Off-Season Renovations Bring Updates, New Club to Staples Center

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and Clippers kick off the NBA regular season this evening, going head-to-head inside their shared Staples Center home. The two teams have occupied the building since the start of the 1999 season, but fans attending tonight's game might notice a few changes thanks to $20 million in off-season renovations.

HYDE LOUNGE: Highest-profile of the additions is Hyde Lounge, a 175-seat nightlife venue opened as a partnership between SBE and AEG. The $1.3 million, 4,000 square foot space is scheduled to open this evening, and will be available to suite owners and those with courtside seats. Eight suites were removed for the install.

SBE CEO Sam Nazarian said last week that he's been eying Staples Center for a long time. "Getting in the building wasn't easy," he said. "It took me five years."

This spring, SBE opened a Katsuya restaurant in L.A. Live, and the restaurant will provide some of the menu items inside the lounge.

Nazarian said that the arena nightclub has been a time-intensive experiment. "It's an interesting gamble that we're all taking," he said. "It's very learn as you go, because it's never been done before."

The venue is set to open for tonight's game.

THE WORLD IS FLAT: 1,000 screens throughout the arena were replaced with flat-screens from Panasonic.

SUITES: Along with new TVs, suites received an interior decor makeover with new furniture.

New high-tech ticket scanners outside suite doors have been upgraded.

COLA SWITCH: Staples Center is now a Coca-Cola venue, so expect to see that reflected throughout the arena in concession stand designs.

BUDWEISER LOUNGE: The new Budweiser Lounge is tucked inside the arena on the Figueroa side, in space that used to house the Royal Room. It's open to the public.

SAN MANUEL: The San Manuel Club, available to suite owners and Premiere Seat holders, got a redesign with improved sightlines to the arena. Solid walls got replaced with glass.

Seating has been bumped up, raising capacity to 445.

EVENT LEVEL: Most fans might not see them, but even the tunnels of the Event Level got a decor overhaul. Cinder block walls were covered with a new wood paneling and a mesh drop ceiling was added.

LOCKER ROOMS: The Kings and Lakers redid their locker rooms this off-season, while the Clippers plan to do the same next year.

FOX SPORTS BAR: No word yet on what will go in the former Fox Sports Bar space on Figueroa. Staples Center GM Lee Zeidman said today that he hopes to announce a new use within two weeks.