L.A. to host 2018 NBA All-Star Game at Staples
LOS ANGELES — The 2018 NBA All-Star Game will be held in Los Angeles, with Staples Center hosting the event for the third time, league and city officials announced at the arena Tuesday.
It will mark the sixth time that Los Angeles has hosted the All-Star Game, the most for any city. New York has hosted it five times and Boston and Philadelphia have each hosted it four times. The 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be held in Charlotte.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman, Los Angeles Major Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Comission President Kathy Schloessman made the announcement collectively at Staples Center prior to the Lakers–Memphis Grizzlies game.
“Los Angeles is known for first-class hospitality and entertainment, making it the perfect host for NBA All-Star,” said Silver. “The city is home to some of the most passionate basketball fans in addition to extraordinary facilities, including Staples Center and L.A. Live.”
Staples Center hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2011 and 2004. The Forum in Inglewood hosted the event in 1983 and 1972 and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena hosted it in 1963.
“Los Angeles is one of the world’s great basketball cities — a place where players become legends and great NBA moments last forever,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Now we will make history again, in 2018, by hosting our sixth NBA All-Star Game, something no other city has done. I look forward to working with the NBA and our local partners on this amazing event at Staples Center, which will bring thousands of visitors to Los Angeles, and generate more than $100 million of economic activity.”
Of the five All Star Games held in Los Angeles, the Western Conference All-Stars have won three times, and in those three victories a Lakers player was named MVP (Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Jerry West).
“All-Star is a premiere event, so it’s fitting that it’ll be hosted by Los Angeles, the premiere sports city in America, and by Staples Center, one of the premiere arenas in the world,” said Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss. “2004 and 2011 proved what a great combination this is, and 2018 will prove it again.”
Added Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, “Since becoming part of L.A. through my ownership of the Clippers, I’ve witnessed firsthand the passion this city has for basketball and celebrating world-class talent, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for both players and fans during NBA All-Star 2018.”
