If you’re walking around Downtown Los Angeles and see a sea of black, silver, and white jerseys, you’re basically in the heart of Kings country. Honestly, for a city that rarely sees a snowflake, LA has a weirdly deep obsession with its hockey team. But if you’re trying to find exactly where the LA Kings play hockey, the answer isn’t just a pin on a map. It’s a massive glass-and-steel landmark that anchors the entire South Park district of the city.
The short answer? They play at Crypto.com Arena.
But wait. If you haven’t been to a game in a few years, you might still be calling it the Staples Center. That’s totally fair. It was the Staples Center for over two decades. The name change happened back in December 2021, and yeah, it took some getting used to. Nowadays, though, it’s just "The Crypt" or "The House that Kobe Built," even though the Kings have hoisted two Stanley Cup banners there.
The Epicenter: Crypto.com Arena
Located at 1111 South Figueroa Street, the arena is the centerpiece of the L.A. LIVE entertainment complex. It’s hard to miss. It sits right next to the Los Angeles Convention Center and is surrounded by flashing neon signs, massive LED screens, and a whole lot of restaurants.
For a hockey game, the place holds about 18,145 fans. It’s a bit tighter than the setup for a Lakers or Clippers game (though the Clippers finally moved out to their own place in 2024), but that’s because ice needs a specific footprint. The atmosphere is loud. Kinda surprisingly loud for a "non-traditional" hockey market.
What the Inside Actually Looks Like
Recently, the building underwent a massive "nine-figure" renovation. We’re talking over $100 million in upgrades that finished around late 2024 and early 2025. They revamped the City View Terrace, which is this wild indoor-outdoor space where you can grab a beer and look out at the DTLA skyline while the game is happening.
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They also installed a brand-new scoreboard. It’s a continuous Daktronics screen that’s way more immersive than the old four-sided version. If you’re sitting in the nosebleeds, these screens are basically your best friend.
It Started at The Forum (and Long Beach?)
You can’t talk about where the Kings play without looking at the history. They weren’t always downtown. When the team first entered the league in 1967, they actually started at the Long Beach Arena for a few months while their permanent home was being finished.
That permanent home was The Forum in Inglewood.
Original owner Jack Kent Cooke built the "Fabulous Forum" specifically for the Kings and the Lakers. It was iconic. The royal purple and gold seats matched the team's original colors. The Kings stayed there for 32 years. If you ask an old-school fan about the "Miracle on Manchester," they’re talking about a game that happened at The Forum.
The move to Downtown LA happened in 1999. It was a huge deal because it basically sparked the entire revitalization of that part of the city.
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Where Do They Practice?
Here is a pro tip: the Kings don't actually spend that much time at Crypto.com Arena unless it’s game day. If you want to see where they really put in the work, you have to head south to El Segundo.
The Toyota Sports Performance Center is their official practice facility.
- Location: 555 North Nash Street, El Segundo, CA.
- The Vibe: It’s a three-rink facility that’s actually open to the public.
- Public Access: You can literally go there, grab a coffee at the upstairs restaurant, and watch the Kings practice from the bleachers. It’s free. Just check their practice schedule online before you head out.
It’s pretty surreal to see multimillion-dollar athletes skating on the same ice where local kids have their "Learn to Skate" classes an hour later. That’s the beauty of hockey in SoCal.
Getting to the Game: The Logistics
LA traffic is... well, it's LA traffic. If you’re heading to see the Kings play, you need a plan.
Parking
There are about 3,300 parking spaces owned by the arena, but they can be pricey. You might pay anywhere from $20 to $50 depending on how close you want to be. Lots W and E are the big ones right next to the building. Honestly, a lot of people just use third-party apps to find cheaper spots a few blocks away in the South Park lots.
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Public Transit
Surprisingly, the train is a great option. The Pico Station is just a block away. You can take the A Line (Blue) or the E Line (Expo) right to the doorstep. It saves you the headache of the 110 freeway at 6:00 PM on a Tuesday.
What’s Near the Arena?
Since the Kings play in the L.A. LIVE district, you aren’t just stuck with arena hot dogs. Right across the street, you’ve got:
- The Grammy Museum: Good for a pre-game walk-through.
- Yard House: A classic for fans to grab a drink before the puck drops.
- Star Plaza: This is where the statues are. You’ll see Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, and Dustin Brown immortalized in bronze. It’s the mandatory "I was here" photo spot.
The "Triple Header" Chaos
Every once in a while, something crazy happens where the Kings, Lakers, and Sparks (or formerly the Clippers) all have games scheduled within 24 hours. The "changeover" crew at Crypto.com Arena is legendary. They can flip the floor from a basketball court to a hockey rink in about two hours.
They don't actually melt the ice. The ice stays there all season. They just cover it with heavy-duty insulated flooring and then put the basketball court on top. So, when you're watching a Lakers game, you're technically standing on the Kings' home turf.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
If you're planning to catch the Kings in person, here’s how to do it right:
- Check the practice schedule: Go to the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo on a non-game day morning. It’s the best way to see the players up close without paying for a ticket.
- Download the AXS app: Crypto.com Arena is strictly digital for tickets. Don't show up with a printed email; it won't work.
- Eat at L.A. LIVE early: Restaurants get packed about 90 minutes before puck drop. If you don't have a reservation, you're going to be eating a pretzel at the game.
- Use the Metro: If you're coming from Santa Monica or Long Beach, the train is faster and cheaper than the parking lots.
- Dress in layers: It’s Southern California outside, but it’s a chilly 60 degrees inside for the ice.
The Los Angeles Kings have a long history, but their current home at Crypto.com Arena is arguably one of the most technologically advanced spots in the NHL right now. Whether you call it the Staples Center out of habit or embrace the new name, the energy in that building during a playoff run is something every sports fan should experience at least once.