Crypto.com Arena

Looking for section numbers and the best seats by level? See the Crypto.com Arena Seating Chart.

Downtown's arena for the Lakers, Kings and Sparks

Crypto.com Arena is the downtown Los Angeles home of the NBA's Lakers, the NHL's Kings and the WNBA's Sparks. It seats 19,079 for basketball, 18,145 for hockey and about 20,000 for concerts. Opened in 1999 as Staples Center, it took its current name on December 25, 2021, and it anchors L.A. Live, the entertainment district of restaurants, bars, hotels and smaller venues along Figueroa Street.

Between the three teams, touring concerts, boxing, wrestling and awards shows, the building is busy most nights from fall through spring. The Clippers were also tenants until 2024, when they moved to their own arena, Intuit Dome, in Inglewood. Older guides that list four teams here are out of date.

Reading the seating map: event level to the 300s

The arena stacks its seating in a way that matters for anyone choosing between levels. From the floor up:

• Event level: courtside seats for basketball, or floor seating and general admission for concerts.
• 100 level: the lower bowl that rings the court or rink, reached from the main concourse.
• Premier and 200 sections: a mid-level ring above the lower bowl, also off the main concourse. Seating guides number the Premier sections 1 through 18 along the sides, with the 200 sections at the ends; Premier tickets include club access.
• Suite Levels A, B and C: three stacked rings holding about 160 luxury suites.
• 300 level: the upper bowl, reached from the upper concourse.

The key point is the suite stack. Because three full levels of suites sit between the lower seats and the 300 level, the upper bowl starts higher and farther from the floor than it does in many newer arenas. The front rows of the 300s are reasonable; the back rows are a long way up.

Where to sit for basketball, hockey and concerts

Lakers and Sparks

For basketball, the best non-courtside view is a sideline 100-level seat roughly 8 to 20 rows up, where you see over the benches and the scorer's table and still feel the speed of the game. Premier sideline seats give a slightly higher, broadcast-style view plus club access, which some fans prefer to a low corner seat at a similar resale level. Corner 100-level seats are a sound middle option.

For value, the first rows of the 300 level along the sidelines beat the upper rows of the end-zone 300s by a wide margin. Avoid the top rows behind the baskets unless the goal is simply to be in the building.

Kings hockey

Hockey changes the math. The first several rows of the 100 level sit behind the glass, which distorts the view and makes the far side of the rink hard to follow. Most regulars recommend rows 15 and up in the lower bowl. Premier seats are well suited to hockey, since the elevation shows passing lanes and line changes developing.

Concerts

Most arena shows use an end stage. The floor is flat, so unless you are in the first several rows, a lower-bowl side seat near the stage usually shows more than a mid-floor seat. In the side sections, check the seat-numbering direction on the map, since the seats closest to the stage end can sit at a sharp angle. For a center-stage or in-the-round show, nearly every lower-bowl section works, and the floor becomes the premium.

When demand peaks

Lakers resale demand rises for rivalry games, nationally televised games, the holiday schedule and playoffs. Kings demand climbs on weekends, against division rivals and in the postseason. Concert demand depends on the tour, with the final night of a multi-night run often in highest demand.

The view from the lower bowl, Premier and upper levels

The 100 level puts you inside the noise of the game. Sideline seats in the lower half feel close enough to hear players and coaches, while the end-zone seats behind the baskets give a deep, foreshortened view that is better for watching one end at a time.

The Premier ring is the most balanced view in the building: high enough to see the whole floor and the center-hung video board, low enough that players still look life-sized. The 300 level offers a full overhead view of plays developing and of the crowd, but from the upper rows the court looks small and you will rely on the video board for detail. The trade-off is lower prices and an easy read of team defense and line changes.

Getting downtown: Metro, parking and freeways

The arena sits in downtown Los Angeles near the junction of the 110 and 10 freeways, and game-night traffic on both is heavy. Transit is the most predictable option.

• Metro rail: the A Line and E Line stop at Pico Station, a short walk from the arena and L.A. Live. Metro Local bus lines 28, 81 and 460 also serve the area.
• Arena garages: the arena operates Lot W (the West Garage), Lot E (the East Garage at 888 West Olympic Boulevard), Lot C (1145 L.A. Live Way) and Lot 1. Event lots generally open about two and a half hours before the event.
• Clearance: watch the height limits if you drive a tall vehicle. As of 2026 the arena lists about 8 feet 2 inches at the West Garage and about 6 feet 4 inches at Lot C.
• Private lots: independent lots within a seven- to ten-minute walk are often easier to exit after the event than the closest garages.

Current rates and maps are on the arena's getting here page.

Bag policy and entry rules, as of 2026

This arena's bag rule is stricter than most NFL clear-bag policies. As of 2026, Crypto.com Arena does not allow bags, backpacks, purses, totes, fanny packs, camera bags or even clear bags. Small clutches and wallets up to about 5 by 9 by 1 inches are allowed, and medical and parental bags up to about 14 by 14 by 6 inches are permitted after X-ray screening. Paid lockers nearby store anything larger, but it is easier to arrive with only a phone, wallet and keys. Check the arena's A to Z guide before you go, since policies can change by event.

• Cash-free: concessions and stores take credit, debit and mobile payments only.
• Re-entry: ask a Guest Services team member to scan your ticket before you leave; on return you go through security and ticket scanning again.

Every GoodSeats order includes free shipping and a 100% guarantee.

Clubs, food and Star Plaza

Premium spaces include the Legacy Club, the Delta SKY360 Club and Hyde Lounge, with access tied to specific ticket types. General concourses carry standard arena food and drinks, and L.A. Live next door gives you a wide choice of restaurants and bars before and after the event, though they fill up on game nights.

Outside the main entrance, Star Plaza holds 14 statues of Los Angeles sports and broadcasting figures, including the Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial statue added in 2024. It is a popular meeting point, so set a more specific spot with your group on busy nights.

A short history: Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena

Developed by AEG and designed by NBBJ, the arena opened on October 17, 1999, at a cost of about 375 million dollars, bringing the Lakers and Kings downtown from the Forum in Inglewood. The building has since hosted seven NBA Finals and two Stanley Cup Finals. The Lakers clinched the 2000 and 2010 championships at home, and the Kings won the Stanley Cup on home ice in 2012 and 2014.

The arena has hosted the Grammy Awards 23 times, more than any other venue. A center-hung scoreboard was added in 2010. In November 2021, AEG announced a 20-year naming deal with the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com, and the Staples Center name came down that Christmas. For the 2028 Summer Olympics, the arena is scheduled to host artistic gymnastics, trampoline and the boxing finals.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Crypto.com Arena
• Crypto.com Arena – A–Z Guide
• Crypto.com Arena – Getting Here
• ABC7 – Staples Center officially becomes Crypto.com Arena
• LA Metro – Event service via Pico Station