An LA Clippers game is an exciting event for any true basketball fan. However, there are several things to know before you make your trip to the Staples Center. It is best to be prepared when attending any sporting event, especially one at the Staples Center. Here is the ultimate guide for attending an LA Clippers games for the best gameday experience.

Getting to Staples Center – Save Money and Avoid Sitting in Traffic

Los Angeles often gets a bad rep for its metro and public transit system.

Below are some different vacation locations in the area that you can stay in and how you could get to Staples Center with no car to avoid paying for gas and parking.

Before your trip the Staples Center, you need to consider your modes of transportation. My suggestion is to take a bus/train to the game from your destination and then pay for a Uber or Lyft ride back after the game if the metro does not have frequent running times to your location.

It will be much less expensive than using a car.

1. Manhattan Beach to Staples Center in 70 minutes = Get a $1 TAP card per person, then just $3.50 per person round trip.

2.  Santa Monica to Staples Center in 58 minutes = Get a $1 TAP card per person, then just $3.50 per person round trip.

No hassle sitting in traffic and looking for street parking, or spending too much for Clippers parking in the garages or lots near the arena.

3.  Vacationing in Disneyland? If you go from Orange County/Riverside County to Downtown Los Angeles via MetroLink trains, you can purchase a $10 weekend day pass.

A Los Angeles Clippers Game at Staples

Center – My First Game: New York Knicks – LA

Clippers

When I stepped into the Staples Center…

I walked down to my seats courtside near the Clippers bench on a weekday night. Weekday night games have the best pricing and value for ticket purchases.

If you can get there a little early to see the warmups, the atmosphere becomes electric way before tipoff!

The Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers both play their home games in the Staples Center, but the atmosphere for a Lakers game was more intense.

However, Clippers tickets are less expensive and you can sit closer to the court for the same amount of money as you would sit in the second level at a Lakers game.

It was a relaxed, chill and fan-friendly experience.

Finding The Perfect Seat

When you go to a Clippers game, you need to find the perfect seat. No matter what team you are rooting for, it always helps to look for the best seats in arena. The closer you are to the court, the better view you have of the action. Obviously, if you are just visiting town for a weekend or two, it will not pay off to purchase season tickets. However, if you live in the area, these are often the most cost-effective way to go. If you do purchase your tickets last-minute, you may face excessively high prices on ticket websites. You can always try to buy same-day tickets at the Staples Center Box Office, which is located nearby on 1111 S. Figueroa Street. Once you are at the game, you may be able to move down closer to court side. However, it always helps to have that super close view from the very start!

What I Learned by Going to a Clippers Game

There is an unlimited amount of history at Staples Center.

Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, two Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup titles in recent years and Lisa Leslie on the LA Sparks.

But the Staples Center did not gain the “one of the world’s most famous arenas” status based on the Clippers’ history.

While there are plenty of championship banners hanging in the rafters for the other Staples Center teams, all you see during a Clippers game are big posters of current players where the banners usually hang from.

I found Staples Center to basically be “two separate arenas.” The atmosphere for Clippers games is far different from that of Lakers games, even while the Clippers were one of the league’s best teams and the Lakers were not.

There is an infectious, boisterous vibe you will get when going to a Lakers game that cannot be replicated at a Clippers game.

Star-watching is also not as prevalent at a Clippers game as it is at a Lakers game.

But if you want to take the kids to a LA basketball game, a Clippers game is more kid-friendly with their mascot, Chuck the California condor, walking around to take pictures with fans.

The nickname “Lob City,” which had to do with Blake Griffin’s comment during Clippers Media Day when the team announced they were acquiring Chris Paul, still exists, but I argue that the team’s high-flying dunk nature is in the past with exception to Montrezl Harrell’s abilities. 

The Clippers no longer have their most exciting players, Paul, Griffin and Jordan.

Everything is your standard NBA fare, having the emcee announcer and modern music playing during the in-game action.

I went to a night game versus the Knicks and a day game versus the Jazz. The atmospheres were different.

I loved the energy at the Knicks-Clippers game. It nearly carried the same fan energy and game experience as the Lakers game I went to later that week.

The Jazz-Clippers game, though, was another story. You can hear a pin drop, and there were plenty of empty seats, unlike at Lakers games.

Lesson learned: If you go there trying to compare a Clippers game to a Lakers game, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

That is not a knock on the Clippers fan experience. It is more about how phenomenal a Lakers experience is. But remember, it will cost a lot more for that upgrade in atmosphere.

But what Staples Center offers for both Clippers and Lakers games is:

• terrific aesthetics,
• quality food options but I do not partake in that. Food and drinks are overpriced at sporting events and you can do a lot better eating before you get there.
• convenient location to hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs in Downtown LA.

I Hid…In the Woods…Outside Staples Center

After the Knicks-Clippers game, I hung out near the Knicks team bus to try to meet some players.

Once I was near the bus, I realized I was way past the security checkpoint. These gigantic bushes and trees looked like the perfect hiding spot.

I hid in there for about 45 minutes and heard a voice right near me.

“A security guard had to have caught me hiding and I would then have to leave the area,” right?

No, it was Brent Barry, a current NBA TV analyst, who came over to me.

He was a two-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs and former player of the LA Clippers and Seattle SuperSonics.

When he saw me in the bushes, he laughed, and asked me what I was doing.

I laughed and figured he was just playing along and I asked, “where’s Carmelo [Anthony], [Derrick] Rose and [Kristaps Porzingis] ‘Zingis?”

He had no idea. So then I said, “well we can hang out!”

So we did.

Once he had to leave, I went right back to my hiding spot in the bushes to keep waiting for the Knicks players to come out!

What Else To Do In The Area?

Before you buy your tickets, familiarize yourself with some exciting things to do in the area. If you are hungry, there are plenty of iconic restaurants and eats just a few minutes away from the Staples Center. One of the best is the Original Pantry Cafe, which originally opened in 1924. Another great option is Bottega Louie, which is famous for its legendary macarons. If you are a fan of sports travel experiences, check out our ultimate gameday travel guide to Buffalo Bills tailgating.

I Went Again With Friends the Next Weekend

At this Clippers game I was so surprised by how quiet the arena was from start to finish.

But I will say, if you are a traveler looking for value, the Clippers offer that.

The price to sit right near the court on most nights is equivalent to an upper-level NBA seat in, I’d say, half of the arenas.

This Jazz versus Clippers game went down to the wire. They ended up playing each other in the first round of the playoffs a few months later.

Downtown Los Angeles is Underrated

Once you get there, past the traffic and long public transportation trip, Downtown LA pleasantly surprised me.

It is a happening part of LA.

While I would not say you should build your vacation around downtown:

• there are trendy food options in the Grand Central Market,
• the excellent Walt Disney Concert Hall – home of the LA Philharmonic and the LA Master Chorale,
• The Broad contemporary art museum, which is free of cost!
• Art Deco, Historic or Mansion tours starting at Pershing Square
• L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Grand Avenue) is free on Thursday nights between 5 and 8 PM.
• Chinatown/Dodger Stadium is close by
• L.A. Live, outside of the Staples Center on W. Olympic Blvd. has a fun buzz with its restaurants, hotels, entertainment, block parties, music and more! It is a nice choice to spend time before or after a game at Staples Center.

If you love exploring urban city downtowns, check out our guide on the Chicago greeter program guided service.

Clippers Game Takeaways

I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I did not go there looking to compare it to a Lakers game. But I had a nice time rooting for them one game, and against them the other!

I guarantee you will have a pleasant experience at a Clippers game, and can save lots of money by taking public transportation to and from the game! Even taking public transportation, you can still have fun tailgating at games and prior to!

The arena is special, and as long as Doc Rivers is coaching the team, they will put on a nice show for the fans.

I would rate it as number 14 of my 18 NBA arena experiences.

But, a Clippers game is quite affordable for a big city market! If you want to mix it up a bit, check out our new guide on attending a Buffalo Sabres hockey game in 2021.

Go Clippers!