Ball Arena’s playoff atmosphere just expanded to the parking lot.

A new fan zone launched Saturday for the Nuggets’ first playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dubbed “Base Camp 5280” for Nuggets games and “Avs Alley” for Avalanche games, the zone is aimed at bringing more fans into the playoff experience.

Jim Mulvihill, marketing and communications director for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, said Ball Arena has had previous pregame fan zones, but never something that runs during the game. 

The zone is meant to make the live playoff atmosphere more accessible to fans who can’t get tickets to the actual game, Mulvihill said. Fans can watch the game on a jumbo screen while enjoying food and drinks from food trucks like Big Belly Brothers BBQ and Fanwich.

“Mostly, it was to give fans who aren’t lucky enough to have tickets an opportunity to enjoy the game day experience and soak up that vibe that exists around the arena, where you feel that high that all the fans bring and the energy,” he said. “It was a good opportunity for us to include more people, even beyond the capacity of inside the arena.”

While tickets to the fan zone are free for the first two rounds of the playoffs, Mulvihill said fans must still claim a pass ahead of the game through the respective teams’ website.

Should the Nuggets or Avs make the Conference Finals, NBA Finals or Stanley Cup Finals, Mulvihill said fans wanting to come to the fan zone will have to pay for tickets, though a price has not been determined yet. Ticket sales would support Kroenke Sports and Entertainment charities, he said. 

In addition to the food and drink options, fans could enjoy interactive activities like mini hoop basketball, or test their vertical jump or get an airbrushed bucket hat. The Nuggets Dancers, Skyline Drum Line and beloved mascot Rocky also made appearances at Base Camp 5280 ahead of the game. 

Several lucky fans also received free tickets to the game through a giveaway.

Fans who spoke to The Denver Gazette spoke highly of the atmosphere and vibe at Base Camp. Elizabeth Reakes and her friend Debra Ford said they decided to come to the zone to enjoy the game and pleasant weather with other Nuggets fans.

“It’s awesome. I love it,” Ford said. “I love that they’re bringing the fans together.”

“They’re putting in some extra time and effort to make it worth our while to be out here, and to make it special,” Reakes said. 

Cody Saxton and his fiancee Brittany Conner said they couldn’t afford tickets to the game, so the fan zone seemed like the second best option for enjoying the playoff atmosphere.

“The atmosphere, getting to be with a bunch of like-minded people,” Conner said. “We’re all here to have some fun and watch our guys win.”

Once the game started, fans booed as the Timberwolves’ starting lineup was introduced over the Empire’s theme from “Star Wars.” Fans started cheering as the Nuggets’ starting lineup was called and the several thousand fans in attendance began crowding around the screen.

Doors for Base Camp 5280 opened two hours before tipoff. Avs Alley will be open at 11 a.m. Sunday for the Avalanche’s first round playoff game against the Los Angeles Kings.