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The 18,997-seat Staples Center is owned and managed by billionaire Philip Anschutz's Anschutz Entertainment Group, and Anschutz owns 30% of the Lakers. NBA owners are prohibited from speaking publicly about the labor dispute while the contract talks continue. AEG spokesman Michael Roth had no comment. During the prolonged 1998-99 labor dispute, the NBA canceled chunks of the season every few weeks until a new contract was reached and a shortened regular season began in February 1999. If the NBA cancels games this fall in dribs and drabs it will create a financial headache for many arenas. Only a limited number of entertainers, such as Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and U2, can sell out NBA-sized arenas, and those shows are booked months in advance and can't be signed by arenas on short notice. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Lockout, Staples Center