You will hear it in the Metro car and at the taquería line before tip-off: “We’re headed to Staples.” Locals keep the old name, but the building at 1111 S. Figueroa Street is officially Crypto.com Arena, and everything that matters at the door, the box office, and the turnstile uses that name. If you’re trying to get in without getting fleeced, plan like it’s Crypto.com Arena. That’s how the scanners, the security, and the ticket platforms are set up today.
The building is the same arena on Figueroa in South Park, but the signage and systems changed on December 25, 2021. It’s now home to the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA). If you’re chasing Clippers tickets here out of habit, you’re heading to the wrong house. The Clippers play at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which runs on a different ticketing system and policies altogether.
Crypto.com Arena’s official address is 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. The arena’s own A–Z guide confirms it, and it’s the anchor for how rideshare and parking are directed on event nights. That guide also spells out who plays here and which entrance amenities are offered on team nights, so you aren’t relying on hearsay.
The biggest day-to-day shift since the old name isn’t cosmetic. The building moved to mobile-first entry with the AEG ticketing stack, and it tightened its bag and entry rules in a way that trips up out-of-towners every week. If you last went during the paper-ticket years, assume the rules you remember are gone and start fresh with the current playbook below.
Crypto.com Arena’s official ticketing runs through AXS Mobile ID. That means your phone, the AXS app, and a rotating code tied to your account are the keys to the gate. Screenshots and PDFs don’t scan here. One safety valve exists if you don’t have a smartphone: you can enter with the credit card used to purchase the tickets, but that still relies on the AXS back end to find your order at the turnstile.
The box office still exists, but it isn’t a cure-all. It sits on Chick Hearn Court at Star Plaza and opens on Tuesdays from 12 pm to 4 pm for walk-up sales, then 3 hours before an event on show days. All tickets sold there are delivered via mobile only. No will call pickup, and they won’t hold tickets that someone else tries to “drop off.” For daytime events starting before noon, the arena notes some box office windows may open just 2 hours before showtime, so always check the specific event page if you’re cutting it close.
Family math matters. For Lakers, Kings, and Sparks games, children age 3 and up need a ticket. Under age three policies vary by event, so double-check your listing if you’re planning to hold a child on your lap.
| How to buy | What you actually get | Delivery/use | Risk level | When it makes sense |
| Crypto.com Arena Box Office (walk-up) | Face-value primary inventory when available. Windows open Tuesday 12–4 pm and 3 hours pre-event. | Mobile delivery only. No will call pickup accepted. | Low. Direct from venue; photo ID required for card purchases. | You’re downtown already and want to avoid online fees, or you need accessible seating help in person. |
| AXS primary (arena or event page) | Official primary seats and verified listings defined by the promoter or team. | AXS Mobile ID in the AXS app. Credit card entry available if you lack a smartphone. | Low. This is the system the scanners expect. | You want to see all official options, including price-protected or team-held sections. |
| AXS Official Resale | Verified fan-to-fan marketplace endorsed by the venue when enabled for the event. | Tickets transfer into your AXS account. Unlimited transfers, no transfer fee to give to friends. | Low. Resale is integrated with the arena’s own system. | Event is “sold out” on the primary but you still want a ticket that scans like a primary seat. |
| Third‑party resale sites | Market-based pricing. Seller quality varies. Delivery timing can be immediate or last‑minute. | Must transfer into your AXS account to work. PDFs and screenshots are not accepted at gates. | Medium to high. Guarantees depend on the platform; late delivery can stress your arrival. | Only if AXS options are exhausted and you understand you still need an AXS transfer to enter. |
Street scalping near the plaza isn’t just a bad idea; it’s banned by Los Angeles Municipal Code 42.03. Inside the building, staff know exactly how AXS transfers and credit-card entry work. They’ll help you get in if you’ve got the right digital keys, but they can’t fix a bogus PDF or a listing that never transferred.
This is where most first-timers lose time. Crypto.com Arena currently does not allow bags at all, including backpacks, purses, totes, clear bags, fanny packs, and camera bags. The only exception is a small clutch or wallet smaller than 5 x 9 x 1 inches, subject to inspection. If you show up with anything larger, look for the Binbox lockers outside, but don’t count on unlimited capacity and don’t assume 24-hour holds. Unclaimed items are routed to lost and found after a cutoff.
Security uses Evolv Express screening at the entrances. Keep your phone, keys, and wallet in your pockets unless a staffer tells you otherwise. For signs, the limit is 11 x 17 inches, no sticks or poles attached. Photography is event-dependent, but non-flash personal stills are typically allowed and anything with an interchangeable or telephoto lens is not.
The building runs cashless for food, drinks, and merchandise. You can pay by debit/credit and contactless methods at every stand. This is the part that trips out-of-town visitors carrying only cash. If you’re trying to lock in tickets at the window instead, the box office accepts payment by cash or major card, then issues mobile delivery to your AXS account.
Alcohol rules are clear and enforced. No more than two drinks per purchase per valid ID, and nothing served in containers larger than 24 ounces. For NBA and WNBA games, general alcohol sales end at the 12:00 mark of the 4th quarter; for NHL they end at the 10:00 mark of the 3rd period. Expect earlier cutoffs at staff discretion if an event gets rowdy.
Useful comfort details most guides skip: the free WiFi network name is Crypto.com Arena Public WiFi. Water fountains are on the Main Concourse at aisles 6, 9, 17, 22 and on the Upper Concourse at aisles 5, 16, 30. If you hold floor or ice-adjacent seats, bring layers; the arena targets about 65°F during ice events and about 75°F during most shows.
Transit is the cheapest way to keep scalpers and parking upcharges out of your night. The A Line and E Line both stop at Pico Station. From there, it’s a short walk: go west one block on Pico, turn right on Figueroa, and L.A. LIVE is two blocks north on your left. From North Hollywood or Hollywood, ride the B Line to 7th St/Metro Center and transfer to A or E, or walk four blocks west on 7th to Figueroa and turn left.
Metro bus routes serving the district include 28, 30, 81, 460 and the J Line. The DASH F shuttle makes multiple stops along Figueroa right by L.A. LIVE. If you’re coming from outside the county, Metrolink sells a $10 weekend pass that includes free connections to Metro bus and rail, which is often cheaper than event-night parking even for two riders.
If you’re driving, the arena itself recommends the West Garage (Lot W, Gate B) for events running 3.5 hours or more. Lot W Gate B’s posted clearance is 8 feet 2 inches and the entrance address is 1005 Chick Hearn Court. The East Garage (Lot E) sits at 888 W. Olympic Boulevard with an 8 feet 2 inches clearance. Looking for EV charging on site, not across downtown? Stations are located in Lot W Gate E & F at 1015 Georgia Street and in Lot E on Olympic. Accessible stalls are available in Lot W Gate B and Lot E. If your vehicle is particularly tall, note Lot C on L.A. Live Way posts a lower clearance of 6 feet 4 inches.
Rideshare is funnelled to keep curbsides from turning into a free-for-all. Designated drop-off and pickup zones are the white zone on Chick Hearn Court eastbound between L.A. Live Way and Georgia Street, and on Figueroa Street southbound between 12th Street and Pico. LAPD will enforce No Stopping signs in the district, so tell your driver you’ll walk the extra half block rather than trying for a door-to-door drop that earns a ticket.
Crypto.com Arena runs a behind-the-scenes VIP Tour that clocks in at about 90 minutes. It’s a straight shot at the parts of the building you’ve seen on TV, including the event level, tunnel suites and premium spaces like the Lexus Club and Delta SKY360° Club, adjusted for what’s active or under build-out on the day you go. Locker rooms aren’t part of the tour.
American Express cardholders get a few perks most fans miss. There’s a Card Member Entrance at the Kobe Bryant Entrance on the corner of 11th Street (Chick Hearn Court) and Georgia Street, and a members-only Amex Lounge on Suite Level B that’s typically open for most Lakers, Kings, and Sparks home games and for select concerts. It’s first come, first served until it hits capacity.
TEAM LA, the in-arena retail shop, carries official Lakers, Kings, and Sparks gear along with event merch. If you’re there early, it can be a good place to pick up a clear, venue-agnostic souvenir before you see the same sweatshirt priced differently across multiple kiosks inside. Remember the building is cash-free for retail and concessions.
One last local reality check if you’re comparison-shopping venues: Intuit Dome uses Ticketmaster, not AXS, does not have a traditional box office, and generally opens doors about 60 minutes before events. It also encourages fans to bring an empty refillable water bottle 1 quart or smaller for bottle-filling stations. If you see a listing that says “Clippers at Staples Center,” that’s a tell. For Lakers, Kings, or Sparks, you’re at Figueroa and Chick Hearn Court. For Clippers, you’re in Inglewood with a different app entirely.
No. The arena is officially Crypto.com Arena and uses AXS Mobile ID for entry. Lakers, Kings, and Sparks play here. The Clippers moved to Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which runs Ticketmaster and a different app, so don’t buy a “Clippers at Staples Center” listing.
No. Bags of any kind are not allowed, including clear bags. Only clutches or wallets smaller than 5 x 9 x 1 inches are permitted after inspection. If you brought more, use the outside lockers and retrieve your items promptly.
The box office opens Tuesdays from 12 pm to 4 pm and three hours before events, with some early shows opening two hours prior. All tickets from the windows are delivered via mobile. There is no will call pickup or drop-off service.
For long events, the arena points drivers to Lot W Gate B at 1005 Chick Hearn Court. EV charging is in Lot W Gate E & F and Lot E. Transit is easy: take the A or E Line to Pico Station, or use Metrolink’s $10 weekend pass with free Metro transfers.
To keep it simple, choose your platform based on where the team actually plays and which system the gate expects. For Crypto.com Arena events, buy through AXS or at the box office and make sure the seats live in your AXS account before you leave home.
Published: September 7, 2026