But there’s far more than sports taking place at Crypto.com Arena, a venue that also regularly hosts a range of live events, including concerts featuring some of the world’s top music artists. (And did we mention that Crypto.com Arena<\/a> has hosted nearly two dozen Grammy Awards shows?)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re here for one of our guided tours of LA<\/a> or visiting for a game, Read on to learn more about this historic arena, its star-studded history, and how to make the most of a visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Opened in 1999, the former Staples Center recently hit its 25th anniversary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Built as part of an effort to revitalize downtown Los Angeles, the initial idea for the arena came from billionaire Philip Anschutz, owner of the Los Angeles Kings, and Ed Roski Jr., owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. Their vision? To create a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility that would appeal to both locals and visiting tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Work on the $375 million venue began in 1997, and two years later, the Staples Center officially opened its doors. The facility is a whopper of an indoor arena, covering 950,000 square feet and reaching as high as 150 feet in some areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can imagine, there’s plenty of room \u2014 seating for nearly 19,000 people for basketball events, over 18,000 for ice hockey, and just under 20,000 for concerts and other sports events. The basketball court that makes up the heart of Crypto.com Arena can be transformed to accommodate all of these types of events, and then some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the arena approached its 25th anniversary in 2024, it underwent a multi-million dollar renovation<\/a> that included updating premium spaces and reimagined areas for the general public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arena was originally named for Staples, the store. That\u2019s right. The office supply retailer donated enough to its construction to earn the naming rights, and the Staples Center opened on October 17, 1999, with a performance by rock legend Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 22 years of operation, the Staples Center was renamed Crypto.com Arena, the switchover officially happening on Dec. 25, 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t Hollywood Stars VIP Tour<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n Fun fact: <\/strong>This deal with the Singapore-based crypto company is believed to be the most lucrative naming rights agreement in the history of sports. Crypto.com reportedly paid a staggering $700 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so we have Crypto.com Arena for 20 years \u2014 until Christmas in 2041.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given its location in a city that’s home to the entertainment industry, is it any surprise that Crypto.com Arena has hosted all kinds of high profile events over the years? Or that it continues to do so? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every year, there are more than 250 events at the facility. Some of the biggest over the years have included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you\u2019re not a sports fan (and don\u2019t have an invitation to a fancy event held there, like the Grammys), there are plenty of reasons to visit Crypto.com Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are just a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want a deeper look at this iconic sports and entertainment complex? Consider booking one of their VIP behind-the-scenes tours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 90-minute, small-group, arena tour is led by a guide who takes participants through spaces that served as the backdrop for some of the venue’s most memorable moments. The $60 tour also provides a look at Crypto.com Arena’s exclusive VIP areas, such as the private suites, Lexus Club, and Yaamava’ Club by San Manuel, all of which are usually reserved for high rollers and A-listers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just outside Crypto.com Arena, there’s a space known as Star Plaza (located at the corner of Chick Hearn Ct and Figueroa Street.) Here, you\u2019ll find 13 statues installed in honor of various famous athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few of the sports legends statues in Star Plaza at the former Staples Center include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps the most poignant is the statue of late Lakers star and icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, both of whom died in a 2020 helicopter crash. The statue shows Kobe Bryant embracing his daughter and kissing her forehead. It\u2019s one of three statues at the arena dedicated to Kobe Bryant. One of the other Kobe Bryant statues onsite is a 19-foot tall, 4,000-pound bronze memorial showing Bryant in his No. 8 jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fun fact: <\/strong>There\u2019s another place you can find Kobe, and he looks pretty lifelike. Snap a selfie with the Lakers legend on our Hollywood Stars VIP Tour<\/a>, which takes you behind the scenes of the famous wax museum with an LA local to share star secrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to pick up a souvenir from your visit to Crypto.com Arena such as the jersey of your favorite athlete, don’t miss the Team LA store. The store sells officially licensed apparel representing NBA, NHL and MLS teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHistory of the Staples Center<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/View-of-Staples-Center-on-a-cloudy-day-in-Los-Angeles-1024x686.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStaples Center becomes Crypto.com Arena<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Guests-taking-images-with-Marvel-Superheroes-in-Madame-Tussauds-1000×660\"](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/Guests-taking-images-with-Marvel-Superheroes-in-Madame-Tussauds-1000x660-1-500x500.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t![\"Guests-in-the-Alfred-Hitchcock-Psycho-area-of-Madame-Tussauds-768×512\"](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/08\/Guests-in-the-Alfred-Hitchcock-Psycho-area-of-Madame-Tussauds-768x512-1-250x250.jpg\")
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\tHistoric and high-profile events at the Staples Center<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Aerial](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Aerial-shot-during-live-basketball-game-in-Cryptocom-Arena-1024x683.jpg\")
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What to see and do at Crypto.com Arena\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Statue](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Statue-of-Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-in-Los-Angeles-1024x818.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBehind-the-scenes tours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sports legend statues in Star Plaza<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Statue](\"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Statue-in-Star-Plaza-Los-Angeles-1024x836.jpg\")
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Team LA store<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Visiting L.A. LIVE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n