Staples Center, Los Angeles

The Staples Center is best known for hosting Lakers home games, but that's not all that visitors can hope to see at this multiple-purpose sports arena. Two NBA teams actually play their home games at this downtown Los Angeles venue, and they include the Los Angeles Lakers and the lesser-known Los Angeles Clippers. When NBA games aren't going on, the Staples Center has an array of other exciting events, including NHL hockey games.


Sporting events often take center stage at the Staples Center in LA, so sports enthusiasts who are in town can always check the schedule to see what's going on. The Los Angeles Lakers home games figure among the top events that are held at this relatively new arena, and a number of celebrities are known to attend them. Jack Nicholson is usually in the crowd, and you never know who else you might see in attendance. Seeing the Los Angeles Lakers play at home is like attending an exclusive Hollywood party of sorts, especially if you have the funds to spring for a really good seat. Should you be relegated to watching the game on TV, you're bound to catch shots of some attending celebrities, as the networks usually make it a point to call attention to them.

In addition to watching NBA games, visitors to the Staples Center can also catch some WNBA games. The Los Angeles Sparks call the arena home, and much like the Lakers, they are one of the most successful franchises in their respective league. Since there so many sporting events to choose from at the Staples Center, getting tickets for at least one of them is relatively easy. For those who aren't big sports fans, there will be plenty of other events to choose from, including big ticket concerts. The annual Grammy Awards ceremony is also held here, though tickets to this exclusive event aren't exactly the easiest to come by.

With so many different kinds of events to choose from, it's easy to see why many LA visitors look to book a stay at one of the hotels near Staples Center. The downtown hotels can make excellent bases if you are in town for an event at the Staples Center. This is because of the fact that the arena sits on the fringes of the downtown area. The Hilton Checkers is one of the most popular hotels near Staples Center, and you might be interested to know that various celebrities have been known to stay here. They include Cher and Kevin Costner, just to name two. Deemed a Historic Cultural Monument, the Hilton Checkers offers a relatively luxurious boutique experience, which is part of the appeal.

As for other hotels near Staples Center that are worth considering, they include the Holiday Inn Los Angeles City Center and the Figueroa Hotel. Both of these hotels offer attractive rates and enough amenities to satisfy most. For those looking to enjoy a more luxurious experience, the Millennium Biltmore will be a better fit. This upscale, downtown Los Angeles hotel has been in more big movies than most actors, so it might look familiar upon arrival. The Poseidon Adventure, Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, and The Wedding Crashers are just some of the movies that feature cameos of the landmark Millennium Biltmore.

The Staples Center is just one of many venues in the Los Angeles area that visitors will want to keep in mind when looking for fun events to attend. Baseball fans can always try to catch a game at Dodger Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels play in nearby Anaheim, for example. As far as concerts and the performing arts are concerned, other venues such as the Kodak Theatre and the Ford Amphitheatre are known for their quality.