Upcoming Los Angeles Lakers dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Seventeen banners and a Hollywood following
The Los Angeles Lakers play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, part of the L.A. Live district on South Figueroa Street. The NBA regular season runs from late October to mid-April, and the playoffs run into June. The Lakers compete in the Western Conference's Pacific Division.
The franchise began in 1946 as the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League, moved to Minneapolis a year later and took the name Lakers from Minnesota's nickname, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It moved to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season and kept the name.
The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships: five in Minneapolis, the 1972 title, five in the 1980s Showtime era (the fast-break teams led by Magic Johnson under owner Jerry Buss), three straight from 2000 to 2002 with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, and the 2020 title. The team has retired 14 numbers. In October 2025 the NBA approved the sale of a majority stake to Mark Walter at a reported 10 billion dollar valuation, with Jeanie Buss remaining as the team's governor.
Crypto.com Arena for a Lakers game
The arena opened in October 1999 as Staples Center and became Crypto.com Arena on December 25, 2021. It seats 19,079 for basketball and is owned by AEG. The Lakers share it with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks; the Clippers, tenants since 1999, left for Intuit Dome in 2024.
The layout has three main tiers:
- The lower bowl rings the court from the floor up to the main concourse. The sections closest to the floor along the sidelines are sold as premier seating.
- Suite levels stack three rings of luxury suites (about 160 in all) between the lower and upper bowls.
- The upper level (the 300 sections) sits above the suites, reached from the upper concourse.
Because those three suite levels sit between the bowls, the upper level is higher above the court than in arenas with a single suite ring. Outside the doors, Star Plaza holds statues of Lakers greats, including the 2024 statue of Kobe and Gianna Bryant.
Choosing seats for a Lakers game
Courtside
Lakers courtside seats are some of the most recognizable in sports, and celebrity sightings are part of the draw. They carry the highest premium in the building and are among the first seats to disappear for big games.
Lower bowl sideline
The best balance of view and atmosphere is the lower bowl along the sidelines, roughly 10 to 20 rows up. From there you see the whole floor without the flattened angle of the front rows. The sideline premium is real, so decide whether the view justifies it compared with the corners.
Lower bowl corners and baselines
Corner sections give a diagonal view of both baskets and usually cost noticeably less than center court. Seats directly behind the baskets are close to the action at one end but leave you watching the far end through the backboard and stanchion; the lowest rows there are the ones to skip.
Upper level
The 300 level is the budget choice. The first rows of the sideline sections are the pick, giving a full view of the floor and the center-hung board. The top rows of the upper corners feel distant because of the suite levels below; if a seat map shows a choice between a high-corner seat in the lower part of the 300 level and a front-row 300-level sideline seat, take the sideline.
When Lakers tickets are hardest to find
The schedule follows the standard NBA pattern: preseason in early October, an 82-game regular season with 41 home games from late October to mid-April, a play-in tournament for seeds seven through ten, and playoffs from April into June. The NBA Cup adds group-stage games in November.
The Lakers draw well against almost everyone, so the differences show up in which games sell through first:
- The Boston Celtics. The NBA's oldest major rivalry; the teams have met in the Finals 12 times.
- The Golden State Warriors and other marquee teams. National-TV matchups bring out large crowds and visiting fans.
- The Clippers. Since 2024, the crosstown game is no longer a hallway series in the same building, which gives it a sharper home-and-away feel.
- Holiday dates. The Lakers frequently appear on the NBA's Christmas Day slate, and holiday-week games draw out-of-town visitors.
- Playoff games. Home postseason tickets move quickly once a series is set.
Weeknight games in November and December against smaller-market opponents usually offer the most choice. Because many visitors plan Lakers games around trips to Los Angeles, weekend dates also sell faster than weekday ones.
Getting downtown for tip-off
Rail is the simplest approach. Metro's Pico Station, served by the A and E Lines, is a short walk from the arena, and both lines connect to the 7th Street/Metro Center hub. Check LA Metro for late-night service after the game.
For drivers, the arena operates several lots and garages, including the West and East garages and Lot C on L.A. Live Way, plus private lots within a short walk. Downtown traffic and shared events at L.A. Live can make arrival slow, so plan on extra time for weekend tip-offs.
As of the 2025–26 season, the arena does not allow backpacks, purses, totes or clear bags; only small clutches and wallets (under 5 by 9 by 1 inches) are permitted, with exceptions for medical and parental bags. The building is cash-free. Policies change, so check the arena's A to Z guide before you go.
Every GoodSeats order includes free shipping and no digital transfer fees, which helps when you are comparing similar seats for a high-demand date.
Notable moments in the Lakers story
The Lakers' history runs through three Los Angeles buildings: the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1960–1967), The Forum in Inglewood (1967–1999), where the Showtime teams played, and Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena (1999 to the present). The team clinched the 2000 and 2010 titles on its home floor downtown.
- The Celtics Finals. Six Finals meetings in the 1960s went Boston's way; the Lakers won in 1985 and 1987 and again in 2010.
- Showtime. Five titles in the 1980s made the Lakers the league's glamour franchise.
- The three-peat. Titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002 opened the arena era.
- 2020. The 17th title tied Boston's total at the time.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Lakers play home games?
The Lakers play at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, which opened as Staples Center in 1999 and was renamed in December 2021.
How many championships have the Lakers won?
The Lakers have won 17 NBA championships, five in Minneapolis and 12 in Los Angeles, most recently in 2020.
Do the Lakers and Clippers still share an arena?
No. The Clippers moved to Intuit Dome in Inglewood in 2024, so the Lakers now share Crypto.com Arena with the NHL's Kings and the WNBA's Sparks.
What is the closest Metro station to Crypto.com Arena?
Pico Station on the Metro A and E Lines is the closest stop, a short walk from the arena.
Can I bring a bag into a Lakers game?
As of the 2025–26 season, Crypto.com Arena does not allow backpacks, purses, totes or clear bags, only small clutches and wallets, with medical and parental exceptions. Check the arena's current policy before you go.
Which Lakers games are hardest to get tickets for?
Games against the Celtics, the Warriors and the Clippers, holiday-week dates and playoff games tend to sell through first.