Picture this: Victor Mendez, a man who woke up early on a Saturday morning to catch some muccinex or some other bronchial medication to keep his near-old daughter from barging into his room to ask if he’s game for a bike ride. But little did he know, Mendez’s weekend was far from done.
Just like scores of others, Mendez worked tirelessly to make sure that the Crypto.com arena was primed and ready to handle its wild week. The real chaos broke out in the 36 hours after the Kings game on Friday, when the building became the Clippers’ court, then the Lakers’, and then finally, back to the Kings. All three teams have been making this arena their home since the good ol’ year of 1999, when it opened as Staples Center.
Lee Zeidman, the President of Crypto.com Arena; the Microsoft Theater nearby; and the surrounding entertainment district, L.A. Live, says, “My favorite part of this is when they’re done. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. These men and women are the greatest in the business.” Honestly, who doesn’t like a good jigsaw puzzle?
It’s like Mendez and his colleagues were contestants on “The Amazing Race” — minus the exotic locations, treasure hunts, and tense finish lines. Instead, they have to contend with the demanding schedules of the NBA’s Clippers, Lakers, and Kings, all while ensuring that everything’s in tip-top shape, no easy feat in itself. It’s like organizing a rave, but a lot less fun, and much less techno music.
Undoubtedly, Mendez’s duties involved more than keeping an eye on the arena surface, big screens, and sound systems. According to him, the housekeeping staff would relish the task of cleaning out the stands once the games were finally over. After all, it’s like a treasure trove up there with so much left behind. You never know what you’re going to find in the wonderful world of fast food containers and empty beer cups.
We were surprised to learn that this arena employed dozens of people who had to work in tandem to make everything run smoothly. From the electricians who had to change up the wiring for the different games to the catering staff who had to make sure that the VIPs at each match had their nosh — it was like an entire circus being set up, day after day after day.
Lee Zeidman had one more thing to add, “These guys are the Maestros of the arena world. They get it done with clockwork precision.” While we agree, we can only imagine that Mendez and his team must have been absolutely exhausted once the weekend’s craziness was over. It’s like running a marathon without actually moving an inch.
Serious News: nytimes
