Crypto.com Arena
4.7(35K)google
4.1(398)yelp
SportsConcert
Overview
Located in the vibrant L.A. Live entertainment district of downtown Los Angeles, Crypto.com Arena is a world-renowned multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue. Historically known as the Staples Center, this architectural marvel serves as the home court for legendary NBA franchises, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, as well as the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. Visitors can explore Star Plaza outside, which features bronze statues of sports icons like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, or experience top-tier acoustics during major global concert tours.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-4 hours
Best TimeIf attending an NBA game or major concert, arrive at least 1.5 hours prior to event time. This allows you to completely bypass heavy stadium gridlock and provides ample time to visit Star Plaza out front to photograph the bronze statues of Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.
Getting ThereSituated in the downtown L.A. LIVE district. Driving on game days is highly discouraged due to gridlock; the ultimate method is taking the Metro A or E Line to Pico Station, exiting, and walking 2 minutes west straight toward the arena's glass facades.
Travel Tips
- STRICT BAG BANNED: The arena enforces a draconian No Bag Policy; standard tinted backpacks, large totes, and laptop bags are completely forbidden. The only exception is a tiny, clear clutch purse not exceeding 5x9x1 inches (hand size)—no storage lockers are available on-site, forcing violators to walk back to their vehicles.
- The venue is 100% cashless, completely refusing paper currency for ticketing, food, or merchandise; inside climates are kept exceptionally freezing year-round to preserve the ice rink substrate, meaning bringing a thick jacket or hoodie is mandatory regardless of hot outside weather.
- Parking in primary on-site lots like Lot W or Lot E scales up to a brutal $40-$60 during major Lakers or Kings games with multi-hour egress delays; parking in commercial garage basements two blocks away (e.g., along Figueroa St) slashes costs by over half and avoids exit gridlock.
Reviews
Positive
- As the legendary home of the Lakers and Kings, the venue holds immense sports history value; the live game-day atmosphere and roaring fans are thrilling.
- The outdoor Star Plaza features massive, beautifully crafted bronze statues of sports legends like Kobe and Magic Johnson, serving as an unmissable shrine for fans.
- The seating layout offers excellent sightlines despite high density; massive clear video boards, crisp signs, and efficient post-event crowd control ensure professional flow.
- Boasts elite transit access, sitting right near light rail and major bus lines; non-driving fans can easily reach gates via public transit to dodge traffic nightmares.
- As the legendary home of the Lakers and Kings, the superstar statues outside and high-tech jumbo screens inside pack a massive visual punch. A sports mecca.
- Order management is incredibly efficient; despite crowds close to 20,000, high-density security lanes and dedicated hosts ensure orderly, secure entry.
- The interior features dense modern accessible seating, smooth elevator lines, and visible first-aid stations; hardware and service are top-tier in the US.
- Transit is highly convenient, located just steps away from the Pico metro station, allowing smooth public transit travel that completely bypasses surface gridlock.
Heads up
- Onsite concessions and merchandise offer poor value; burgers, popcorn, and beers suffer from steep venue markups, and official jerseys are heavily overpriced.
- Despite ongoing upgrades, general upper deck seat rows feel tight and narrow for taller fans; sitting for hours offers minimal legroom and compromised comfort.
- Driving to the venue near game time guarantees gridlock; official L.A. Live decks and adjacent private lots spike parking rates to exorbitant event tiers.
- Being on the edge of downtown, walking into more remote blocks late at night after a game can expose you to homeless presence, lowering the overall safety feeling.
- Secondary concessions are heavily overpriced; a basic bottle of water, beer, or popcorn inside costs multiple times street prices, criticized by many as a tourist trap.
- During game days or mega concerts, arena parking lots spike over $30-$60, and entire city blocks freeze in gridlock for hours during post-event egress.
- To maximize crowd evacuation, standard seating rows are tightly packed with cramped legroom for tall spectators, making moving around inconvenient.
- On dark days without events, the arena exterior on the edge of DTLA sees occasional loiterers, and the plaza looks barren and empty outside event windows.