Staples Center

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Lore & Background

The true legend of this venue was cemented during the playoff runs of 2012 and 2014. The arena transformed from a shared facility into a deafening fortress for visitors. Fans recall the specific energy when the Stanley Cup was brought onto the ice after the clinching games, marking the first time hockey championships were won in this building.

In Their Own Story

The air inside smells of popcorn and floor wax as the clock ticks down to six o'clock. Outside, the city hums, but here, the only rhythm is the scrape of skates on fresh ice. A veteran player checks his stick against the boards, looking up at the rafters where banners now hang. The crowd noise rises like a tide, drowning out the referee's whistle, signaling that tonight, this house belongs to the Kings.

Reader's Guide

For Kings fans, entering the arena means stepping into a cathedral of noise and purple light. The tradition begins outside on Figueroa Street, where season ticket holders gather before gates open to share stories of past playoff runs. Tailgating culture has grown significantly since the early 2000s, creating a pre-game community bond that rivals any stadium in the city. Inside, the atmosphere shifts when the team takes the ice. Fans know that during critical moments in October or June, the decibel level can shake the rafters. It became a fortress during the 2012 and 2014 championship seasons, earning respect across the league for its intimidating environment against visiting teams. The culture here is defined by resilience. After decades of playoff droughts at The Forum, this arena symbolized a new era of competitive intensity. Supporting the Kings here means embracing the loud, passionate identity that finally brought silverware home to Los Angeles hockey after nearly forty years of waiting for the Stanley Cup.

Did You Know?

• The arena's first Kings game was on October 20, 1999, a 3–3 tie against the Boston Bruins.
• The arena seats 18,230 for ice hockey.
• The Los Angeles Kings Monument was unveiled in Star Plaza in 2015.
• The arena was financed privately at a cost of US$375 million.
• The naming rights deal with Crypto.com was reported to be valued at $700 million over 20 years, the most valuable naming rights contract in all of sports.

Architectural Scale and Capacity

The lower bowl dominates the interior layout, containing two-thirds of all seats, including a premium section of 2,500 club seats.

Tenants and Historic Tenure

Since opening on October 17, 1999, the arena has served as the primary home for several major professional franchises. It is the long-standing residence of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, both teams partially owned by AEG founder Philip Anschutz. The WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks also call this venue their home court. Uniquely, from its inception until 2024, it was the only arena in the National Basketball Association shared simultaneously by two different teams: the Lakers and the Clippers. This rare arrangement made it one of just three North American venues to host multiple teams from the same league. The Los Angeles Clippers played here for over two decades before relocating to their new Intuit Dome facility in Inglewood, ending a significant era of shared tenancy that defined the arena's identity.

Development and Naming Evolution

Often described as 'the deal that almost wasn't,' the project faced intense negotiations between developers Edward P. Roski and Philip Anschutz against city officials who opposed public subsidies. Construction proceeded rapidly, leading to an opening ceremony featuring Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band just two years later. The venue was named for office-supply giant Staples Inc., which secured naming rights through a deal renewed in 2009. Major renovations occurred during the 2010 offseason, introducing refurbished locker rooms and a $10 million HD video scoreboard to replace original equipment. While known globally as Staples Center for decades, the venue was eventually rebranded as Crypto.com Arena, though its legacy remains deeply tied to its original moniker.

Cultural Legacy and Future Events

Beyond professional sports, this arena has cemented itself as a premier destination for entertainment, hosting the Grammy Awards more frequently than any other venue since its debut. The exterior Star Plaza honors local sporting history with fourteen statues of legendary athletes and broadcasters, including monuments dedicated to the Kings and a 2024 memorial for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Media outlets have affectionately dubbed it 'The House That Kobe Built' in recognition of his historic twenty-year career with the Lakers.