Hanging out with Prince and Britney, hosting the Grammy's, playing in the X Games…all by the age of 10. Impressive. But all in a days work for the Staples Center. The celebrated stadium turns 10 this month.
It seems like only yesterday when the cranes put on the finishing touches. But time flies when you're having fun. Construction broke ground in 1998 and it opened a year later on October 17, 1999, featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. It was financed privately at a cost of $375 Million and is sponsored by it's name sake office-supply company.
Four professional sports franchises -- the Lakers and Clippers, the Kings, and the Sparks -- have called Staples home. The Lakers captured their fourth NBA Championship in June 2009. The Sparks won back-to-back WNBA Championships in their first two Staples Center campaigns.
On top of that, add top name concerts like Justin Timberlake, the Stones; seven X Games; Figure Skating Championships; the 2000 Democratic National Convention; and the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service to the resume.
It's been a fast 10 years. With the arrival of Downtown Live, the venue promises to have a busy 10 more.
