Profile: Staples Center
Fans betting on basketball and hockey have come to love watching games at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Home of both the Clippers and Lakers of the NBA and the young up and coming NHL franchise LA Kings, fans betting on the teams have experienced many highs and lows. Of the three teams, the Lakers are treated like Gods by the fan base as they have had the most success at the Staples Center.
The Staples Center was first opened on October 17, 1999 and is owned and operated by the LA Arena Company and Anschutz Entertainment Group. Aside from hosting the NBA and NHL, the Staples Center is also home to a WNBA franchise, the LA Sparks. As well as being the home arena for sports franchises, the Staples Center has become a main venue in Los Angeles, for concerts, boxing and the home of the Grammy Awards since 2004.
In March of 1998, the plans were made by the LA Arena Company and Anschutz Entertainment Group to privately fund the creation of the multipurpose Staples Center. It is located in downtown LA at 1111 S.Figueroa Street, directly beside the LA Convention Center and across the street from the LA Live building. The total construction cost for building the Staples Center was $375 Million.
Prior to coming to the Staples Center, the Lakers and Kings each played at the LA Forum. Nevertheless, two statues located outside the Staples Center pay tribute to two of the greatest players not only for the Lakers and Kings but also in the history of basketball and hockey. After much success in the early 1990s, the Staples Center owners felt it was proper to build a statue of the Great One Wayne Gretzky for the fans. As well for basketball, the Staples Center has a statue of basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Further when Kobe Bryant retires, fans should expect a third statue outside of the Staples Center of him.
Profile Madison Square Garden
Location: New York, NY
Capacity: 19,763
Located in the heart of Manhattan, New York, Madison Square Garden is the oldest arena for both the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. Originally created in 1879, MSG has been rebuilt at four different times. The most recent version was built on February 11th 1968, at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza major intersections 8th avenue and 33rd street.
Since 1968, fans betting on the Rangers, Knicks have experienced many highs and lows at the Gardens. In 1994 the Gardens were home to the two biggest betting events for fans of each team, as in 1994, both squads played in the finals for each of their leagues. That year’s Ranger squad led by hall of famers Mark Messier and Brian Leetch was able to defeat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games at Madison Square Gardens, in order to capture the elusive Stanley Cup. Prior to winning the Stanley Cup in 1994 at home at the Gardens, many fans believed the team was cursed at home, as their last cup prior the 1994 success was around the beginning of World War 2 in 1939 -1940.
Conversely, the Knicks were unable to cash in during their 1994 dream run to the NBA finals, which saw the team lose to the Houston Rockets in seven games, despite winning all three games at MSG. Further, in 1999, the Knicks went on another dream run, before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Aside from various playoff and championship runs over the years, Madison Garden has also been home to professional wrestling’s biggest event, Wrestlemania. The Gardens have hosted three Wrestlemania’s, they hosted the inaugural event in 1985, as well as Wrestlemania 10 and 20.
Although it is one of the oldest venues in professional sports, Madison Square Garden, can hold up to 20,000 people in total capacity.