Overview:
Bag policy confusion at Ball Arena leads fans to a van, raising questions. We break down the current situation and propose solutions.
It was a breezy Wednesday evening and my girlfriend Jennifer and I are headed to Ball Arena, excited to catch a Denver Nuggets game. That excitement was tempered when security stopped us at the gate—Jennifer’s bag was too big to enter the building.
Her green, one-strap bag, stuffed with lip gloss, baby wipes and other essentials, didn’t meet Ball Arena’s strict bag policy, which prohibits purses and backpacks outright.
“You’ll need to check that bag,” the guard told us, offering unclear directions about where to go. Was it the box office? Down the street?
Eventually, another Ball Arena employee clarified, “Cross the street and head to the van.”
A van? That raised eyebrows—and not just ours. We joined a line of other fans similarly turned away, all heading toward a white vehicle parked in the corner of the Tundra parking lot, where a company called LUGDEN was operating a mobile bag check.
“I have a lot of anxiety about this,” a Nuggets fan in line told the LUGDEN employee. “How does this work? I am so mad right now; how much is it? I am so pissed off.”
“This is very sketchy,” another bystander said. A third person added, “Humans come up with the weirdest shit; I guess we have to trust them. A person can easily drive the van and drive off with it.”
Despite the uneasy vibes, the system was straightforward: patrons fill out a slip with their contact info, pay $10 (cash or card) and receive a matching tag number to reclaim their bag after the game. The service is operated by LUGDEN, a Denver-based luggage storage and phone charging company.
What Is LUGDEN?
LUGDEN (short for Luggage Denver) describes itself as Denver’s “premier luggage storage and phone charging service” on its website. Their main location sits near Union Station at 17th and Wynkoop, and they also operate mobile “bag check” vans near high-traffic venues like Ball Arena.
Services are available hourly, daily, overnight, or weekly, with fees starting at $3/hour or $10/day. Oversized items like skis, golf clubs and hiking packs are also accepted. On non-event days, LUGDEN operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers after-hours pickups by appointment. Prices range from $3/hour to $50/week.
Despite its presence outside Ball Arena, LUGDEN is not mentioned anywhere on the arena’s official bag policy page. In fact, the site clearly states, “There is no bag check available at Ball Arena.” This leaves first-time visitors who are venturing to the stadium without a car scrambling when they’re turned away at security with no warning about the van option or additional cost.
When Bucket List reached out to LUGDEN for comment, the company declined to speak about its partnership with the arena. One employee at the van said they had been instructed “never to speak to any press for whatever reason.”
This lack of transparency only deepens fan concerns about the service’s legitimacy and raises questions about how such a vital function operates entirely in the shadows.
How Ball Arena’s Policy Compares
Ball Arena enforces one of the most restrictive bag policies in the Denver metro area. Only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs no larger than 4” x 6” x 1.5” are allowed inside. Diaper and medically necessary bags are permitted, but only if they are 14” x 14” x 6” or smaller and go through x-ray screening. Purses and backpacks of any kind are explicitly prohibited.
Compare that with Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Broncos, which adheres to the NFL’s clear bag policy. Fans may bring one clear bag (up to 12” x 6” x 12”) or a one-gallon plastic freezer bag, plus a clutch up to 6.5” x 4.5.”
While diaper bags aren’t permitted, diapers and wipes can be carried in a clear bag. Empower Field makes no exceptions or accommodations for non-compliant bags—fans must either return items to their vehicles or throw them away, as there are no lockers or storage options on-site.
Coors Field, meanwhile, has a slightly more lenient approach. The Rockies’ stadium allows soft-sided, single-pocket bags up to 16” x 16” x 8.” However, it still prohibits backpacks and bags with multiple compartments. While Coors Field does not offer bag storage, its larger size allowance reflects a more flexible standard geared toward casual fans and families.
Put side by side, Ball Arena’s maximum allowance (4” x 6”) is just a fraction of what fans can carry into other local stadiums. It’s also the only venue where an informal, third-party van in the Tundra Lot has become the de facto solution to bag overflow, without public acknowledgment from either the stadium or the service provider.
“My first impression was that it was not legit and that I might lose my bag by the time I get back,” a California resident who was in Denver for a conference meeting and catching the game said. “
Should Ball Arena Rethink Its Strategy?
The short answer: yes. While bag restrictions are a standard part of post-9/11 venue security, Ball Arena’s current policy, combined with its lack of signage or communication about alternatives, creates confusion and frustration for guests.
Most fans understand why strict rules exist. But few are prepared to hand over their personal items to a nondescript van parked across the street with no clear affiliation or accountability.
Other large venues, such as Empower Field, clearly communicate their policy, offering diagrams and examples on their websites. And while Empower Field and Coors Field don’t offer bag storage either, they don’t funnel guests into an unlisted third-party workaround.
Adding a locker system, such as the one in use at other national stadiums, could provide a more secure and transparent solution. These lockers—often located just outside stadium gates—allow fans to safely store prohibited items for a small fee, eliminating the uncertainty of handing over belongings to a third party.
Other potential solutions include establishing a formal partnership with LUGDEN or a similar vendor. This would ensure that all bag check procedures are vetted, clearly communicated on the venue’s website and staffed by trained personnel. A designated bag check tent or kiosk, branded and staffed in coordination with Ball Arena, could replace the current ad hoc van model and improve both safety and trust.
Ball Arena could also implement a text alert or app-based system to help fans navigate the bag policy more easily. Before arriving, attendees could input their bag dimensions and receive immediate feedback on whether their item would be allowed. The arena’s website and ticketing confirmations could also include links to this tool, as well as details about available storage options.
Ultimately, clarity is key. Whether it’s adding secure infrastructure, expanding communication, or improving accessibility for diverse fans, Ball Arena has multiple ways to make this experience smoother without compromising security.
At the very least, Ball Arena could formally acknowledge LUGDEN on its website and make its process and pricing clear or bring bag check operations under its own oversight. For out-of-town guests, families or those arriving without a car, the lack of options is more than an inconvenience. It can become a barrier to entry.
As one fan put it after reluctantly handing over his bag: “I’m just hoping that the bag will be here at the end of the game.”
For more information, visit www.lugden.com for bag storage services, and for additional information about the bag policy at the stadium, visit www.ballarena.com.
