Los Angeles - Parking Advice for Staples Center

So I got caught up in the LA sports frenzy currently taking place and picked up a pair of tickets for the Clippers playoff game on Sunday night. However, I've never driven in downtown LA before and I want to get this right to make sure that I make it there in time for tipoff! The LA Kings are playing at Staples that afternoon, so I'm expecting it will be quite crowded in the area, and I'm expecting nightmarish traffic if the Kings game runs late.

Anyhow, what I was wondering is this: am I better off looking for a parking spot around the LA Live area, or is it possible to park one or two spots up the Metro line and park-and-ride to the game?

If it helps any, I will be spending the day in Santa Monica and then going back to my hotel in Redondo Beach afterwards. Thanks for all the invaluable advice that you've all provided so far!

There will be plenty of parking available... for a price. Generally, it will be about $20 to park at LA Live or near it. If you go further north and east, you can find parking lots for $10 that is still within walking distances.

If you want to avoid driving to Downtown (I would), there are a couple of options.

1. From Santa Monica, make your way to Jefferson/La Cienega station (free parking). Take the Metro Expo Line and get off at Pico Station across the street from Staples Center.
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Jefferson+%2F+La+Cienega,+Los+Angeles,+ CA&daddr=Staples+Center,+Los+Angeles,+CA&hl=en&sll=34.030469,-118.318806&sspn=0.097877,0.181789&geocode=Fdc0BwIdacrx-ClNsOQ5mLnCgDE6-qKtRD98uQ%3BFZh0BwIdImTz-CHVsnvrPHz0HymTKupduMfCgDHyfThAuWC8ow&oq=Staples&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=05%2F20%2F12&time=7:00pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&t=m&z=13&start=0

You can drive back to your hotel at Redondo from Jefferson/La Cienega station after the game.

2. Take the Metro 733 bus from Downtown Santa Monica (Ocean Blvd). Get off at Venice/Figueroa (convention center) and walk 1 block north to Staples Center.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ocean+Avenue+%26+santa+monica+blvd,+San ta+Monica,+CA&daddr=Staples+Center,+Los+Angeles,+CA&hl=en&sll=34.014214,-118.484716&sspn=0.024474,0.045447&geocode=FXMDBwIdB93v-CnddWcH0KTCgDFaC-XtZFScMw%3BFZh0BwIdImTz-CHVsnvrPHz0HymTKupduMfCgDHyfThAuWC8ow&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=05%2F20%2F12&time=7:00pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&t=m&z=12&start=1

This is a much longer bus ride... so you won't get back to your hotel until very late.

The Jefferson/La Cienega station idea sounds good. Thanks for the advice!

Wow, that is going to be a fast turn around for the Staples Center crew converting the arena from ice to basketball. I mean I know they have it down to a science but they'd better hope that the Kings and Coyotes don't go into overtime or anything.

There will be plenty of parking available... for a price. Generally, it will be about $20 to park at LA Live or near it. If you go further north and east, you can find parking lots for $10 that is still within walking distances.

If you want to avoid driving to Downtown (I would), there are a couple of options.

1. From Santa Monica, make your way to Jefferson/La Cienega station (free parking). Take the Metro Expo Line and get off at Pico Station across the street from Staples Center.
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Jefferson+%2F+La+Cienega,+Los+Angeles,+ CA&daddr=Staples+Center,+Los+Angeles,+CA&hl=en&sll=34.030469,-118.318806&sspn=0.097877,0.181789&geocode=Fdc0BwIdacrx-ClNsOQ5mLnCgDE6-qKtRD98uQ%3BFZh0BwIdImTz-CHVsnvrPHz0HymTKupduMfCgDHyfThAuWC8ow&oq=Staples&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=05%2F20%2F12&time=7:00pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&t=m&z=13&start=0

You can drive back to your hotel at Redondo from Jefferson/La Cienega station after the game.

2. Take the Metro 733 bus from Downtown Santa Monica (Ocean Blvd). Get off at Venice/Figueroa (convention center) and walk 1 block north to Staples Center.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ocean+Avenue+%26+santa+monica+blvd,+San ta+Monica,+CA&daddr=Staples+Center,+Los+Angeles,+CA&hl=en&sll=34.014214,-118.484716&sspn=0.024474,0.045447&geocode=FXMDBwIdB93v-CnddWcH0KTCgDFaC-XtZFScMw%3BFZh0BwIdImTz-CHVsnvrPHz0HymTKupduMfCgDHyfThAuWC8ow&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=05%2F20%2F12&time=7:00pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&t=m&z=12&start=1

This is a much longer bus ride... so you won't get back to your hotel until very late.

The AMGEN Tour of California is also set to finish at L.A. Live Sunday, but before the Kings game drops the puck.

Wow, that is going to be a fast turn around for the Staples Center crew converting the arena from ice to basketball. I mean I know they have it down to a science but they'd better hope that the Kings and Coyotes don't go into overtime or anything.

AEG and the leagues are taking a huge gamble on the Kings game not going to OT. It takes at least an hour longer to do the NHL to NBA conversion than it does the other way as they have to edge the corners and make sure the ice is smooth/level before they place the rubber mats on to lay out the court. So far this season they have done 15 same-day bookings, but AEG/Staples Center was fined earlier this year when a Kings game went to OT and the building was not turned over to the Clippers on time.

The Jefferson/La Cienega station idea sounds good. Thanks for the advice!

No problem... enjoy the game!

When you leave the to go back to your car, make sure you get on the correct train. There are two different trains serving Pico station from the same platform: Blue line and Expo line. You want to get on the Expo line (the headsign will say La Cienega) instead the Blue (headsign: Long Beach).

Here is the traffic alert for this weekend and Metro service info for Downtown: http://thesource.metro.net/2012/05/14/traffic-alert-avoid-downtown-los-angeles-this-sunday-and-go-metro-to-tour-of-california-and-kings-playoff-game/

2. Take the Metro 733 bus from Downtown Santa Monica (Ocean Blvd). Get off at Venice/Figueroa (convention center) and walk 1 block north to Staples Center.

There is also the Big Blue Bus Rapid 10 (http://www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/map/index.asp?routeid=10), which runs on the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) between Bundy Drive and Olive Street (Grand Avenue in the opposite direction).

Even with the basketball game going on downtown will be relatively quiet compared to what it would be like during a week day.

You can either park near Staples or up near the Omni, have dinner at Nick & Stef's or California Pizza Kitchen and ride the shuttle down to staples.

Parking at LA Live does you no good since Staples essentially is at LA Live, but parking shouldn't be bad. It isn't like a USC football game with 80,000 or a Dodgers game with 50,000, Staples only holds a tad over 18,000.

Downtown traffic and parking alert.

Downtown gridlock: 'Never been a weekend like this' in L.A. (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/six-playoff-games-dodgers-and-bike-race-set-stage-for-weekend-gridlock.html)

With the Lakers, Clippers and Kings all in postseason action this weekend and the final stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, authorities are warning of street closures and heavier than normal traffic in the downtown area.

"There’s never been a weekend like this in Los Angeles," said AEG’s Michael Roth. "Six playoff games in four days? In Los Angeles? Never. And the bike race will be a really big deal."

Officials are expecting normal game traffic Thursday and Friday evening, and Saturday's back-to-back Clippers and Lakers games should not be a problem, Roth said, noting that Staples Center has handled more than a hundred doubleheaders.

The wrench in traffic will be crowds overlapping for the Kings game and bike race on Sunday.

Street closures begin after the Lakers game Saturday night — along Figueroa Avenue from Pico to Olympic boulevards and on Chick Hearn Court/11th Street from Flower Avenue to Georgia Street — when two pedestrian bridges will be built in preparation for Kings fans crossing the Amgen bike route Sunday morning for Game 4 of the NHL Western conference finals.

Kings fans are encouraged to arrive beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday. Pre-game events and refreshments will be available. Parking and a free shuttle will also be provided at the Coliseum, and officials said a bike valet will be available at Staples Center.

Outside Staples, the final day of the eight-day, 750-mile professional bike race is expected to end by noon Sunday after a five-mile downtown circuit.

Street closures along the circuit will begin at 7 a.m., with thousands expected to participate in a free biking event along the course before Amgen riders enter starting at 10:30 a.m.

Traffic will also be complicated by the Dodgers, who will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a weekend homestand. A weekend trade show is also scheduled at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Officials are encouraging people to ditch their cars. Public transportation — including the Red, Purple, Blue and Expo Lines — all stop near Staples Center. Those who can't live without their cars should allow plenty of extra time for the drive.

Just another quiet weekend in sleepy old L.A.! ;)

Heh heh... but seriously. At first I was thinking of rolling the dice on just driving to Staples and looking for a parking spot, but I think it'll be a trip down the Expo line for me. I'm not sure I'm ready for this kind of traffic on my first full day in town!

BTW - even if you aren't planning on more than a roundtrip, I'd recommend buying the daypass which I think is $5.

When I ride the Metro, I find it frustrating to wait for people who aren't regular riders trying to figure out how to buy a ticket.

If you buy your ticket in advance for the day at the outset of your journey, you can just hop on the first train when it's time to head home and avoid the crowds who will inevitably be at the station around the same time.

There is also the Big Blue Bus Rapid 10 (http://www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/map/index.asp?routeid=10), which runs on the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) between Bundy Drive and Olive Street (Grand Avenue in the opposite direction).

True but Rapid 10 has weak schedule on weekends late nights so the OP should not rely on it to get back to his car in Santa Monica. That's why I didn't mention it. At least 733 runs quite frequently late into the night.

BTW - even if you aren't planning on more than a roundtrip, I'd recommend buying the daypass which I think is $5.

When I ride the Metro, I find it frustrating to wait for people who aren't regular riders trying to figure out how to buy a ticket.

If you buy your ticket in advance for the day at the outset of your journey, you can just hop on the first train when it's time to head home and avoid the crowds who will inevitably be at the station around the same time.

Maybe a good idea to pick up a day pass like Oski said at La Cienega station when you first board the Expo train. I imagine Pico Station after the Clippers game will be quite crowded and there may be long line at the ticket machine.

Maybe a good idea to pick up a day pass like Oski said at La Cienega station when you first board the Expo train. I imagine Pico Station after the Clippers game will be quite crowded and there may be long line at the ticket machine.

Good call!

Is the parking lot easy to find at La Cienega? Google Street View shows what vaguely looks like a parking structure under construction next to the station ( http://g.co/maps/8d3v7 )... is that Metro's park and ride lot?

Thanks again! I know that I may be pushing my luck with all these questions, but this information is very useful since I want to make the most of my time in town!

I think the google picture is old. According to the metro.net website, the station is operational with 400+ spots.

Not sure what time you're planning on leaving, but if you arrive early at the La Cienega station, you're right across the street from the See's Candy factory. I think they are open until 5pm on Sundays - worth a drop-in if you like chocolate :)

Yes, the La Cienega garage is open and it should have plenty of spaces on Sunday afternoon. It is indeed a Metro park and ride garage (which means open 24/7) and I have used the garage several times myself already.

Expo line just opened this month and ridership is still relatively low compare to some of our other heavily used rail line.

Downtown traffic and parking alert.

Downtown gridlock: 'Never been a weekend like this' in L.A. (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/six-playoff-games-dodgers-and-bike-race-set-stage-for-weekend-gridlock.html)



I think Michael Roth of AEG comments are rather self serving (hyping their facility) and hyperbole. Maybe he forgets the Olympics or those October weekends when USC had a football game, the Dodgers had a playoff game and the Lakers were playing too.

The traffic will still be far below a normal work day in Downtown LA. I would still probably park on Bunker Hill and ride the shuttle to Staples after an early dinner.

As a postscript to this thread, I ended up parking at the Metro station and taking the train to the game. It wasn't bad, although the wait for an Expo line train after the Clippers' season finale was very long.

However, it appeared that traffic moved quickly in and out of the area and if I had to do it again, I'd probably just bite the bullet and drive to Staples.