LA Live President Lee Zeidman Officially Retiring

Lee Zeidman, who has run Crypto.com Arena since its transformative opening in 1999, and served as president of the LA Live entertainment district including Peacock Theatre, is retiring from his role as president.

Estimating hosting 6,500 events and 45 years in the industry, the affable Zeidman made the news official in his own words.

“While it’s the day before April Fool’s day, this is no April Fool’s. It’s official,” Zeidman posted to LinkedIn March 31. “After 45 years in this industry, opening numerous venues and hosting approximately 6500 events, I’ve decided I’m no longer interested in working full time and will move on to write the next chapter in the book of Lee where I’ll do whatever I want, whenever I want and how I want.”

The post goes on to explain that Zeidman will continue to assist with the transition to find a replacement, working through the Lakers and Kings playoff runs and through the final phase of Crypto.com Arena’s renovations.  Noting the success of home teams including the Lakers winning five championships, multiple Kings Stanley Cup runs, all-star games for both leagues and Grammy Hosts, Zeidman adds, “Simply put, it’s been a helluva run. There are too many part time, full time team members to thank as well as owners and executives that have helped shape my career to name here, so I’ll save that for another time as it gets closer to the curtain coming down on what’s been a magical and highly rewarding journey. More to come.”

Zeidman was brought in to open Staples Center in 1997 ahead of its opening, after 10 years overseeing the storied Forum in Los Angeles.  He opened what was a landmark venue that became an example of how a live sports venue can revitalize and transform what was considered a struggling and blighted downtown Los Angeles, bringing new life to the convention center and adding major hotel properties. The LA Live project including a standalone concert theatre next door became a model mimicked by multiple cities, sports teams and arenas.

The arena is nearing completion of a major four-year renovation that includes new bunker suites. The team’s second NBA tenant, the Los Angeles Clippers, recently opened their own home at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, freeing up the calendar for concerts and other events at Crypto.com.  The continued investment suggests that long term, venue developer AEG remains committed to the downtown arena. 

 “When we built it in 1999, we always knew you don’t build a $450 million arena, which was a lot of money 25 years ago, and not maintain it,” Zeidman said in a recent interview with VenuesNow. “Plus, this building has had a lot of use. Last year, we had 238 events with three of our teams getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. (2024) was the best year in the history of the arena.”