Staples Center

It’s been a long 2021 and it’s drawing to a close. Here’s a look back at some of the biggest local stories around Southern California from this past year.

The Lakers play their final game Friday night in Staples Center before the venue they called home for 22 years changes its name to Crypto.com Arena.

Crews were seen outside the soon-to-be Crypto.com Arena on Monday morning, removing the iconic Staples Center lettering, logos and signage.

Crypto.com Arena will replace STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, but the new name might take some getting used to, just like these other memorable venues.

The downtown Los Angeles arena has been called the Staples Center since its opening in 1999.

The official home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the NHL’s LA Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks will be renamed Dec. 25.

The Clippers will take to the Staples Center court Friday night hoping to earn a trip to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals, and the arena will be open for full-capacity seating for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Los Angeles County on Thursday will begin allowing attendance at indoor sporting events, theater performances, concerts and conferences, but the county will impose a stricter capacity limit at large event venues — such as Staples Center — than the state guidelines.

Undercover officers were keeping an eye on crowds near Staples Center the night of the election Tuesday, where several people were detained after they were seen wearing all black.

Athletes and entertainers joined the public and the Bryant family to celebrate the life of Kobe Byrant and his daughter Gigi during Monday’s ceremony at Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

All the items left outside the Staples Center in a tribute to Lakers great Kobe Bryant will be collected and given to his family. In a statement Lee Zeidman from the Lakers said, “The Lakers asked L.A. LIVE and STAPLES Center to collect, catalog and store all of the donated items until further directions are provided by the Bryant...

Fans call it The House that Kobe Built, and since Kobe Bryant’s shocking death in a helicopter crash mourners by the thousands have gathered outside the glistening steel-and-glass edifice where the Los Angeles Lakers legend made so much basketball history.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James surprised students in Akron, Ohio with a check for $1 million dollars for a new gymnasium.

Hear Nipsey Hussle’s friend and business partner Karen Civil read a letter from former president Barack Obama during Hussle’s memorial service at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.

By the beard of Zeus! The legendary onscreen anchorman Ron Burgundy will be live in the booth to call the Los Angeles Kings game as they face the San Jose Sharks Thursday.