The Lakers-Clippers season opener at Staples Center on Tuesday resulted in a record-setting per average spend on food and beverage by fans for an NBA opening night at the arena. The capacity crowd of 19,430 fans spent an average of $34.07 on food and beverage offerings, Staples Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live President Lee Zeidman said. Total food and beverage revenue was up 145.37% and the per cap was up 73.47% from the Clippers' home opener in '18 against the Nuggets. Zeidman said he had not seen food and beverage spending by fans that high since the NHL Kings won the '14 Stanley Cup Final. Zeidman credited the anticipation around the debut of several new players for each team, specifically the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard and the Lakers' Anthony Davis, for driving attention around the game. Plant-based burgers from Salt & Char, a new burger and shake offering that replaced McDonald's at Staples Center, along with offerings from Wahoo's Fish Taco and Blaze Pizza, were among the best performers for the game, Zeidman noted.
