STAPLES CENTER: Caused Half NBA, NHL Coronavirus Cases

The Los Angeles arena called Staples Center became a hotbed for coronavirus infections. Half the positive cases among NBA and NHL players are linked to Staples Center.

Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Los Angeles County, Staples Center hosted 12 more hockey and 19 NBA games. During that time, they also had the Grammy Awards and a memorial service for Kobe Bryant.

Staples Center seats nearly 20,000 per game for the NHL’s Kings and two NBA franchises — the Clippers and Lakers. The arena hosted three games in the same week that Tom Hanks revealed he tested positive. Eight players from those games are now undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

Professional athletes have been dubbed “super spreaders.” Players hug and high five. They travel frequently across the country and are fully exposed to locker room germs. (Los Angeles Times)