The Los Angeles Lakers will call Staples Center home for the next 20 years. The team reached an agreement on an extension with Anschutz Entertainment Group to stay at Staples Center until 2041.
The Lakers have been playing at the arena since 1999. The team has put up six championship banners since they began playing in the arena.
The Lakers are currently in a playoff series with the Phoenix and are returning home to play game three on Thursday night. It has been 2,952 days since the Lakers last hosted a playoff game in Los Angeles. The Lakers will have approximately 7,500 fans in attendance for game three.
Lakers Wanted Fans at Staples Center
Los Angeles played last postseason in the Orlando Bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team finally welcomed back fans in April for a game against the Boston Celtics.
Staples Center has seen some of the greatest moments in NBA history. Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, Bryant’s lob to Shaquille O’Neal in the Western Conference Finals, and Robert Horry’s game-winner against the Sacramento Kings.
By the time 2041 comes around, the Lakers will have been in that arena for over forty years.
This will be the first real home playoff game for Lebron James in a Laker uniform. In fact, it will be his first home playoff game since the 2018 playoffs when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James was one of the biggest advocates on waiting to unveil the championship banner. He loves the fans and the energy they bring.
The Lakers will call Staples Center their home for the next twenty years and will look to add another banner before this season is over. Game three takes place Thursday between the Suns and Lakers.
