Los Angeles Lakers fans were up in arms over the news that their longtime arena – the Staples Center – was changing its name to the Crypto.com Arena.
The name change drew rabid reactions from Lakers fans and former players alike, with most feeling distraught and sentimental.
Count former head coach Stan Van Gundy as part of the opposite camp. The veteran NBA voice took to twitter to express his confusion over the reactions to the change.
“This nostalgic emotion about the demise of the Staples Center is crazy,” said Van Gundy on the Lakers' new home arena name. “First, it is a building. Second, they aren’t blowing it up. They are just changing its corporate sponsor. What exactly are people nostalgic about — an office supply store’s sponsorship of a building?”
https://twitter.com/realStanVG/status/1474721107991273478
The naming rights deal that Staples long held for the building since its inaugural year back in 1999 came to an end as Crypto.com reportedly doled out big money to take the name of one of the world's most famous arenas. The deal was one estimated to reach north of $700 million.
The stadium has been home to the Lakers, Clippers, the LA Sparks of the WNBA, and the LA Kings of the NHL.