Staples Center

Verified Timeline

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 games 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. On October 21, 2009, the arena celebrated its tenth anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the venue's official web site nominated 25 of the arena's

In Their Own Story

The narrative of the Staples Center during the 2019–20 season is defined by a swift transition from mourning to dominance. After the suspension caused by Rudy Gobert's positive test and two unidentified Lakers players testing positive later, the team returned to play only after the NBA Bubble announcement on July 5. Back at home before the pause, the Lakers had started strong with a franchise-best 17–2 record by November. On March 6, they clinched their playoff berth with a 113–103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks just days before the shutdown. The arena's atmosphere shifted from sorrow to celebration as the team prepared for the return. Although the championship run concluded in Orlando, the Staples Center remained the symbolic heart of the effort, where the jersey patches honoring Bryant were worn until the season's end, including through the playoffs.

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.

Did You Know?

• 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.
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were the first act to perform at the venue on its opening in 1999.
• The arena hosted the 1st Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2000 and the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.
• After Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, a televised memorial service was held at the arena on July 7.