Inaugurated on October 17, 1999, the legendary Los Angeles venue will see its naming contract end more than twenty years later, on December 25. If it will now be called Crypto.com Arena, sports fans will not forget the historical moments lived within this enclosure, current residence of four franchises (Lakers and Clippers in the NBA, Sparks in the WNBA and the Kings in NHL). Back on the historical moments that will have marked the history of a room which will have seen one of the greatest stars in sports history in its firmament: the late Kobe Bryant.
The Staples Center, icon of the city of angels
Built in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, the Staples Center is built to replace the Great Western Forum that preceded it. Located between the “Fashion District” and “Harvard Heights”, its capacity of approximately 20,000 seats depending on the configuration makes it a key asset for events in the largest Californian city. If basketball is at the top of the emotions experienced in the hall, it also made the heyday of the Los Angeles Kings, Stanley Cup winners in 2012 and 2014. The biggest crowd in the hall was at the hall. ‘occasion of one of the many boxing matches, the last one hosted by the hall, in 2009 between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley after having notably seen great names in the discipline such as Roy Jones Jr., Vitali Klitschko or Lennox Lewis.
Kobe’s lair
Known worldwide for being the home of the city’s two basketball teams, the Staples Center in Los Angeles has transformed thousands of times (in a few hours if necessary) to welcome Lakers and Clippers in turn. Despite the later arrival of the Clippers (formerly San Diego Clippers) in the city in 1984, the passion of the locals has never waned for the Lakers present since 1960 in the city. The winners of the two cities is one explanation that can make the city’s infatuation with the Lakers more rational. Arrived in the room in 1999, the Lakers string together three consecutive NBA titles in their new den, a sign of the important symbolism that the room has assumed in the history of the franchise.
A duo emerges from these first three titles in the room, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant notably offer the first title of the Lakers in their new room on June 19, 2000 at the end of a match 6 anthology marked by the 41 monumental points of a historic Shaquille O’Neal.
The Lakers will wait only seven years before winning a new NBA title in their hall, in 2009 and then in 2010 in what will remain one of the most beautiful series of recent decades, won against the Boston Celtics. Led 3-2 after a home defeat in Game 2 (103-94), the Lakers will offer themselves a phenomenal Game 7, carried in their room by a Kobe Bryant elected MVP of the finals.
The legend of Kobe is written, five titles in eleven seasons and unparalleled popularity for number 24 which will then be retired and displayed for posterity in the room.
Blake Griffin and Staples Center’s first craze for the Clippers
Quickly overwhelmed by the popularity of the Lakers in raison of their many successes, the Clippers live in the shadow of their “roommates”. While they are trying to attract great players, even engaging Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the playoffs elude them until 2005-2006. After four more years of famine, a first draft pick revived the enthusiasm for the franchise: Blake Griffin. By succeeding in attracting Chris Paul in an XXL deal at the end of 2011, a duo is formed to bring out the franchise from the latent slump. Without real success until 2014, the franchise sees Steve Ballmer arrive at its head and wins in Game 7 against Spurs in the first round of the playoffs in a supercharged Staples Center. The beginning of a story is then being written in a room which had until then very little vibrated for the whites and blues.
Blake Griffin, bottle-fed in Los Angeles and the trigger for Staples Center’s love for the Clippers.
A showbiz arena …
While sport will have made the best days and the best evenings at the Staples Center, the venue was also the site of significant moments in musical culture. Place of the last rehearsals of Michael Jackson before his death, concerts of Lady Gaga or the place of the Grammy Awards since 2000, the venue is in the pantheon of entertainment venues across the Atlantic.
… but also become a place of pilgrimage
Symbol of its importance and the weight of history attached to the Staples Center, two huge stars were celebrated there at the time of their deaths and no doubt it is the place where their souls rest. The funeral of Michael Jackson was celebrated there, a portion of Figueroa Street, adjoining the mythical hall, bears the name of Kobe Bryant and a statue bearing the effigy of the basketball legend should be erected before the end of the year 2022.
Beyond the prestige associated with the legend represented by this name, the Staples Center was and will remain a significant name in the history of world sport. If the name will no longer be the same, the spirit and the history will continue to haunt this enclosure where memories will remain beyond eras and commercial considerations.
