Chances are at one point or another, most Angelenos have found themselves standing among the inscribed porcelain and granite tile stars of Crypto.com Arena’s Star Plaza or waiting for friends by one of the many statues of sports stars the plaza displays. As a city, we witnessed the upgrades the stadium underwent after its acquisition by Crypto.com, and while that round of renovations brought up bittersweet feelings, the arena and L.A. Live as a whole have never looked better. Now it’s Star Plaza’s turn to catch up.
Another Landmark Facelift for DTLA
Downtown Los Angeles has and will always welcome the new. It’s the city’s blood. From the Coca-Cola building’s upgrade to the new AI art museum DATALAND, this slice of the West Coast is unscrupulous when it comes to a renovation.
Unveiled at the same time as the arena, Star Plaza is lapping its 26th year, so it comes as no surprise that Crypto.com and AEG members are looking to refresh the space. Star Plaza isn’t alone here, though, as both L.A. LIVE and the arena itself will see upgrades as part of a nine-figure renovation effort.
AEG and Crypto have yet to release specifics on the reimagining, but there are a few clues and timelines readers can look to in order to get a better idea of what Star Plaza will look like in the upcoming year. The project is set to wrap and be unveiled before the 2026–2027 NHL season and for sports fans who may fear the loss of any of the plaza’s beloved statues, fret not: all 14 figures will remain as they are within the entrance. As far as those granite and porcelain stars that give the plaza its namesake, they will be removed and reinstated in a digital installation. Unfortunately, beyond that, readers will have to wait for more detailed plans to surface in the following months.
Oh My Stars!
The inscriptions on the stars go beyond just the sentimental. Over the years, the Star Plaza recognition program has funneled nearly $1 million into the community, supporting organizations like Inner City Arts, Heart of Los Angeles, the California Science Center, Community Coalition, and a long list of other groups working on youth, arts, and education across the city.
In a recent press release, Katie Pandolfo, General Manager of Crypto.com Arena, commented on the stars’ new digital conception. “Star Plaza has always been a meaningful location for the thousands of fans who created messages for the special people in their lives, as well as the millions of guests who have visited Crypto.com Arena these past 25 years. As Los Angeles’ home of the most iconic sports and entertainment events, it is important to us that this special recognition program continues to evolve and inspire people for years to come.” A special team has been assembled to tackle exactly how the stars will be honored in installation form, and from all sides, the importance of these stars and their inscriptions does not seem to be lost on Crypto.com nor AEG.
Out with the Old in with the New
As the arena edges toward its next chapter, the reinvention of Star Plaza feels less like an erasure and more like a reset. Fans will soon be rushing through the new entrance for the next Lakers game or to catch their favorite musicians soon enough. The legacy of the plaza being reshaped to meet the moment and in true Los Angeles fashion, the transformation promises to blend nostalgia with whatever comes next.
