The Lakers’ history starts in 1946 with the Detroit Gems of the NBL, who moved to Minneapolis in 1947 and to Los Angeles in 1960. That adds up to six regular homes: a high school gym in Detroit, the Minneapolis Auditorium and Minneapolis Armory, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Forum in Inglewood and, since 1999, Crypto.com Arena.
Here is every home in order, with the years the Lakers played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each arena with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Lakers Arena, 1946 to Today
- Detroit
- 1946–1947
Holy Redeemer High School Gymnasium
The Detroit Gems' one NBL season, which the Lakers' franchise history includes. A planned Dearborn arena was never built, so the Gems used this gym, Lincoln High in Ferndale and the Olympia, drew about 300 a game and went 4–40.
Today: The school closed in 2005; Detroit Cristo Rey High School opened in the building in 2008
- Minneapolis
- 1947–1959
Minneapolis Auditorium
The main Minneapolis home, with some games at the Armory. With George Mikan, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL title and the 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954 BAA and NBA titles.
Today: Demolished in 1989 for the Minneapolis Convention Center
1959–1960A part-time home from 1947 and the full-time home for 1959–60, the last Minneapolis season. Owner Bob Short then moved the team to Los Angeles, making the Lakers the NBA's first West Coast team.
Today: Reopened in 2018 as an 8,400-capacity event center and concert venue; listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Stadium history →- Los Angeles
- 1960–1967
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
The first Los Angeles home, from October 1960 to December 1967, in Exposition Park next to the Coliseum. The Lakers reached the NBA Finals often in these years but lost each time to the Celtics.
Today: Demolished in 2016; BMO Stadium, home of Los Angeles FC, opened on the site in 2018
- Inglewood
1967–1999Built by owner Jack Kent Cooke for $16.5 million and opened in December 1967; the Great Western Forum from 1988. The Lakers won six titles in their Forum years, from 1972 through the Showtime teams of 1980–1988.
Today: Now the Kia Forum, a concert venue renovated in 2012–14 and bought by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in 2020
Stadium history →- Los Angeles
- 1999–presentCurrent home
Opened in October 1999 as Staples Center, now part of L.A. Live. The 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010 and 2020 title teams played here, and the Lakers' lease runs until 2041.
Visiting guide →
Lakers Arena FAQ
Where did the Lakers play before Crypto.com Arena?
At the Forum in Inglewood, from December 1967 to 1999. Before that they spent seven seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1960–1967), and in Minneapolis they played at the Minneapolis Auditorium and the Minneapolis Armory (1947–1960).
How many arenas have the Lakers had?
Six regular homes: Holy Redeemer High School’s gym in Detroit (with other Detroit-area gyms that first season), the Minneapolis Auditorium, the Minneapolis Armory, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Forum and Crypto.com Arena.
Why did the Lakers move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles?
Owner Bob Short saw the Brooklyn Dodgers become a big financial success after moving to Los Angeles in 1958. After considering Chicago and San Francisco, he moved the Lakers to Los Angeles for the 1960–61 season, making them the NBA’s first West Coast team.
Is the Forum still standing?
Yes. The Lakers left after the 1998–99 season, and the Forum was renovated into a concert venue in 2012–14; it is now the Kia Forum, owned since 2020 by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was demolished in 2016, and the Minneapolis Auditorium in 1989.
Where do the Lakers play now?
At Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, which opened in 1999 as Staples Center. It seats up to 18,997 for Lakers games, and the team’s lease runs until 2041.