Philippines. Its accessibility, clear seating arrangement, and well-maintained facilities ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for concertgoers.

I've been to loads of concerts and basketball games that were held at the Smart Araneta Center and I've always had a generally good experience. The place itself is quite old and dated though but it still does the job of holding events for a thousand-seating capacity. Getting out of the area once a concert or game ends can be quite a hassle but the exits are situated in strategic areas all around the center anyway. What I particularly like about the place is its close proximity to the Cubao MRT station, which is connected through Farmers Market and Gateway Mall and is easily accessible by foot.

I've watched a lot of theater and events here since I was a kid. It's a bit small but it is comfortable, they have a very strong airconditioned so you will always feel cold. Now the place is quite old and I think they need to do some renovations. I suggest to add more capacity so more people can enjoy the events!

I love how this place transforms depending on what you're watching. I've been here several times. First to watch the PBA finals with my then-boyfriend, now-husband. I'm not exactly a fan of basketball but I enjoyed given the comfortable seating and the huge arena. I also watched the All Star Game when Kobe Bryant was here. Then finally just early this year when we watched Disney on Ice. I love how the seating is structured. Even if you're not so close to the ringside, you can still see all the action. They also have that big screen where you can watch. I can't wait for the next run of Disney on Ice here, I'm definitely getting the most expensive seats just to feel the difference.

A bit of a side story, but I remember in high school my history teacher asked my classmates if any of us could spell "colosseum" and everyone made me do it because I was a big spelling Nazi, and I spelled it as "coliseum" because the darned Araneta Coliseum is spelled that way and I thought it had been the original spelling all that time. My history teacher laughed at me and my reputation as a spelling perfectionist fizzled into oblivion. Just kidding, but still! I was pretty mortified. Nevertheless, Smart Araneta Coliseum is home to many a beautiful memory. I remember standing right by the stage during the first Fall Out Boy concert, my face eye-level with the lead guitarist's sneakers as the sweat from his afro + extreme headbanging rained down on my face. I screamed in pure fangirl heaven and vowed to never wash my face again. My first concert was at Araneta too, I was 9 and the Black Eyed Peas came and I watched Fergie do a one-handed cartwheel in awe. The fact that I remember these events so vividly is just a testament to the quality of the Coliseum, I guess. The way the seats are arranged are so that everyone has a view of the stage, unlike in open spaces like the Fort or MOA where the artist is a tiny little ant on a box if you can't afford gold or VIP tickets.The sound quality is very good too, the acoustics are great and you can really hear the music reverberate in your bones during every concert. Overall, probably the best place you watch a concert or a game in the entire Metro Manila.

My first memory of this place is of watching the High School Musical on Ice when I was younger. I remember being amazed that they were able to transform the whole floor into an ice rink when I knew for a fact that it was a place that usually held concerts. Ever since then, I've watched a lot of other events from concerts such as Fall Out Boy and The Killers to basketball games held during the UAAP season. I've had a lot of happy memories forged in this place, and I don't think that's going to stop anytime soon. I actually think this is one of the better arenas in the metro despite its old facilities. It's wide and spacious, the seats aren't placed at a steep angle, the sound system and the air-conditioning are okay, and its exterior is lined with restaurants so you could have a place to stay before or after events. However, it's hard to look for a parking spot near the arena itself because of limited parking space, so I suggest that you just commute. But, of course, once the concert or game starts I don't even notice such details anymore. I'd be too busy screaming or singing at the top of my lungs!

Here's something every foreigner should know: filipinos LOVE basketball. Yep, you'll notice basketballs hoops are everywhere here. Said that, you can imagine how amazing it is to watch the PBA finals at the Araneta Coliseum! I've been there just on this occasion, but it was a really memorable experience. It's impossible not to feel excited once you are there, because the crowd gets really crazy. Some people even take musical instruments, like drums and bongos. I loved to see that excitement. What I like about Araneta Coliseum is that it's easy to get there by train (MRT/LRT). The station is inside Araneta Mall. A few minutes walking and you get to the stadium. If you are hungry, I recommend eating first at the mall's food court. The options inside Araneta Coliseum aren't that nice - hot dogs and snacks that don't look really healthy. Ok, sometimes that's the mood! It's a basketball game, not a gourmet date, come on! :P

I have lost count of how many concerts and sporting events I have witnessed inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Possibly the only event venue with any real history, the Araneta Coliseum has hosted the biggest events, the wildest concerts, the widest variety of sporting events, and so much more. I can't even begin to imagine the number of activities this venue has seen. Until recently, the Araneta Coliseum was a bit rundown and showing its age. It was quickly losing any splendor and history it had. Fortunately, the operators pumped life back into the coliseum, partially because of the efforts to clean up the entire district in the first place, and partially because SMART bought naming rights and put in an influx of money to help shape up the place again. Which is great, because I for one would not want to see the Coliseum waste away.

Two things Filipinos love: basketball and concerts. (We love a lot more than that but stay with me here.) The former I can't speak for, but I can definitely vouch for the latter. We freaking love concerts. So much so that our tickets to foreign musicians and artists end up costing way higher than they would in the United States. Although prices depend on the act you're paying for, I usually don't get to attend concerts in Smart Araneta Coliseum as often as I would like because of how much it drains my wallet. You'd think people would consider the tickets overpriced, but that doesn't stop thousands from filling up the seats of the dome to the brim. Seriously, watch any fan video of your favorite singer or group who's come to the Philippines and you will see that we are vocal (to the point of drowning the singer's voice). We. Love. Concerts. Between Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia, I'm more partial to Araneta because I feel like you can sit anywhere in the dome and you would still be able to see the artist or group perform.

My lobster isn't a big basketball fan (I know, lame, but he does try when it's La Salle vs Ateneo) so I haven't been able to drag him out to a legit game at the Araneta Coliseum yet. We have been here together though for the extremely rare Disney on Ice, and it was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. I mean, most of what made it good had to do with the content and the performances, but none of it would have been possible if it wasn't for the Coliseum and its awesomeness. I mean, this place isn't any of that new age shiz like the MOA Concert Grounds - even if you're in the cheapest seats here, you'll still be able to appreciate the performance.

This Colliseum is really wide and usually concerts and basketball games are conducted in this establishment.

Araneta Coliseum in the heart of Cubao, Quezon City has always been my venue of choice for any sports event, concert, even seminar. Established in 1958 this structure has housed historic events such as the "Thrilla in Manila," Pope John Paul II's visit, and countless Ateneo-La Salle games! It even was once the largest enclosed dome in Asia! I find that their location is super ideal (MRT, LRT and EDSA accessible!) I used to take the MRT from my high school to make it to UAAP games (and later on the LRT from college!). Despite its size, I also find it very cozy, especially when it's filled with 2 seas of blue or green people! I've created so many memories under this "Dome" from Disney on Ice in my childhood, to Backstreet Boys reliving my childhood, to the Killers' concert and year after year of Blue Eagle games. Up to this day, I still get excited when I have a reason to come here, sure it may be because of what I'm watching but it's also a little like coming back home.

The good ol' Araneta Coliseum. These days, it's better known as the SMART Araneta Coliseum, but screw that, it will always be just "Araneta" to me. I've seen so many shows here over the last three decades that I have lost count. Somehow it's begun to feel like home. They've done some renovation work here and there but only a fool would miss that the place is old and in need of a complete upheaval. However, to me, this only speaks to its appeal. The bathrooms are kept clean, there are more than enough food establishments to go around, and the seating divisions are strategic. I love coming here!