Arena · Basketball, Combat Sports
Crypto.com Arena
Crypto.com Arena sits in downtown Los Angeles at the centre of the LA Live entertainment district, next to the convention centre and surrounded by restaurants, bars and hotels within a two minute walk. In a city defined by driving, it is the rare LA venue with genuinely good rail access. For most of its life it carried an unusual double duty as home to two NBA franchises as well as hockey and basketball’s women’s league, which made it one of the busiest buildings in world sport.
Approximate basketball configuration. Hockey, boxing and concert setups differ.
What happens here
The teams and events that put this venue on a fan travel itinerary.
Major events
- NBA regular season and playoffs
- NHL
- Boxing
- Awards shows
- Concerts
How it got here
The history that still shapes what you see on a visit.
The arena opened in 1999 as Staples Center, replacing the ageing Great Western Forum in Inglewood as the Lakers’ home. It became one of very few venues to host two teams from the same league, with the Clippers sharing it until they moved to their own building in Inglewood in 2024. It has hosted the Grammy Awards more than any other venue and took its current name in December 2021.
Getting there
Including what changes on the way out, which is usually the harder half.
Transit summary
Metro A and E line trains stop at Pico station, a short walk from the arena, and this is comfortably the easiest way in. Union Station connects to the wider regional rail network and is a few stops away. Downtown Los Angeles is walkable around LA Live and the convention centre, though the wider downtown grid is less pleasant on foot at night.
Parking and rideshare
There is a lot of paid parking around LA Live and the convention centre, and it is expensive on event nights. Booking a space in advance through a parking app is usually cheaper than driving up. Rideshare pickup zones are clearly marked around the district and surge sharply at the final buzzer, so walking two or three blocks out before ordering makes a real difference.
Where to stay, eat and drink
Nearby hotel areas
- LA Live and South Park (closest by far, walk to the door, best for an event night)
- Downtown around the Historic Core and Grand Avenue (good value, museums and restaurants, short walk)
- Koreatown (best food and late night, one stop on the Metro, better value)
- Santa Monica and Venice (better holiday base but 45 minutes or more away on a good day)
- Hollywood (good hotel stock, direct Metro connection, 20 minutes)
Bars and restaurants nearby
- LA Live directly outside the arena, convenient, busy and priced for it
- The Historic Core and Grand Central Market, ten minutes north, far better food
- Arts District for craft beer and restaurants, a short ride east
- Koreatown for late night eating after a game, which is the local move
Tours and visits
The arena does not run a regular public tour programme in the way a stadium does. Access is generally limited to event ticket holders, with occasional special access packages sold through the teams.
Practical tips
Planning a visit to Crypto.com Arena
- Take the Metro. Parking is expensive, the exit is slow, and Pico station is a five minute walk from the door.
- Check who is playing. This building hosts basketball, hockey and concerts on a very dense schedule and back to back events change the parking and the crowd entirely.
- Tip off for evening NBA games is usually 7.30pm local. Downtown traffic before that is heavy from every direction.
- The arena is cashless. Card or phone only, everywhere inside.
- The Lakers are the marquee draw and price accordingly. A hockey or women’s basketball fixture is the cheap way to see the building.
Bags, security and accessibility
A clear bag policy is in effect and bag size limits are enforced, with no storage on site. The arena is cashless. Accessible seating and assistive listening devices are available and should be arranged when booking.
Related teams
Clubs that play here, and others we cover in the same city
Los Angeles Lakers travel guide
Basketball · National Basketball Association
Downtown arena, the one LA venue you can reach on rail
Open guideLos Angeles Lakers travel guide
Basketball · National Basketball Association
Downtown arena, the one LA venue you can reach on rail
Open guideLos Angeles Dodgers travel guide
Baseball · Major League Baseball
The third-oldest ballpark in baseball, and the hardest to park at
Open guideRelated destinations
The wider city guide around this venue
Related events
Major events staged at or around this venue
Related competitions
How the leagues and championships behind this actually work
NBA guide
Basketball · League
Thirty teams play 82 regular-season games from October into April, split between two conferences. A play-in tournament decides the final playoff places in each conference, then four rounds of best-of-seven series lead to the Finals. An in-season tournament runs alongside the regular season in the autumn, with its games counting toward the regular-season record except for the final.
Open guideNBA Finals guide
Basketball · Series
A best-of-seven series between the conference champions. The team with the better regular-season record holds home-court advantage and hosts games one, two, five and seven, with the other team hosting three, four and six. Games five, six and seven are played only if the series needs them, which is the single biggest complication for anyone booking travel.
Open guideWhere to go next
Frequently asked questions
Is Crypto.com Arena the same as Staples Center?+
Yes. The building opened as Staples Center in 1999 and was renamed Crypto.com Arena in December 2021. Nothing else about the venue changed.
Do the Clippers still play there?+
No. The Clippers shared the arena with the Lakers for twenty five years and moved to their own building in Inglewood in 2024. The Lakers, the NHL team and the women’s basketball team remain.
How do I get to Crypto.com Arena on public transport?+
Metro A and E line trains stop at Pico station, a short walk from the arena. It is one of the few major Los Angeles venues where rail is genuinely the best option.
Last updated August 19, 2026
Sources and verification
- LA Metro rail network and station information
- Crypto.com Arena official venue, bag policy and access information
Capacity figures are approximate and configuration-dependent. Transit routes, bag policies, and tour access change around fixtures and construction. Verify before travel.
FanForged is an independent sports travel and fan guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any event organiser, league, federation, team, venue, or rights holder. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
FanForged has no affiliation with Crypto.com Arena, its operator, or any team or event staged there. Venue names are used descriptively and no venue marks are reproduced here.