Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center)

Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center)
Name	Crypto.com Arena
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States
Broke ground	1998
Opened	October 17, 1999
Owner	Anschutz Entertainment Group
Operator	AEG Facilities
Capacity	19,000–21,000
Surface	Multi-surface
Architect	David M. Schwarz/POPULOUS
Structural engineer	Walter P. Moore
General contractor	PCL Construction

Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Los Angeles, California, United States, home to major professional sports franchises and a frequent venue for entertainment, political, and cultural events. Opened in 1999, the venue transformed downtown Los Angeles's L.A. Live district, hosting championship-caliber basketball and ice hockey contests, high-profile concerts, award ceremonies, and televised events. Its ownership and operations by Anschutz Entertainment Group and design by prominent firms anchored the arena's role in Los Angeles's urban redevelopment and entertainment industries.

History

Construction was initiated during the late 1990s development wave centered on Downtown Los Angeles revitalization, following proposals by Anschutz Entertainment Group and public-private partnerships with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and the City of Los Angeles. The arena opened on October 17, 1999, with inaugural events that included concerts by Paul McCartney and sporting exhibitions featuring Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings predecessors. Its early years saw the arrival of the Los Angeles Sparks and the relocation of the Los Angeles Clippers from San Diego, culminating in multiple championship runs for the Lakers and landmark playoff series that engaged franchises such as the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the venue hosted major events including the Grammy Awards, NHL All-Star Game, and playoff series that featured stars like Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky-era alumni, and later figures such as LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.

Architecture and design

The arena's design reflects late-20th-century multipurpose arena trends developed by firms including David M. Schwarz and Populous (company), combining sightlines favored by National Basketball Association and National Hockey League stakeholders. The structural engineering by Walter P. Moore produced a steel-and-concrete bowl with adaptable seating configurations for events ranging from NBA Finals to touring residencies by performers like Madonna and U2. Exterior treatments incorporated glass, metal, and LED elements aligned with neighboring Staples Center District revitalization (later part of L.A. Live). Public-access circulation connected to Microsoft Theater and the Los Angeles Convention Center, optimizing ingress and egress for city-scale events produced by promoters such as Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents.

Events and tenants

Primary tenants included the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), with scheduling integrating regular-season games, playoff series, and championship parades involving the City of Los Angeles and mayoral proclamations. The arena hosted the Grammy Awards ceremonies multiple times, theatrical residencies by artists including Beyoncé, Elton John, and Celine Dion, and boxing cards featuring fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.. It also accommodated political events like conventions and fundraisers involving figures from California and national politics, televised programs produced by networks including ABC (TV network), NBC, and Fox Broadcasting Company, and award shows such as the MTV Video Music Awards. Special sporting events included NHL Winter Classic-style exhibitions, NBA All-Star Weekend showcases, and international competitions that engaged federations like FIBA and promoters like Golden Boy Promotions.

Facilities and amenities

The venue features flexible seating ranging from intimate configurations for theaters to full-arena layouts for major sporting and touring productions, VIP suites and club-level hospitality spaces catering to corporate partners including Delta Air Lines and regional sponsors, private locker rooms for teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, and broadcast facilities used by networks like ESPN and TNT (TV network). Concession areas serve culinary offerings reflecting Los Angeles's diverse dining scene, while retail spaces sold team merchandise for franchises including Lakers and Kings. Integrated technology systems have supported LED video boards, acoustical treatments for concert touring productions by artists such as Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, ticketing operations coordinated with third-party platforms, and accessibility accommodations aligned with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Renovations and naming rights

Over its life the arena experienced phased upgrades to seating, technology, and premium spaces, executed by contractors and design consultants including Gensler and engineering firms like Thornton Tomasetti. High-profile renovation projects focused on scoreboard replacements, VIP suite modernization, concourse enhancements, and exterior plaza improvements connected to the L.A. Live master plan. Naming rights evolved from the original corporate sponsorship by Staples, Inc. to a major 2021 agreement with Crypto.com, reflecting shifts in corporate branding and the growth of cryptocurrency platforms. Ownership and operational decisions involved stakeholders such as Anschutz Entertainment Group, municipal authorities in Los Angeles, and franchise owners of the Clippers and Lakers when negotiating venue use, scheduling conflicts, and shared facility improvements.

Records and notable moments

The arena witnessed multiple championship-clinching games for the Los Angeles Lakers during eras led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup victories with contributions from players like Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. Memorable concerts included headline residencies and milestone performances by artists such as Madonna, Prince, and Bruce Springsteen; televised events included memorable Grammy Award broadcasts and NBA Finals games that drew worldwide audiences via networks including ABC (TV network) and ESPN. The venue also hosted record-setting attendance figures for playoff series, box office milestones reported by touring promoters like AEG Presents and Live Nation Entertainment, and cultural moments tied to Los Angeles milestones, celebrity-led philanthropic events, and civic gatherings involving officials from the City of Los Angeles and notable entertainment industry executives.

Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles Category:Basketball venues in California Category:Indoor arenas in California