Staples Center

Lore & Background

The arena has been referred to as 'the deal that almost wasn't.' Long before construction broke ground, plans for the arena 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. Majestic Realty Co. and AEG were scouring the Los Angeles area for available land to develop an arena when they were approached by Steve Soboroff, then president of the LA Recreation and Parks Commission.

Soboroff requested that they consider building the arena in downtown Los Angeles adjacent to the convention center. This proposal intrigued Roski and Anschutz, and soon a plan to develop the arena was devised. Months of negotiations ensued between Anschutz and city officials, with Roski and John Semcken of Majestic Realty Co. spearheading the negotiations for the real estate developers. The negotiations grew contentious at times and the real estate developers threatened to pull out altogether on more than one occasion.

The main opposition came from Councilman Joel Wachs, who opposed utilizing public funds to subsidize the proposed project, and councilwoman Rita Walters, who objected to parts of it. Ultimately, the developers and city leaders reached an agreement, and in 1997, construction broke ground on the new building, which opened two years later. It was financed privately at a cost of US$375 million and was named for the office-supply company Staples Inc., which was one of the center's corporate sponsors that paid for naming rights.

Staples' 10-year naming rights deal was extended for another 10 years in 2009. 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 first Clippers game at the arena was on November 2, 1999 where the Clippers lost 92–104 to the Seattle SuperSonics. The first Lakers game at the arena was on November 3, 1999 where the Lakers won 103–88 against the Vancouver Grizzlies.

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. The arena's attendance record is held by the fight between World WBA Welterweight Champion Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley with a crowd of 20,820, set on January 25, 2009. Outside the arena at the Star Plaza are 14 statues of famous Los Angeles athletes and broadcasters. Additionally, the Los Angeles Kings Monument was erected in Star Plaza in 2016.

The Kobe and Gianna Bryant Memorial Statue was erected in 2024. A third statue of Kobe Bryant, honoring his number 24, is planned.

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.

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.