Crypto.com Arena facts for kids
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Crypto.com Arena in 2023
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 Crypto.com Arena
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Crypto.com Arena
Location in California
Crypto.com Arena
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Staples Center (1999–2021) |
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| Address | 1111 South Figueroa Street |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°02′35″N 118°16′02″W / 34.04306°N 118.26722°W |
| Public transit |  Pico |
| Owner | Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) |
| Capacity | Concerts: 20,000 Basketball: 19,079 Boxing/Wrestling: 16,000–21,000 Ice hockey: 18,145 Arena football: 16,096 |
| Field size | 950,000 sq ft (88,000 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 31, 1997 |
| Opened | October 17, 1999 |
| Construction cost | US$375 million (US$659 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | NBBJ |
| Structural engineer | John A Martin & Associates |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers Inc. |
| General contractor | PCL Construction Services, Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Los Angeles Kings (NHL) (1999–present) Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) (1999–present) Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) (1999–2024) Los Angeles Avengers (AFL) (2000–2008) Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) (2001–present) Los Angeles D-Fenders (NBA G-League) (2006–2010) |
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The Crypto.com Arena is a huge indoor stadium in downtown Los Angeles, California. It's a "multi-purpose" arena, meaning it hosts many different kinds of events. It first opened on October 17, 1999, and was known as the Staples Center for many years.
This famous arena is home to several professional sports teams. The Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) both play their home games here. The Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) also call it home.
From 1999 until 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team also played at the arena. They moved to their new stadium, the Intuit Dome, in Inglewood, California. The Crypto.com Arena is also a popular spot for big concerts and has hosted the Grammy Awards ceremony many times. In 2028, it will be a venue for the 2028 Summer Olympics, hosting gymnastics and boxing events.
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About the Arena
The Crypto.com Arena is a very large building, covering about 950,000 square feet. It stands 150 feet tall. The main floor is 94 feet by 200 feet, which is big enough for many different sports.
The arena can hold different numbers of people depending on the event. For basketball games, it seats up to 19,067 fans. For ice hockey, it can hold 18,145 people. When it hosts concerts or other big events, around 20,000 people can attend. There are also 160 special luxury suites for guests.
Star Plaza Statues
Outside the arena, you'll find the Star Plaza. This area features statues of famous Los Angeles athletes and sports broadcasters. These statues honor people who made a big impact on sports in the city.
Here are some of the legends honored with statues:
- Wayne Gretzky (Ice hockey)
- Magic Johnson (Basketball)
- Oscar De La Hoya (Boxing)
- Chick Hearn (Basketball broadcaster)
- Jerry West (Basketball)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Basketball)
- Luc Robitaille (Ice hockey)
- Shaquille O'Neal (Basketball)
- Bob Miller (Ice hockey broadcaster)
- Elgin Baylor (Basketball)
- Dustin Brown (Ice hockey)
- Kobe Bryant (Basketball)
- Kobe and Gianna Bryant (Basketball)
Arena History
The idea for the arena started in the mid-1990s. Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski, who owned the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, were looking for a new home for their team. They decided to build a new arena in downtown Los Angeles.
After a lot of planning and discussions, construction began in 1997. The arena opened two years later in 1999. It cost $375 million to build. It was originally named the Staples Center because the office-supply company Staples, Inc. paid for the naming rights. The first event held there was a concert by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.
Over the years, the arena has been updated. In 2010, new locker rooms were added for the teams, and a new, large HD video scoreboard was installed.
After the sad passing of basketball legend Kobe Bryant in 2020, many people started calling the arena "The House That Kobe Built." This was because of his amazing 20-year career with the Lakers, all spent playing in this arena.
In September 2021, the Clippers basketball team started building their own new arena, the Intuit Dome. They moved there in 2024.
On December 25, 2021, the arena's name officially changed to Crypto.com Arena. A company called Crypto.com bought the naming rights in a huge deal. Even with the new name, many fans still fondly remember it as the Staples Center.
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The arena has been undergoing major renovations since 2022, with new video boards, updated food areas, and improved player facilities. These changes are expected to be finished in 2024.
Exciting Events
The Crypto.com Arena has hosted countless memorable events, from thrilling sports games to spectacular concerts and important ceremonies.
Music Concerts
Many famous musicians have performed here. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were the first to play on opening night in 1999.
In 2009, a televised memorial service for the pop superstar Michael Jackson was held at the arena. He had been rehearsing there just hours before his death.
Taylor Swift holds the record for the most sold-out shows at the arena, with 16 performances. In 2015, Kobe Bryant even presented her with a special banner to celebrate this achievement. Other artists like Gloria Trevi, Alejandra Guzmán, Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Miley Cyrus, and Green Day have also performed here.
Grammy Awards
The annual Grammy Awards ceremony, which celebrates achievements in music, has been held at the Crypto.com Arena many times since 2000. It has hosted the Grammys more than any other venue in history!
KCON Music Festival
The arena has also hosted the concert part of KCON, a popular music festival that celebrates Korean pop (K-pop) culture. It hosted KCON in 2022 and 2024.
Sports Games
Since it opened, the arena has been home to the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA, until 2024), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA).
One of the most incredible moments in sports history at the arena happened on January 22, 2006. Kobe Bryant scored an amazing 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors. This is the second-highest number of points ever scored in an NBA game!
The Lakers have won two NBA championships (in 2000 and 2010) with series-winning victories right here at home. The Los Angeles Kings also won their first two Stanley Cup championships in franchise history at the arena in 2012 and 2014.
The arena has hosted many other major sports events, including:
- Several NBA Finals games
- Stanley Cup Finals games
- NBA All-Star Games (2004, 2011, 2018)
- National Hockey League All-Star Games (2002, 2012)
- WNBA Finals
- UFC fighting events
- The Summer X Games indoor competitions
The Clippers played their final regular season home game at the arena on April 14, 2024, and their final playoff home game on May 1, 2024, before moving to their new home.
2028 Summer Olympics
The Crypto.com Arena is set to host gymnastics and boxing finals during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Esports Events
The arena has also been a venue for major esports competitions. In 2013 and 2016, it hosted the finals of the League of Legends World Championship, a huge event for video game fans.
Professional Wrestling
Many professional wrestling events have taken place here. The arena has hosted episodes of WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown, along with several big WWE pay-per-view shows like WrestleMania 21 and multiple SummerSlam events.
Celebrity Memorials
The arena has been the site of public memorials for three famous people:
- In 2009, a memorial service was held for pop superstar Michael Jackson.
- In 2019, a memorial took place for rapper Nipsey Hussle.
- In 2020, a public memorial was held for basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, following their tragic passing.
Awards and Recognition
The Crypto.com Arena has won several awards over the years. Pollstar Magazine named it the "Best Major Concert Venue" and "Arena of the Year" multiple times. In 2013, PETA recognized it as the most "vegetarian-friendly" arena in the NBA.
Images for kids
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New UCTER section at Crypto.com Arena (2024 renovations)
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New hanging scoreboard at Crypto.com Arena (2024 renovations)
See also
In Spanish: Crypto.com Arena para niños
