Staples Center "generally has received positive
reviews" from fans, but it's "not yet a place where many
basketball fans act, well, fanatical and provide the local
team with an emotional lift," according to Mark Emmons of
the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Lakers F Robert Horry, on the
"atmosphere" at the arena: "The only time people cheer is
when [C Shaquille O'Neal] hits some free throws." Noting
Staples Center has almost one million square feet of space,
NBBJ Sports and Entertainment Owner/Partner Dan Meis said of
the arena, "Come on, it's not that big. I can't believe
(the lack of noise) can be traced back to size because
Staples is not as big as some of the other new buildings."
Emmons wrote that the "irony" is some fans are "making noise
... but it's emitting from the mountain-climbing regions" of
the arena. Emmons added that the "separation created" by
the luxury suites "seems to have created a somewhat
schizophrenic atmosphere, or at least a lack of connection
between the fans up high and down low." NBBJ's Meis said
that eventually he "believes that fans will adjust to the
new surroundings" (O.C. REGISTER, 12/14). In Vancouver,
Gordon McIntyre wrote that when sitting in the upper bowl,
"the sound is so muted, it's like watching the game on a
small TV through plate glass" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 12/14).
