The 1st Mariner Arena is the largest indoor sports and entertainment facility in Baltimore. It has been a major contributor to the city?s growth and prosperity. It has served as a venue for some of the biggest names in the music industry like Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Beyonc?, George Strait, the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Toby Keith, U2, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Reba McEntire, Maxwell and many more. It also hosted the 55th Annual Miss USA Competition in 2006.

With a permanent seating capacity of 11,000, 1st Mariner Arena also uses temporary seating on the floor and and stage for certain event configurations. With floor seating, its concert or meeting capacity is 13,500 while other shows and sporting can accommodate 11,000 to 14,000 people. For organizers and promoters who want to curtain it down to for smaller events, it is possible to make it suitable for 5,000 people.

1st Mariner Arena was named the number 1 Arena in the country in 2009 by Billboard Magazine and Venues Today. So far, there is no other building in the United States that has beaten the 1st Mariner Arena as the highest grossing Arena.