Staples Center

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Staples Center

Overview: Though the Staples Center is no National Stadium (in Beijing), the hip Staples Center is the home of some of the biggest names in sports: the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Avengers and the Sparks. The Lakers and Clippers are of course professional basketball teams and Kobe Bryant is currently the king of NBA basketball. The Kings are Los Angeles’ professional ice hockey team. The Sparks are the professional women’s basketball team and the Avengers are an indoor arena football team. The Staples Center is located in the southwest quandrant of Downtown Los Angeles next to the Los Angeles Convention Center, off of Figueroa St and Pico Blvd.

The Staples Center is primarily a sports arena but it is a favorite venue for folks and events that can pack in an audience of about 20,000. You may know these names: Tool, Linkin Park, Rolling Stones, Maroon 5, Madonna, Justin Timberlake. These are a few names that the Staples Center brings in for the L.A. crowd. The Staples Center’s programming also includes the Grammy Awards and much more. If you pay up some big bucks for lower level seats during a Lakers games, don’t be surprised to see Jack Nicholson and a slew of other stars who enjoy Lakers’ games in person.

Because the Staples Center isn’t the size of a massive football-type stadium, the seating and visibility are fairly good, even if you’re in the upper level. The high tech, circular arena, which illuminates a purple glow at night, has three levels and private suites between the second and upper level. In the center of the arena are the large mega-tron screens hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling itself is pretty cool to look at because it’s busy with all sorts of rafters, lights and electrical components. Outside the Staples Center doors are statues of legendary sports figures Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky and Oscar de la Hoya.

The Staples Center has plenty of options outside the VIP suites to consume food. The food is pricy of course. Expect to pay about $6 for undesirable nachos. For some jalepenos, pay up an extra $2.00. A large draft beer is $9.00. The McDonald’s inside charges about a $1.50 more than McDonald’s on the street.

Tip: American Express has a private suite. If you hold a pure Amex card – not a combined Citi with American Express card, etc. – ask for the American Express booth. There, you can enjoy games in (somewhat) luxury.

Location: 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Site: www.staplescenter.com
Ph: (213) 742-7100

Cost: For NBA games, the price depends on the teams that are visiting. The more popular the teams, the pricier the tickets. Tickets for wheelchair seating on the upper deck (lowest row) go anywhere from $20 – $50. The lower deck, pay well over $100.

Parking: Three options for parking: 1. Stadium parking for $20
2. Parking lots surrounding the Staples Center. The parking lots on the Figueroa St cost $15. Parking lots a block away on Flower cost about $7. Parking lots two blocks away on Hill and Grand are $5 and even on Cherry, $5. Be warned, however, if you need extra space to get your wheelchair out, let the parking attendants know. They may move you a couple of times around the parking lot to maximize as many cars as they get fit.
3. Metered parking spots on the street. There are metered street parking spots on Flower Street, Hill and Grand as well as 12th street.

Accessibility: The upper deck and lower deck have designated areas for wheelchair seating. The areas are large and spacious and have cushed, fold-up chairs. You can either transfer onto the seats and have your wheelchair put aside towards the wall so it doesn’t pose a fire hazzard, or sit in your wheelchair.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com