The iconic STAPLES Center in Los Angeles is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this week.
Founded in 1999, the arena has grown into a world-class facility — on par with New York’s Madison Square Garden and London’s O2 Arena — and is now home to four professional sports teams, including the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers.
Yet opening STAPLES two decades ago in the less-than-thriving downtown City of Angels was a risky bet.
“The success of STAPLES Center was never guaranteed,” said Lee Zeidman, the president of STAPLES Center and L.A. Live, an adjacent entertainment center. “Nobody went downtown. It rolled up its carpet and closed at 5 p.m.”
Today, STAPLES draws enormous crowds to its events, which range from basketball to hockey to the Grammy Awards. In total, the arena has held 5,000 events, welcomed 75 million fans, and sold over 20 million beers.
The arena is also gearing up for a major event in the sports world next week: the NBA’s October 22 opening night matchup between the teams that call it home: the Lakers and the Clippers.
“We will be the center of the NBA universe,” said Zeidman, who was the arena's first full-time employee 20 years ago. “It is one of the most anticipated opening night games in the history of the NBA."
Jill and Carlo discuss the latest developments in Gaza, the blowback from the CDC's mask decision, Bill Gates' divorce, and AT&T ready to spin off its media unit.
The winner of a $26 million California Lottery prize may have literally washed the chance of a fortune down the drain.
Cheddar explains why some European countries are building new bicycle superhighways and how it'll transform their transportation landscape.
Two men detained by British immigration officials in Glasgow have been released after a seven-hour standoff between hundreds of protesters and Scottish police.
The whereabouts of a tiger that was found briefly wandering a Houston neighborhood remain unknown as the Texas man who police allege owns the animal was released on bond.
The CDC says no masks if you're vaxxed, the latest developments in Israel, gas shortages, labor shortages, and is Trader Joe's a grocery store or a snack store?
Governor's Island has hired a fluffy crew to help curb its invasive plant species problem. Mollie McGinnis, director of operations planning for the Trust for Governors Island, joined Cheddar News to talk about the summer project.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 473,000, the latest evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers ramp up spending and more businesses reopen.
Ohio's governor gets the N2K award for creative vaccine thinking with a new lottery plan. Jill and Carlo also debate the latest developments in Israel, and what to make of rising inflation.
Mattio Communications CEO and founder Rosie Mattio talks about why Clubhouse has taken off among cannabis industry insiders.
