L.A. Live

L.A. Live, the $2.5 billion entertainment complex rising next to Staples Center, is home to the Nokia Theatre, the GRAMMY Museum, Club Nokia, Conga Room, Lucky Strike, ESPN Zone, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, Lawry's Carvery, Yard House and Rock'N Fish.

Coming in 2009 are Katsuya, Rosa Mexicana, Trader Vic's, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill and Regal Cinemas.

Downtown's Last Major Crane Coming Down

By Eric Richardson — July 16, 2009 — 1 Comment

Ritz Crane Coming Down Eric Richardson

Downtown is losing the last and the tallest of the tower cranes that built South Park's residential rebirth. Now that major construction activity has wrapped, the crane that stood above L.A. Live's Ritz Carlton tower is being disassembled.

In the summer of 2007, a half dozen of the cranes stood within a few blocks of L.A. Live, with the two on-site at the complex joined by others atop South Group's Evo, Hanover's 717 Olympic, Meruelo's 717 W. 9th and Astani's Concerto. — Continued Inside...


L.A. Live Lucky Strike Offers Cheap Lunch with a Side of Bowling

By Eric Richardson — July 16, 2009
2 Comments

Lucky Strike Lunch Special

The Lucky Strike bowling alley and lounge at L.A. Live began lunch service this week, offering up eight options for $7.95. For those with some free time in their afternoons, the offer also includes a free game of bowling and shoe rental.


L.A. Live's Katsuya Opens Monday

By Eric Richardson — June 25, 2009
3 Comments

Katsuya

The line-up at L.A. Live moves one step closer to completion on Monday, as Katsuya opens its 230-seat restaurant on Nokia Plaza. The location is the fourth for the combined team of nightlife entrepreneur Sam Nazarian, master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi and designer Philippe Starck.


Talking Hotels and Hockey With AEG CEO Tim Leiweke

By Eric Richardson — June 18, 2009 — 1 Comment

Tim Leiweke Eric Richardson

A half hour before the Lakers 2009 NBA Championship parade got underway, I asked AEG CEO Tim Leiweke how it felt to be taking part in the festivities amidst L.A. Live, the $2-billion entertainment complex he helped to build.

"Two words," he told me. "Stanley Cup."

When the Lakers last won a championship in 2002, the land now home to L.A. Live was a sea of parking lots. Today, the complex is rapidly nearing completion. Katsuya, one of two restaurants still under construction, is scheduled to open in a week. — Continued Inside...


2011 NBA All-Star Game Headed to L.A.

By Eric Richardson — June 06, 2009
2 Comments

2011 NBA All-Star Game Press Conference

This early report has been superseded by a full story from the announcement. The 2011 NBA All-Star Game is returning to Los Angeles and Staples Center just seven years after its last appearance. NBA Commissioner David Stern made the news official this afternoon in a press conference that features Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilwoman Jan Perry and AEG CEO...


L.A. Live Unveils Discount Program for Downtown Residents

By Eric Richardson — May 29, 2009 — 53 Comments

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Eric Richardson

L.A. Live today announced a discount program designed to encourage Downtown residents to visit its restaurants and nightlife on the complex's quieter nights. The program offers up to 15% off at many of the L.A. Live restaurants, but only applies on nights when Staples Center and the Nokia Theatre are dark. — Continued Inside...


L.A. Live's Nokia Plaza Alive With Idols

By Ed Fuentes — May 20, 2009
10 Comments

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With fans lined up on Chick Hearn Court and Nokia Plaza waiting for their American Idol of choice, it wasn't that surprising that a wave of squeals could be heard. The screams were for David Archuleta, who was Season 7's runner-up in what is known as the David vs David match-up, a hotly contested sing-off that changed the face of television.


Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Opens Today at L.A. Live

By Eric Richardson — May 18, 2009

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Eric Richardson

|Photo Gallery| After a soft-opening on Saturday evening, the new Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill opens for dinner this evening on L.A. Live's Nokia Plaza. When fully operational, the restaurant can seat approximately 320, but Klaus Puck says they plan to stay well below that while getting service and the kitchen up to speed. — Continued Inside...


AEG Head Says He Has Big Plans for Area Around L.A. Live

By Eric Richardson — April 28, 2009 — 10 Comments

Tim Leiweke Eric Richardson

In the midst of construction on a $2.5 billion sports and entertainment complex, some surprises are worse than others. AEG CEO Tim Leiweke's big surprise was the economy. "We kind of knew there was a correction coming," he said today, "but this is not a correction. This is a life-altering adjustment."

That isn't keeping Leiweke and AEG from moving ahead. "We have spent the last few months already on phase two and trying to dream about the next piece of that district that we need to build out." That could mean up to a billion dollars in additional development around the L.A. Live complex. — Continued Inside...


Rossdale Show Start of Music Series for L.A. Live

By Ed Fuentes — March 25, 2009

Nokia Plaza Ed Fuentes

An early morning made-for-TV concert may not be the typical way to see a favorite recording star, but you have to like the idea behind 104.3MyFM's free “Donate A Life Concert Series at L.A. LIVE."

As the first set in what organizers plan to turn into a series held in Nokia Plaza, Gavin Rossdale played a solid set from 8:30am until KTLA's morning show sign off (even with a few delays waiting for on-air cues). — Continued Inside...