Crypto.com Arena

Lore & Background

The arena has been referred to as 'the deal that almost wasn't.' Long before construction broke ground, plans were negotiated between elected city officials and real estate developers Edward P. Roski of Majestic Realty and Philip Anschutz. Roski and Anschutz had acquired the Los Angeles Kings in 1995 and in 1996 began looking for a new home for their team, which then played at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. The arena opened on October 17, 1999, with a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band concert as its inaugural event. The first Kings game at the arena was on October 20, 1999, where the Kings tied 2–2 in overtime against the Boston Bruins. The naming rights were acquired by Crypto.com, with the name change taking effect on December 25, 2021.

In Their Own Story

The ice is freshly resurfaced, the Zamboni's hum fading into the concourse. A lone security guard walks the boards, checking the glass. In the upper bowl, a teenager in a worn Anze Kopitar jersey presses her face to the railing, watching the Zamboni carve its slow figure-eights. Below, a group of older fans in purple windbreakers—some of them here since the Forum days—share a bottle of cheap champagne they've been saving for a milestone. The arena smells of fresh ice, popcorn, and the particular cold that seeps through even the thickest winter coats. Somewhere in the tunnel, a stick taps the boards in a slow, rhythmic count. The lights dim. The crowd inhales as one. And for a few minutes, downtown Los Angeles belongs entirely to the Kings.

Reader's Guide

Crypto.com Arena has 950,000 square feet (88,257.9 m2) of total space, with a 94-foot (28.7 m) by 200-foot (61.0 m) arena floor. It stands 150 feet (45.7 m) tall. The arena seats up to 19,067 for basketball, 18,145 for ice hockey, and around 20,000 for concerts or other sporting events. Two-thirds of the arena's seating, including 2,500 club seats, are in the lower bowl. There are also 160 luxury suites, including 15 event suites, on three levels between the lower and upper bowls. Outside the arena at the Star Plaza are 14 statues of famous Los Angeles athletes and broadcasters. The Los Angeles Kings Monument was erected in Star Plaza in 2016.

Did You Know?

• The arena's attendance record is held by a boxing match between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto on December 2, 2006, which drew a crowd of 21,000.
• From 1999 to 2024, it was the only arena in the NBA shared by two teams, and it is one of several North American professional sports venues to have hosted two teams from the same league.
• Crypto.com Arena will host the artistic gymnastics competition and boxing finals during the 2028 Summer Olympics.