A Staple of the LA Experience

Official Review by Drew Cieszynski, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

There are a handful of venues in each sport that seem to transcend the balance. Baseball enthusiasts enjoy the historical venues - Fenway Park, Wrigley Park, and the old Yankee Stadium. The NFL loves its modern bells and whistles in Lucas Oil Stadium and Cowboy Stadium while the NHL tends to judge its best venues in terms of fan bases. Certainly Madison Square Garden in New York and the banners hanging at TD Garden in Boston hold a place in a basketball fan's heart. In recent years however, the Staples Center has seemingly become the basketball capital of the world.

With its futuristic look and cascading lights atop the arena, the venue has become one of the most identifiable in all of sports. It hosts not one, but two NBA franchises and can facilitate a home game for both the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in the same day!

The Los Angeles Lakers began play at the Staples Center in 1999, but the franchise's road to the 18,997 seat arena has been both long and very successful.

Those unfamiliar with the history of the franchise may question the nickname of the team, playing in a region known more for the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches, palm trees, and mountains over any regional lake. The nickname was conceived long before arriving in Los Angeles, and was derived from the franchise's previous home, Minnesota or the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." The earliest days of the franchise date back to 1947 when the Detroit Gems (of the National Basketball League) were purchased by Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen for a whopping sum of $15,000. After relocating the franchise to Minneapolis, the franchise enjoyed several years of success, winning five league championships. After George Mikan's retirement however, the team had some down years and attendance began to plummet. Owner Bob Short received pressure from the NBA to generate revenue and would eventually move the team to Los Angeles in 1960 and become the NBA's first west coast franchise.

The Lakers would begin their tenure in LA at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, near the Memorial Coliseum, home of the USC Trojans. The team's stay in this venue would last only seven years.

The franchise was sold to Jack Kent Cooke in 1965 and two years later he would determine that the team needed a new home. In 1967, he would finance construction of the Forum (later known as Great Western Forum) in Inglewood, CA for $16.5 million. The Lakers would call the Forum their home for 31 years, during which a costly divorce for Jack Kent Cooke forced him to sell the Lakers, the Forum, and the Los Angeles Kings to Jerry Buss for $67 million.

During their stay at the Forum, the Lakers achieved great success, winning six NBA championships and recording the NBA's all-time longest winning streak of 33 games (during the 1971-72 season). While the Forum had provided a great home, the franchise wanted a state-of-the-art arena to attract new talent. In 1999, the Lakers would gain even more of a Los Angeles identity, moving to the downtown Staples Center, a venue which has acted as the keystone of the downtown revitalization. The arena wasted no time making its mark on professional sports, as the Lakers won an NBA championship in its opening season.

Food & Beverage    5

During my first few visits to Staples Center, I never took note of the food selection. This could have been a result of having many food options in nearby areas or being turned off by the site of seeing a McDonald's in a professional arena. After a couple of laps around the venue, I found approximately 24 concession stands offering all sorts of fare. You may want to skip on to the next section if you've been there before as before is the longest list of stadium fare on the Stadium Journey website.

I started off by checking out Camacho's Cantina, perfectly suitable for any team in Southern California. Here, they offered a carne asada or chicken burrito ($7.75), nacho chips with guacamole ($6.50), two soft tacos (carne asada or chicken for $7.75), the Camacho nachos ($8.50), a Camacho Bowl (choose a meat and up to five toppings for $9.50), or the tostada salad ($9.50).

At the stand known as "??Big Dawgs,"?? you'll find a variety of hot dogs that are better than you can find at any local ballpark. For $7.75, you can get the "??BBQ Dawg (all beef hot dog, classic potato salad, bbq sauce, pickle spears, and Tabasco red onions),"?? "??Deli Dawg (polish sausage, pastrami, sauerkraut, grated swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and caraway salt),"?? or the "??Junkyard Dawg (all beef hot dog, chorizo and potatoes, jalapeno jack cheese and sports peppers)"?? among other options. Other side items at this stand include macaroni salad, cole slaw, or potato salad ($3.50), peanuts ($5.25), and the popcorn. The popcorn options are just phenomenal as you can get the regular ($4.50 for the normal size or $6 for bottomless souvenir size), kettle corn ($5.25), caramel corn ($5.25), or the zebra corn (with dark and white chocolate for $5.25).

If neither of these has generated an interested, you could stop by the California Pizza Kitchen. Here you can get cheese or pepperoni pizza for $8.75 (or a BBQ chicken pizza for $9.75). They also offer their Chinese chicken salad for $8.75.

Another rather interesting stadium option is the sushi bar. You can get a variety of sushi plates ranging from $10.50 to $13.25 and pick up some fresh edamame on the side for $8.25.

Other options scattered throughout the arena include the patty melt ($8.75), turkey BLT ($8.75), veggie burger ($8.50), Italian grinder ($9.75), chicken tenders ($8.25), sloppy joe sliders ($8.75), chicken breast sandwich ($9.00), onion rings ($5.50), spicy chicken wings ($10 for a regular or $18.50 for the large bucket in BBQ, buffalo or teriyaki flavors), French dip ($10.25), pomodoro & carne de diavolo ($8.50), pasta alfredo ($8.50), "??fork and knife"?? chili dog ($7.75), turkey sandwich ($10.75), pastrami sandwich ($10.75), italian grinder ($9.75), potato salad, cole slaw, or macaroni salad ($3.50), Sensible portions ($2.75 veggie straws, miner's gold, potato straws), candy ($4), ice cream cup ($4.50), or a sorbet smootie bar ($5.25).

The famous Wetzel's Pretzels also makes an appearance for $4.50 with non-fat, almond crunch, or cinnamon options. You can pick up caramel dipping sauce for $1 as well.

For the younger fans, a Healthy Kids Taste Club is offered for $6.25. With this, they get a choice of an "??Uncrustable PBJ"?? or kid's dog, carrots or sensible portions, and juice or small soda.

Of course, there is also a McDonald's, which offers food that you cannot find anywhere else in America. If you must have this hard-to-find-food, you are going to pay a premium for it. Forget your dollar menu and check out some of these prices: medium drink ($4.75), shake ($4), ICEE ($4.25), Dasani bottled water ($4.25), coffee ($3.50), large french fry ($2.80), salad ($5.50), quarter pounder with cheese ($4), crispy chicken ($5), 10-piece nugget ($4.80), parfait ($2.25), McFlurry ($4), or a sundae ($3). Oh, and if you want to make any one of your sandwiches a combo, add $5.75 to put your meal well above the $10 mark.

On the beverage side, you can get Coke products in the "??regular"?? size for $3.75 or the larger size for $4.75. A rather reasonable deal is the bottomless soda for $6.50. Bottled water is $4 (thus cheaper than at the McDonald's stand) and vitamin water is $5. Not that you'd need it in Southern California, but coffee and hot chocolate is available for $3.25.

As for the older patrons, a regular domestic beer is priced at $8.00 (or a premium for $9.75) and a large domestic for $9.25 (or a premium for $11). Some of the beer options include Budweiser, Bud Light Lime, Blue Moon, Coors, Heineken, Stella, Corona, Amstel Light, Sierra Nevada, and Shock Top. There are also stands that offer large Coronas or Dos Equis for $13. Frozen margaritas and strawberry daiquiri can be had for $11.25, cocktails ($7.75, $8,75, $9.75 depending on the brand of liquor), and wine is $6.75 or $9, depending on the branding. There is even a gluten-free beer option for $7.

You'll find some more elaborate alcoholic options at the Harbor or Figueroa Bars found near each of the main entrances of the building.

Atmosphere    5

I have to admit, the first time I attended a Lakers game while traveling through all of the NBA, I was not very intrigued by the experience. As I visited more, I became more attuned to the traditions and have found it to be one of the most exciting atmospheres in all of sports.

Easily the most notable part of the atmosphere is the "??Lights Out"?? campaign, providing the play as a theater-like experience. Only the basketball court itself is illuminated and the fans sit among dimmed lighting. What I appreciate most about this is that the Los Angeles Clippers play in the same venue, yet provide a completely different experience. Every section also has curtains obstructing the walkway, adding to the "??showtime"?? experience.

The next experience-enhancer is the world-famous Laker Girls. Rather than the many promotions that other professional teams conduct during stoppages in play, the Laker Girls provide a variety of performances in a multitude of different outfits during any given game.

Similar to Yankee's great PA announcer Bob Sheffield, the Lakers have their own "??voice of god"?? in Lawrence Tanter. Rather than an "??over the top,"?? loud, obnoxious PA announcer, Tanter has a smooth, crisp delivery when announcing the team and commentary on the game.

Prior to the start of every game, all of the lights dim and the sound system plays Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) before introducing their players. All of the arena lights dim and a large circular screen drops from above the scoreboard. The screen contains images of Lakers players past and present as well as some inspirational messages before the start of the game. I've never witnessed the same montage twice, and it is easily my favorite part of any evening at Staples Center.

During every game, fans are certain to be subject to quite a bit of organ music, which does not tend to be the norm in many of the other arenas in the NBA. The organ has the tendency to get really worked up when the opposing team shoots an airball.

There are also some more modern traditions incorporated into the atmosphere at Staples Center. Fans will hear the Busta Rhymes "??Just Make It Clap"?? line and proceed into a clapping series. Fans will occasionally hear the "??Hit It"?? phrase from renowned hip-hop artist Rob Base over the loudspeaker. Finally, the fans will often hear the Harry Belafonte "??Day-O"?? to which they respond with a "??Woot Woot!"??

While it is limited, the Lakers do conduct some promotional items during down time. The Chevron Toy Car Challenge races occur on the video ribbons, Mirage Big Shot Jackpot, and Kiss Cam. The Kiss Cam is particularly entertaining as it will focus on opposing players and had its most notable spot feature Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman.

As the game winds down, fans may be subject to potentially the most fun part of the atmosphere. Local fast-food chain Jack-In-The-Box sponsors the Lakers and offers a promotion that provides two free tacos to all fans when the Lakers win and hold opponents to under 100 points. As fans sense this is about to occur, a chant of "??We Want Tacos"?? erupts. At no point during the game will you hear the stadium louder than when the fans have an opportunity to win deep fried tacos.

The best part of the atmosphere for many fans is after a win. At Yankee Stadium, fans are treated to Sinatra's "??New York New York"?? postgame and the Staples Center presents its own Southern California song. Almost immediately after the final buzzer, the sound system will play the familiar Randy Newman song I Love LA that is often also heard at Dodger Stadium .

Neighborhood    5

Over several years of stopping by the Staples Center, it is rather amazing how much the neighborhood has changed and developed. You hear of many development projects, but rarely do you see them come to fruition like this one. Sitting next to the convention center, the arena is part of the 4,000,000 square foot L.A. LIVE.

This area includes the Nokia Plaza, which you'll often find filled with fans before or after the game with all sorts of newscasts and promotions going on. Not far away is the Nokia Theater which has hosted the ESPY Awards, American Idol, the Emmy Awards, and the MTV Music Video Awards.

Also nearby is the Grammy Museum, the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott Hotels, a 14-screen movie theater, and the ESPN Los Angeles broadcasting studio.

Just across the street from the arena, you'll find one of the few remaining ESPN Zone restaurants. Here, you'll find a lot of your typical pre and post game fare, but what sets this venue apart is the sports arena, or arcade for adults.

Not far away is the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge. This spot is far from the grimy bowling lane you may have become accustomed to in the past. A rather upscale bowling alley, you'll find all of your favorite drinks here and comfort that few bowling alleys can offer.

Other notable spots nearby include Yard House (200+ beer options), Wolfgang Puck (contemporary bar and grill), Flemings (aim for the best wine and food pairings), Rock N' Fish (try the Navy grog and oak grilled artichoke), Rivera Restuarnt (Latin), Farm of Beverly Hills, La Bella Cuccna (informal Italian), Lawry's Cavery (known for its prime rib), Palm Restaurant (great seafood appetizers), or Katsuya (Japanese).

One of the Los Angeles food landmarks includes The Pantry or Café Pantry. Fans of all walks love this place because they can get hearty meals 24 hours a day. In fact, they could have asked for a meal at pretty much any time over the past 88 years with the exception of one day (I'll let you do your own research on why it was closed that one day). Give yourself some time to check this place out as the lines often spill outside of the building and around the block. Please note however that this is a cash-only establishment.

Of course if none of this suits you, keep in mind that you are in downtown LA. Just minutes away, you can probably get your hands on any type of food you fancy.

Fans    5

Although Laker fans have received criticism over the years for being "??fair-weather"?? or simply "??upscale,"?? the review is based on the crowds today and conducted by a reviewer who is anything but upscale.

The perception comes from Staples Center being in the backyard of Hollywood and many of the notable celebrities showing up at games. At every game, at least a celebrity or two is shown on the scoreboard. Some of the more consistent ones include Dustin Hoffman, Justin Bieber, George Lopez, Sylvester Stallone, David Beckham, Andy Garcia, Snoop Dogg, Hugh Hefner, Rihanna, Anthony Kiedis (Flea), Denzel Washington, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Of course, the most notable fan, Jack Nicholson can be found courtside and is said to have been a season ticket holder since the 1970s. Of course when any of the above is shown on the scoreboard, the entire crowd erupts in joy.

Certainly in the lower levels of the arena, some of the fans with deeper pockets can be found, but that doesn't mean they are not also passionate nor that they detract from the experience.

As many of the lower-level tickets carry a significant price tag, I would recommend sitting up in higher levels as here you'll find some of the most passionate fans in the NBA. Laker tickets are some of the most difficult to come by, so when these fans do get a chance to see their home team play, they take full advantage of the opportunity.

My favorite part of observing the fan base might occur outside of the arena. The most passionate fans will stand in line for hours just hoping that the box office will open up some new tickets for purchase. Fans congregate to take photos with the bronze statues of the Laker greats and it's always fun to observe the purple and gold jerseys from yesteryear and some of the t-shirts that often poke fun at a franchise in Boston.

As the team has experienced a great amount of success over the past 15 years, the "??M-V-P"?? chant is often heard when a potentially deserving player takes the free throw line. The other chants are relatively limited to "??Let's Go Lakers,"?? and of course "??We Want Tacos."??

Ultimately a testament to the fan base is that the team has sold out every game since the 2007-08 season, and not many franchises can make that same claim. The Lakers have built a phenomenal brand and it's hard to envision the fan base backing off anytime soon.

Access    4

A 2011 report by Forbes named the Lakers as the second most valuable franchise (Knicks) in the NBA, and consequently, tickets are extremely hard to come by. Therefore, it is often challenging for even the most passionate Lakers fans to access live action of their team.

The Staples Center is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, so it is relatively close to four of the major freeways, the 405, 110, 10, and 101. Unfortunately this is Los Angeles and at any hour of the day, these freeways could be significantly backed up, so leave plenty of time when traveling to the arena.

One of the beautiful things about the Staples Center is that the Pico Station is just a block from the arena and the 7th Street Station is just a five minute walk away. Visit the Metro's Trip Planner site to avoid traffic and parking fees when visiting the Lakers.

There are roughly 3,300 parking spaces at Staples Center and approximately 16,000 privately owned spots within a five to ten minute walk. The spots at Staples can be prepaid via the arena box office and Ticketmaster. On some days, I've witnessed parking low as $10, but you should expect to pay $15-$20 depending on the crowd. Luckily, the area has been vastly built up, so there aren't many rough areas around the arena any longer. Unfortunately tailgating is prohibited in all lots.

Once you arrive at the Staples Center, you will have to go through some metal detectors, so be sure that you pack light. This is one of the few arenas to consistently implement this practice, but it is well worth it for the additional safety. Also, be sure to review the Staples Center camera policy before bringing your camera as many have been turned away. As you pass through the detectors, you'll notice the immense size of the lobby, standing 85 feet high.

There are five open concourses in the arena and they are extremely clean and spacious. If you have to leave your seat, you can follow the action on one of the 1,200 televisions set up throughout the arena.

The arena offers the 100 and 200 levels, both accessible via the street level. The three levels of suites, and the small upper level (300) are accessible via escalators that will take you up and down from the upper levels, but unfortunately the size and speed of these create a backlog of fans. What I find most interesting about these escalators is that they slowly pass the club level, allowing the fans to peer in and gain something to aspire to. This model is the complete opposite of that of the Honda Center in Anaheim, where no escalators exist to get to the upper levels.

The club level offers 2,500 seats and 160 luxury suites. Fans will notice that most suites are on one side of the arena, allowing them all to have a great view when concerts are in town. Eight of the suites were converted into the Hyde Lounge in 2009.

This is one arena that you will not be sneaking down to the lower level seats. Security remains extremely tight in this regard. In fact, any time you are leaving your seat, be sure to have your stub ready because the usher will question you time and time again. While this can be frustrating to be treated as if you do not belong, it seems to be a necessity with some of the fans attempting to get close and gawk at a celebrity.

The restrooms are extremely spacious and look like they were constructed yesterday. These are kept in tip-top shape despite the millions of visitors that pass through them annually. If you notice a sizable line, take a lap around the arena and the crowds will have likely subsided.

Return on Investment    4

This is a tough category to rate simply because fans receive one of the best experiences in all of sports, but it certainly comes at a steep price. Tickets have become so popular that fans often have to put their name on a waiting list for several years before getting an opportunity to purchase. The Lakers are now even requiring a $100 deposit simply to get a name on this list. Unfortunately this leads to some substantial gouging by the ticket scalpers. Rarely will fans be able to find tickets below $50 on the upper level seat and the lower levels sometimes seem unachievable for less than $100.

Parking is definitely on par with anything you would expect in downtown Los Angeles. I would expect to pay these rates on non-game days, so I have no problem with the current parking rates.

The concessions are a bit pricey, but again, no different from most food options in the area. In fact, food across the street at LA Live might just be more expensive than inside the arena.

So ultimately while I hate to shell out this much for any single sporting event, the allure and experience of Staples Center do make it a sound investment for sports fans. If a fan has never tried the experience, it is certainly worth the one time investment. Do not assume that a visit to the Clippers or LA Kings is a similar experience as the "??Lake Show"?? is probably the most unique in the NBA.

Extras    5

The concrete surrounding the Staples Center has silica carbide in it to give it a little sparkle and remind fans that they are in the home of the stars. In the plaza closest to the Nokia Theater, there are many bronze statues honoring the Lakers greats. The first was of Hall of Famer Earvin "??Magic"?? Johnson, who spent his entire career with the Lakers. Magic won five NBA championships in Los Angeles and won the league MVP award three times. The second statue was of Francis Dayle "??Chick"?? Hearn. The broadcast voice of the Lakers for 41 years also has a retired "??jersey"?? with the other Laker greats. Hearn was the third broadcaster to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and had called 3,338 consecutive games for the Lakers dating back to 1965.

The newest Laker statue in the plaza is of "??the logo"?? Jerry West. Also a lifelong Laker during his playing days, he only won a single title as a player, but eight as the general manager of the Lakers.

Every time I visit the Staples Center, regardless of my seating location, I always journey up to the 300 level and take in the moment on the balcony behind the Staples Center sign. Up here, you'll find some of the most passionate fans talking about their gameday experience. There are plenty of tables and chairs to sit down with your favorite beverage before or during breaks in the game. If you go to the edge of the balcony, you have some great views of the plaza below, the Nokia Plaza, and the Ritz Carlton hotel.

New during the 2010-11 season is the 4HD scoreboard above center court. Vivid color and crystal clear images allow fans in every section of the arena to know what's going on. Perhaps most impressive here is that there is no banner over the bottom of the scoreboard and fans in the lower section no longer have to cramp their neck to look up at the scoreboard. There are HD screens on the underside of the scoreboard so that fans and players can quickly take a glance up to see a replay or the score.

On the ground level, any fan can access a few of the additional items at the Staples Center. There is the Sports Museum at Staples Center, the Verizon Studio (get some free photos), Art of the Game Sports Art and Memorabilia Gallery, as well as an auction stand where you can bid on your favorite memorabilia.

You can really get a feel for the importance of the Staples Center as you walk through the concourse and you see some of the images on walls throughout arena commemorating the big events that have been held there, such as the NBA Finals for three consecutive years from 2008-10.

Just over ten years young, the Staples Center has already been elected to host two NBA All-Star Games. The first was in 2004 and less than a decade later, the midseason gala returned for the 2010-2011 season.

In 2009, both the arena and the office supply company Staples came into a lifetime agreement for naming rights, making the first such deal for a major market arena.

The nightly light show outside of the Staples Center makes it an extremely recognizable landmark for all of Los Angeles. From miles away, fans can spot the lights atop the arena.

While I've never been inside, the arena also offers the Grand Reserve Club. Not your typical stadium club, this area offers both indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a wine cellar, and a humidor with 36 drawers for cigars!

Staples Center was also the first arena in sports to become the permanent home of three professional sports teams. While the setting between a hockey game and basketball game are vastly different, the turnover rate to change one to another is rather impressive.

Every fan visiting Staples Center for the first time is sure to make his or her way over towards the championship banners for a photo. High above the playing floor are 11 banners for NBA championships while in Los Angeles and one (blue) for the five championships for their time in Minneapolis. Unfortunately they are at a far side of the arena and can be tough to get a good view of. I would rather they hang them from the rafters like they do in Boston to create more of an intimidating atmosphere. I also wish they would segregate them from the Kings and Sparks banners and the Lakers should stand alone with all of their accomplishments.

Not far from the championship banners, fans can spot the retired numbers from the Lakers franchise. The retired numbers that donned the Lakers uniform in Los Angeles include Jerry West (44), James Worthy (42), Gail Goodrich (25), Elgin Baylor (22), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Magic Johnson (32), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33). Recognizing the franchise's roots, the team also has a banner for the key components from the Minneapolis days including Jim Pollard, Vern Mikkelsen, John Kundla, Clyde Lovelletter, Slater Martin, and George Mikan.

Final Thoughts

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Lakers are definitely the hottest ticket in Los Angeles, far above and beyond that of the Dodgers, Angels, or Galaxy. Unfortunately the demand for the product has made it challenging for many fans to attend. While we all know that exclusivity or limited availability makes a product highly desirable, one may wonder if the success of the Laker franchise will come back to haunt them. As many fans can do nothing more than watch their team on television, will it force them to switch alliances or encourage other franchises to enter a market with a seemingly unquenchable thirst for NBA basketball.

Even with these questions in my mind, I take every opportunity to visit the Staples Center and this team. Whether it is the playoffs or a game against a league bottom feeder, it always seems to be a memorable visit. Even after visiting dozens of new venues annually across all sports, Staples Center consistently remains one of the best experiences I've ever encountered.

Follow Drew's journeys through Southern California on twitter @Big10Drew.

â??Lights Outâ?? campaign

Hi Drew - Does this mean the entire game is played with lights out over the fan base or is it just during the introduction? Thanks.

by megminard | May 06, 2011 09:38 PM

RE: â??Lights Outâ?? campaign

Megaminard-
After visiting all 30 arenas in 2007-08, I found this to be truely the most unique experience in the NBA. The lights are only illuminated over the court for the ENTIRE contest. The lighting over the fanbase is dimmed throughout the contest. What's even more interesting is that the Clippers can play in the same venue in the same day, but the lighting is completely different as they focus more on scanning the crowd with fan cams.

by DrewCieszynski | May 26, 2011 01:37 AM

New Statue

The Lakers have recently announced that Kareem Abdul Jabbar will be the next statue on the premises outside of the Staples Center.

by DrewCieszynski | Jun 09, 2011 10:13 PM

RE: New Statue

That's awesome news...definitely good to hear

by paul | Jun 09, 2011 10:50 PM

RE: New Statue

Thats great to hear well deserved, but should have been done years earlier.

by pderrick | Jun 10, 2011 02:09 PM

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