The LA Lakers were founded in 1946 as the Detroit Gems, then moved to Minneapolis in 1947 and took the name Lakers after Minnesota’s nickname as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Led by George Mikan, the club won five championships between 1949 and 1954 before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960. Counting both its Minneapolis and LA eras, the franchise has won 17 championships in total, tying the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history.
The LA Lakers are an NBA Western Conference (Pacific Division) team based in Los Angeles, California, and one of the league’s most storied franchises with 17 championships. Their home, Crypto.com Arena, holds 18,997 fans.
Seating includes Courtside, Club Level (100s), Premier Level (200s), and Upper Level (300s); Courtside seats are famously frequented by Hollywood celebrities.
Tickets
Official tickets can be purchased through the club’s website.
The Laker Girls cheerleading squad (founded 1979) is a real, historically significant team as one of the NBA’s first professional cheerleading squads, and the courtside celebrity-watching culture (including Jack Nicholson’s famous reserved seat) is a genuine decades-long team institution.
Crypto.com Arena · 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tap the button below to see transit, walking, and driving directions from your current location to the stadium, via Google Maps.
💡 Insider Tips
🚌 Getting Around
From LAX, take the C Line (Green) and transfer to the A Line (Blue) to Pico Station, about 30 minutes. Buy a TAP card for $2 and load it — transfers within 2 hours are free. Metro line names have shifted from colors to letters, so old and new names are both in circulation; double-check with the app closer to your trip.
🏨 Lodging
The arena sits inside L.A. LIVE, downtown’s tourism hub, so there’s no shortage of walkable hotels like Hotel Figueroa.
🎟️ Tickets
Ticketmaster is the official channel (with its “100% verified” guarantee policy). StubHub and SeatGeek are alternatives, but neither carries an official partnership label. Note that the Go City LA pass, at every tier (including All-Inclusive and All-Inclusive Plus), does not include Lakers games at all — this was confirmed directly on the official page. You’ll need to buy a Lakers ticket separately.
💡 Insider Tips
Bag policy is strict — backpacks, totes, and camera bags are all banned; only clutches under 5×9×1 inches are allowed. The arena is fully cashless, so bring a card. The 300 level (top tier) is the cheapest but many reviewers say it feels unusually high up — if your budget allows, a lower row is worth it.