My visit to Crypto.com Arena was one that had been on my list since I first started chasing games. There are arenas you visit and there are arenas you have to see, and the home of the Lakers is in the second group.
I was in Los Angeles for a conference and checked the schedule to see if the Lakers would be home while I was in town. I ran across tickets for the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game on October 8, 2026, and it was a go. The Lakers led by as many as 16 and then held off a 40-point fourth quarter from the Kings to win 114-110. Luka led all scorers with 23 points and went 9 for 9 from the free throw line.
This was my second time seeing the building but first trip inside / my first trip back since Staples Center became Crypto.com Arena, and it is a different era for the Lakers now. LeBron is gone and this is Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves’ team.
Here are my thoughts on Crypto.com Arena.
Pros
The history hits you before you even walk into Crypto.com Arena. Star Plaza sits right out front with statues of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal and Chick Hearn. The two newest additions are the 19-foot Kobe Bryant statue unveiled in 2024, and the Lisa Leslie statue unveiled in 2026. It is worth getting there early just to take it all in.
Once you get inside, you can see the history of the organization hanging from the rafters. The championship banners and the retired jerseys tell the story of one of the most successful franchises in sports. Kobe is the only Laker with two numbers retired, 8 and 24, and seeing them side by side is something every basketball fan should experience. The rafters also hold the five Minneapolis Lakers championship banners and the 2023 In-Season Tournament banner, so the full history of the franchise is up there.
The location is right out of a television show. The arena sits next to L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, so there are a lot of restaurants and bars within walking distance to get you in game mode. You can grab a meal before the game and have somewhere to go afterward while the traffic clears out.
Getting to the arena does not require a car. The Metro A and E Lines stop at Pico Station, which is about a block away. If you are staying downtown or near a Metro line, this is the way to go, and it saves you from the parking prices.
The arena went through a major renovation that was completed in 2024 and it shows. The concourses, food options and seating felt updated as the options were not your typical arena food or at least for the particular area that I was sitting in for this game. Also, every transaction is cashless, so the lines move quickly and depending on the section, you can order from your seat, and the ushers will bring your food to you.
The game day atmosphere is everything that I imagined it to be. Even for a preseason game, the crowd filled out and were cheering, rooting and jeering all night. The legendary Laker girls put on a show throughout the game as well. I did not see any celebrities at this game, but it was an ESPN broadcasted game so they may have been broadcasted on the live telecast.
Cons
The bag policy is one of the strictest I have run across. Bags, backpacks, purses and even clear bags are not allowed. Only small clutches and wallets under 5″ x 9″ x 1″ get in. For a guy who travels out of a duffel bag, that means leaving it at the hotel. If you show up with one, there are Binbox lockers you can rent next to the Kobe Bryant Entrance.
The prices are what you would expect for Los Angeles. Regular season tickets for the Lakers are some of the most expensive in the league, but since this was a preseason game, I lucked out and paid $89 for my seat in section P5. The concessions were also high considering the chicken tenders with fries, and a drink combo was $33.06.
If you drive, plan ahead. Official parking runs roughly $10 to $50 depending on the event, and getting in and out on Figueroa and the I-110 on game night is slow. I took an Uber and got dropped off and picked up across the street from the arena in front of Mastro’s Ocean Club.
Overall Game Day Experience
I would give Crypto.com Arena a 8 out of 10. The history on display in Star Plaza and in the rafters is unmatched in the NBA. L.A. Live gives you plenty to do before and after the game, and the Metro makes it easy to get there without a car. The only knock is the ticket and concession prices being on the high end, the bag policy and the lack of souvenir cups (which is a Duffel Bag Adventures staple to commemorate venue visits).
If visiting NBA arenas is your thing, then Crypto.com Arena is a must-see venue. Leave the duffel bag at the hotel, get there early to see the statues and enjoy the show.
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