If you have ever watched the Los Angeles Lakers tip off on a Christmas Day, tuned into an NHL game featuring the LA Kings, or seen the Grammy Awards beamed from a gleaming arena in the heart of downtown Los Angeles — you have already seen Crypto.com Arena in action. It is one of the most famous sports and entertainment venues in the entire world, hosting over 4 million visitors every year and putting on everything from NBA playoffs to sold-out concerts by the biggest names in music.
But who actually owns it? The answer has two layers — and most people only know one of them. There is the company that physically owns and operates the building, and there is the company that paid $700 million to put its name on it. Both stories are fascinating, and together they tell you everything about how modern sports venues actually work.
What Is Crypto.com Arena?
Crypto.com Arena is a 20,000-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Los Angeles, California. It is the home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. The arena opened in October 1999 and brings in approximately 4 million people annually across sports, concerts, and live events.
The arena sits at the heart of the L.A. Live campus in downtown Los Angeles — a massive entertainment district that includes restaurants, hotels, the Grammy Museum, and Microsoft Theatre. It is one of the most visited sports and entertainment destinations in North America.
For over two decades, it was known around the world as Staples Center. That changed on Christmas Day, 2021 — and the story behind that change is one of the biggest deals in sports business history.
Who Owns Crypto.com Arena? The Two-Part Answer
Ownership of Crypto.com Arena has two distinct parts that are often confused. Here is how it breaks down clearly:
The building itself — the physical arena, the real estate, the operations — is owned by AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), a private American sports and entertainment conglomerate. AEG is in turn owned entirely by Philip Anschutz through his private holding company, The Anschutz Corporation.
The naming rights — the right to put a company’s name on the building — are owned by Crypto.com, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency platform. Crypto.com is paying $700 million over 20 years to have its name on the venue — a deal widely reported as the richest naming rights deal in sports history.
Think of it this way: Philip Anschutz owns the house. Crypto.com paid to put its name on the front door.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Party | Role | Ownership / Deal | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Anschutz | Ultimate Owner of the Arena | 100% through The Anschutz Corporation | Denver-based billionaire; one of the wealthiest people in America |
| The Anschutz Corporation | Private Holding Company | Owns AEG entirely | Founded 1958 by Fred Anschutz; now controlled by Philip Anschutz |
| AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) | Direct Owner & Operator of the Arena | Owns and operates Crypto.com Arena | World’s largest owner of sports teams and venues; also owns Coachella |
| Dan Beckerman | President & CEO of AEG | Leads day-to-day operations | Has run AEG since 2013 |
| Crypto.com | Naming Rights Holder | $700 million / 20-year deal (2021–2041) | Singapore-based crypto platform; largest naming rights deal in sports history |
| Kris Marszalek | CEO of Crypto.com | Co-founder of Crypto.com | Led the $700M naming rights deal announcement in 2021 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Primary Tenant | Lease through 2041 | NBA franchise; most decorated tenant in arena history |
| Los Angeles Kings | Primary Tenant | Ongoing lease | NHL franchise; AEG also owns majority stake in the Kings |
| Los Angeles Sparks | Tenant | Ongoing | WNBA franchise based at the arena |
Who Is Philip Anschutz — The Real Owner of the Building?
Behind every great arena is a great owner, and the man who actually owns Crypto.com Arena is one of the most powerful and least talked-about billionaires in American sports and entertainment.
Philip Anschutz is the majority owner of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, holds a stake in the MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy, and owns Crypto.com Arena where the Kings play. His Anschutz Entertainment Group owns and operates more than 70 arenas and concert venues worldwide.
AEG is owned by Philip Anschutz, a Denver, Colorado resident. Anschutz bought his father’s oil drilling company in 1961 and following large returns in Wyoming, began to diversify his holdings into energy, railroads, real estate, sports, newspapers, movies, theaters, arenas, and music.
AEG was founded in the mid-1990s by Philip Anschutz through the acquisition of the Los Angeles Kings NHL team and the development of what was then called Staples Center. Today AEG is one of the largest operators in the sports and live entertainment industry, owning and operating over 100 venues and promoting thousands of events annually.
In addition to Crypto.com Arena, AEG also owns or operates major venues including The O2 in London, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and promotes the iconic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival every year. This is not just an arena company — it is one of the most powerful entertainment empires in the world.
Who Owns the Naming Rights — The Crypto.com Story
The name Crypto.com Arena did not come cheap. Crypto.com paid a reported $700 million for a 20-year naming rights deal — making it the richest naming rights deal in sports history at the time it was signed.
Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency platform and exchange headquartered in Singapore, founded in 2016. The name change took effect on Christmas Day, December 25, 2021, when the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Brooklyn Nets in a nationally televised game.
Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek said in a statement: “The city of Los Angeles and the people who call it home have always been pioneers, pushing the boundaries and innovating as the undeniable global leaders of culture and entertainment.”
The deal goes beyond just the name on the building. The agreement also extends to official partnership designations for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings, the L.A. Live campus, Microsoft Theatre, and the Novo. Crypto.com became an official cryptocurrency platform partner for both the Lakers and the Kings.
The Building That Was Once Staples Center
Before it became Crypto.com Arena, the building carried one of the most recognizable names in American sports for more than two decades.
The 20,000-seat arena had been Staples Center since it opened in October 1999, with the naming rights owned by the American office-supplies retail company Staples Inc. under a 20-year agreement worth $116 million.
During its years as Staples Center, the building became one of the most storied venues in American sports. The Lakers won multiple NBA championships there. The Kings clinched two Stanley Cup titles on its ice. The Grammy Awards were held there year after year. Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals happened there days before his death. The building carries a weight of history that no name change can erase.
The Lakers have won six of their 17 NBA titles while playing in the arena. The Kings won their first two Stanley Cups — in 2012 and 2014 — there, clinching both on home ice.
When the name change was announced, some Lakers players were openly emotional. Reggie Jackson said: “The Lakers have their history here, Kobe, especially my era, growing up, watching those championships. Shaq. Nah, it’s too many memories. It’s gonna be hard to not call it Staples.”
Is the Naming Rights Deal Still Active in 2026?
Yes — and despite some turbulence in Crypto.com’s business, the naming rights deal remains fully intact.
Crypto.com purchased the naming rights to the arena from AEG in 2021, paying $700 million to have its name on the venue for 20 years. The company’s biggest service — its retail app with more than 80 million users worldwide — continues to operate, and the naming rights agreement remains in full force.
AEG, which owns and operates the arena, entered into the 20-year, $700 million naming rights agreement with Singapore-based Crypto.com in November 2021. The deal runs through 2041 and has not been renegotiated or cancelled.
Who Owns the LA Lakers and Kings — The Tenants of the Arena?
Since the Lakers and Kings are the most famous occupants of Crypto.com Arena, it is worth quickly clarifying who owns them.
The Los Angeles Lakers are owned by the Jerry Buss family trust, with Jeanie Buss serving as the controlling owner. Minority owners include Mark Walter, Todd Boehly, Edward P. Roski, and Patrick Soon-Shiong. The Lakers have signed a lease to remain at Crypto.com Arena through 2041.
The Los Angeles Kings are majority-owned by AEG itself — meaning Philip Anschutz’s company is both the landlord of the arena and the owner of one of its primary tenants. That gives AEG a uniquely powerful position in the Los Angeles sports landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Crypto.com Arena?
The arena building is owned by AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), which is privately owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz through The Anschutz Corporation.
Q2. Who paid for the Crypto.com Arena naming rights?
Crypto.com, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency platform, paid a reported $700 million over 20 years for the naming rights — the richest naming rights deal in sports history.
Q3. When did Staples Center become Crypto.com Arena?
The name officially changed on Christmas Day, December 25, 2021, when the Lakers hosted the Brooklyn Nets in a nationally televised NBA game.
Q4. Who is Philip Anschutz?
Philip Anschutz is a Denver, Colorado-based billionaire who owns AEG, the Los Angeles Kings, and Crypto.com Arena. His empire spans oil, railroads, real estate, sports, and live entertainment including Coachella.
Q5. Does Crypto.com own the building itself?
No. Crypto.com only owns the naming rights — not the physical building. The building is owned by AEG, which is owned by Philip Anschutz.
Q6. How long does the Crypto.com naming rights deal last?
The deal runs for 20 years from December 2021 through 2041, at a total cost of $700 million.
Q7. Who are the main teams that play at Crypto.com Arena?
The Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) are the primary tenants of Crypto.com Arena.
Q8. Who is the CEO of AEG, the arena’s owner?
Dan Beckerman serves as President and CEO of AEG, leading day-to-day operations of the company and all its venues including Crypto.com Arena.
Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles is physically owned and operated by AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), which is itself entirely owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz through his private holding company The Anschutz Corporation. AEG built the arena in 1999 as Staples Center and has operated it ever since as one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the world.
The name Crypto.com Arena belongs to Crypto.com — a Singapore-based cryptocurrency platform that paid $700 million for a 20-year naming rights deal beginning Christmas Day 2021 — the largest naming rights deal in sports history. That deal runs through 2041 and remains fully active as of 2026. The Lakers play there through 2041, the Kings are permanent tenants, and the Sparks continue to call it home.
Two companies. Two very different roles. One legendary building.