Proof of vaccination and COVID-19 testing is expected to be a key topic in contract negotiations for concert tours this fall. Continue Reading Debate Over Vaccination Requirements Takes Place Ahead of Touring
Read MorePublic assembly venues are lining up for election duty, and janitorial service companies are stepping up to keep those arenas, stadiums and convention centers as safe as possible for voters and workers.
Continue Reading Making Sure It’s a Clean Election
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Staples Center could potentially build four new bunker suites, reduce club seating and expand the outdoor City View Terrace as part of extensive renovations to the arena.
Continue Reading Staples Center Readies Big Round of Renovations
Read MoreStaples Center President Lee Zeidman had no time to celebrate the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA title after the arena sustained damage following the team’s conquest Oct. 12 in Orlando.
Continue Reading Staples Center Damaged After Lakers Win Title
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TOUCH AND GO: Amazon technology is part of the post-COVID upgrades planned for Staples Center. (Courtesy Staples Center) Big league arenas remake their systems, processes for post-COVID audiences Big league arena managers are taking the first steps toward adding layers of protection to their venues by going cashless, upgrading ventilation systems and eliminating “touch points” that can allow chances for contamination. As part of the process, multiple NBA and NHL venues are pursuing accreditation for health and safety standards. Some are forming health and hygiene divisions and appointing officers to supervise higher levels of sanitation. NBA arena managers participate in regular calls with league officials to discuss best practices and which virus technology services make the most sense for them, considering they’re getting pitched by a parade of vendors, said Erin Schnieders, the NBA’s senior vice president and head of arena development and standards. Sixty to 70 people participate in… Continue Reading Arenas: Inside Job
Continue Reading Arenas: Inside Job
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Metallica christened Chase Center last September in San Francisco. This year, the pandemic has blown up the typical process for arenas booking sports and live entertainment. (Don Muret / Staff) Uncertainty over 2020-21 NBA and NHL seasons makes it tough to fill calendars The pandemic has thrown a wrench into the booking process for big league arenas as they reschedule special events and book new dates without knowing the specifics of the NBA and NHL calendars for 2020-21. Typically, those venues have pro basketball and hockey schedules in hand by now as they start to fill open dates with concerts and family shows. That’s not the case this year as the COVID-19 crisis rages on across North America. Five months into the pandemic, everything remains up in the air for booking sports and entertainment. The NBA, NHL and WNBA all resumed their 2019-20 seasons last week in a bubble format,… Continue Reading For arenas, all events on ‘hold’ during pandemic
Continue Reading For arenas, all events on ‘hold’ during pandemic
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SHOW OF EMOTION: The makeshift memorial to Kobe Bryant grew next to Staples Center and L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. (Courtesy Staples Center) The scene surrounding Staples Center on the night of Jan. 26 felt almost like a surrealist film. Patrons dressed in gowns and tuxedos made their way through a maze of barricades down Figueroa Street, West Olympic Boulevard and Chick Hearn Court surrounding the entirety of the L.A. Live complex for the 62nd annual Grammy Awards. There was a heavy police and media presence, heavier than usual as this Grammys had a taste of controversy tied to it. In the 10 days leading up to “Music’s Greatest Night,” the Recording Academy’s first female CEO was placed on administrative leave following accusations of misconduct, which resulted in countercomplaints of alleged misconduct. Earlier that day, though, something of far greater impact suddenly eclipsed all else, and throngs of despondent sports… Continue Reading How Staples Center Became Kobe’s House
Continue Reading How Staples Center Became Kobe’s House
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SHARING THEIR SADNESS: Mourners gather outside Staples Center to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant after his death in a helicopter crash. (Getty Images) Lee Zeidman on how Staples Center helped a city deal with its grief after Kobe Bryant’s death Over his 35-year career, Staples Center President Lee Zeidman has coordinated six memorials for sports personalities, musicians and other dignitaries. First, it was Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play legend Chick Hearn in 2002, followed by pop icon Michael Jackson (2009), Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss (2013), longtime Grammys producer John Cossette (2014) and rapper Nipsey Hussle (2019). For Zeidman, though, no tribute had more impact than the one after the death of former Lakers star Kobe Bryant, a future basketball hall of famer and a beloved figure in Los Angeles sports history. Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash. Zeidman and Bryant… Continue Reading ‘Something I’ll Never See Again in My Life’
Continue Reading ‘Something I’ll Never See Again in My Life’
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Mixhalo isn’t just for music; Staples Center will use it for sports events. (Getty Images) Company, with Staples Center as client, looks to remake how we hear live entertainment The mix is off at a concert. The dialogue at a Broadway show is moving too fast. The star player for a sports team makes a critical play — and from the upper deck, it’s tough to tell exactly what happened. The fan experience isn’t always up to snuff, and in an age where pristine concert live streaming and high-def sports broadcasts are commonplace, ensuring the engagement of those who leave the comfort of their living rooms is increasingly important. Enter Mixhalo, which is aiming to revolutionize how we hear live entertainment and has already garnered support from industry heavyweights such as Red Light Management and Another Planet Entertainment, artists including Metallica and Aerosmith, and venues like Staples Center. “We’re really… Continue Reading Mixhalo Offers Fans Aud-Mented Reality
Continue Reading Mixhalo Offers Fans Aud-Mented Reality
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The Lakers finished tops in the NBA in media exposure last season, according to GumGum Sports. (Getty Images) For Los Angeles Lakers sponsors in Staples Center, superstar magnifies their exposure live, in replays and on social media LeBron James didn’t end the Lakers’ playoff drought in his first season in Los Angeles, but his star power has definitely added value for the NBA team and its sponsors with a presence inside Staples Center. And now that Anthony Davis will be suiting up alongside James, sports marketing executives see the team scoring even more advertising gold. “It’s going to be putting gas on a fire in a good way,” said Zack Sugarman, senior vice president of properties for sports marketing giant Wasserman. The firm works with the Lakers among other clients on packaging and valuing partnerships, but he could not divulge any deal terms. The Lakers did not respond to requests… Continue Reading Quantifying LeBron James’ Lucrative Reach
Continue Reading Quantifying LeBron James’ Lucrative Reach
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Senior Talent Buyer, Staples Center and Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, AEG Andrew Saunders...
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Celebrity timekeeper Liberace and some of Radio City’s Rockettes at WrestleMania 1. And, yes, there’s a story behind that. (Getty Images) WWE mega-event began at Madison Square Garden in 1985 World Wrestling Entertainment’s WrestleMania celebrates 35 years this week, culminating with Sunday’s main event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The massive production returns to the market where it all began at Madison Square Garden in 1985. Bobby Goldwater, now a consultant with The Goldwater Group, ran the Garden at the time WrestleMania 1 took place, and he played a key role in planning the inaugural event. The arena was the appropriate setting, considering MSG as an organization had a rich history with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s family, dating to Roderick “Jess” McMahon, Vince’s grandfather who promoted boxing at the old Madison Square Garden early in the 20th century with the legendary Tex Rickard, who owned the arena at the… Continue Reading WrestleMania Back in Market Where It Started
Continue Reading WrestleMania Back in Market Where It Started
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