I’m sure you know that American Express operates a network of airport lounges located across the world but did you know that they also operate a network of lounges inside many popular sports and concert venues located across the United States, Europe, and Australia as well? That’s right. These venue lounges, dubbed the “Centurion Suites,” are located in some of the most iconic sports and concert venues such as the UBS Arena in New York, the O2 Arena in London, and for us here in Los Angeles, the Crypto.com Arena. And if you’re one of the lucky people with a qualifying American Express Card, you can gain access to a private suite with complimentary drinks, elevated food options, and a great view of the game/show.
In this post, I’ll give you all the details you need to know to access this Suite space. I’ll tell you where to find it, explain what you need to get in, and give you some tips and tricks on how to make the most of your VIP experience.
Here are some perks that all American Express Cardholders will enjoy at the Crypto.com Arena:
- Special ticket access – Card Members will enjoy access to reserved or presale tickets for select events throughout the year.
- Card Member entrance – Save time with a dedicated Card Member entrance. This entrance is located on the northwest side of the venue, off of Chick Hearn Court, near the Kobe and Gianna Bryant statue.
- 10% back on qualifying concessions – Eligible U.S. Card Members can receive 10% back as a statement credit on qualifying purchases, up to $250/year. Enrollment is required.
And specifically for Platinum Card and Centurion Cardholders:
- Centurion Suite Access – Card Members can escape the crowds at an exclusive suite located on the Club Level, where they can enjoy complimentary drinks.
- You will need tickets to the event to access the Suite but it won’t matter where your seats are located. All cardholders and their guests with a valid ticket to the game/show will be granted access to the club level.
Now, I know this sounds amazing so far but I do have some bad news. This used to be a pretty good perk for Platinum Cardholders but unfortunately, American Express just cut guest access and perks for the 2024 – 2025 season. For Platinum Cardholders, you used to be able to bring in three quests and each person was entitled to two free drinks (eight total). But now, Platinum Cardholders are only allowed to bring in one guest and only the cardholder will receive the free drink tickets (two total). And for Centurion Cardholders, you can still bring in three guests but unfortunately, only the Cardholder will get the free drink tickets (three total). Your guests will not.
And I know what you’re thinking and the answer is no. Access to the Centurion Suite is per account, not per card, so it doesn’t matter how many Platinum Cards (business or personal) you have. You are only allowed to bring in one guest. You cannot use your other Platinum/Centurion Cards to bring in additional guests. However, if you have an authorized user with their own Platinum Card, they will be allowed entry with two complimentary drinks and can bring in one additional guest.
Here’s the other caveat… the Centurion Suite only has room for 150 people and entry is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you show up 10 minutes prior to puck drop and try to get in, chances are the lounge would have reached capacity already and you won’t be able to get in.
American Express Centurion Suite at Crypto.com Arena Location and hours
The Centurion Suite at the Crypto.com Arena is located on Premium Level B (Club Level). The Suite opens up 90 minutes before the start of any game/show and it closes promptly at the conclusion of the game/show. The Suite is a little tricky to find but the best way to get in is through the Star Plaza entrance. This entrance is located on the north side of the Crypto.com Arena behind the Wayne Gretzky Statue. I would recommend this entrance over the dedicated Card Member entrance.
Once you enter the venue, immediately get into the VIP Lounge line located to your left. It’s not clearly marked but look for this sign on the wall. By the time you get in, there will most likely be a long line of people waiting already. Just get in line with them. The attendants will check to see if everyone in line has a qualifying card. If you do, they will give you a ticket for the Centurion Suite.
Once you get to the front of the line, they will scan your qualifying card and check your photo ID. If your card is expired or if you have someone else’s card, then they will deny you entry. If everything checks out, they will exchange your tickets for wristbands and drink tickets. You will then walk down the hallway and take the escalators up one floor. Your wristbands will serve as your pass to go in and out of the lounge.
At the top of the escalator, make a left at the Yaamava Casino Lounge and take the stairs up one more level to Premium Level B.
The entrance to the Centuion Suites will be located to your right.
AmEx Centurion Suite at Crypto.com Arena
The Centurion Suite at Crypto.com Arena is a great space to hang out, grab a drink, and watch a game/show but it’s not very large and the design layout is a little funky. As I said earlier, the Suite can hold up to 150 people but unfortunately, there’s only seating for about 75 people. That’s not a lot of people for an arena that holds 20,000 people and honestly, I think they could have added a lot more seating for people.
As you enter the Suite, you will find several rows of bar-height tables and chairs along the glass with great views of the arena. These are the best seats in the house so snag one of these seats if you can. Behind the bar tables are some lounge chairs for people to hang out and socialize.
But then for some reason, in the middle of the Suite, they added sofas along the glass instead of bar tables. This makes no sense to me as there’s only room for about five people and those seated here won’t get a great view of the game/show as the sofas are so low that you will have to sit up closer to the glass just to see. They did add a couple of bar tables behind the sofas to make up for the lack of seating but even then, it’s a terrible setup.
And lastly, there is a hosted bar and another small seating area toward the end of the Suite.
I have to admit that the view from the Suite is pretty sweet. If you have nosebleed tickets, then this view is definitely an upgrade over any seats in the 300 section. However, there are only a limited number of these bar seats along the glass so you gotta show up early if you want to snag one of these. The other seats in the Suite are okay but you will have to stand to watch the show or game.
For food and beverages, the Centurion Suite has a private bar with a full drink menu and a limited food menu. It goes without saying that food and drinks here will be expensive but that goes for any sports arena or concert venue. Here’s the food menu with prices and for drinks, you can expect them to be about $18 each. But the advantage here is that you’re not competing with hundreds of other people trying to order food and drinks from the normal concession stands. You can just order from the server at your seat or from the bartender.
On this visit, my friend and I ordered the loaded carne asada nachos and the classic cheeseburger with fries, which were both tasty.
American Express Centurion Suite Bottom Line
This used to be such a great deal for Platinum Cardholders but even with the recent cutbacks, it’s still a good place to grab a drink or watch the game. I miss the days when four of us could hit the Suite, grab a couple of drinks each and then head down to our seats to watch the rest of the game but hey, two free drinks is still better than no free drinks.
As I stated earlier, the Suite is first-come, first-served, so it’s important to get in line right away. They will only let the first 150 people in so if you’re not one of them, you won’t get in for the rest of the game/show. Once you have your wristbands, you can come and go as you please.
Keep in mind that the lounge gets very busy right before the start of the game/show but it does die down after the first period. If you get up here and can’t find a seat, don’t worry. Just come back after the first period as most people would have gotten their free drinks by then and left the Suite. You can then grab one of the empty seats and watch the rest of the game/show.
That’s my tip of the day for you guys. What are your thoughts? Have you visited the Centurion Suite at the Crypto.com Arena (or any of the other Suites)? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
