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."
Make a gamer's day with the hottest accessories, subscriptions and consoles of the holiday season.
Indian health officials say they have found traces of nickel and lead in a few blood samples taken from hundreds of patients who have been hospitalized by a mysterious illness in a southern state.
Pfizer's vaccine gets a sterling report card from the FDA, setting up for an imminent approval that cannot come soon enough. Plus, why AT&T is public enemy #1 in Hollywood and Apple's eye-popping price tag for its new headphones.
These seven surprises are guaranteed to top a gadget lover's holiday wish list.
Today marks the beginning of the largest mass vaccination drive in human history. Jill and Carlo take a moment to acknowledge how far we've come, and what comes next.
As couples eye 2021 for their big day, ceremonies are expected to look very different compared to what they would have been a year ago,, according to Kristen Maxwell Cooper, editor-in-chief at The Knot.
Your business can be a driving force to help the local economy thrive during tough times.
The tourism industry in New York City continues to struggle as the country tries to get a hold on COVID-19. Tourism levels in the city are not expected to return to normal for at least four years,
Due to these ongoing challenges, it's vital to feel secure about the air you're breathing.
Bob Dylan’s entire catalog of songs, which reaches back 60 years and is among the most prized next to that of the Beatles, is being acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group.
