Crypto.com Arena replaced its ice rink chiller after 26 years of service with the advanced CIMCO Thermal Force One package. Construction began with ventilation system work in early 2026, followed by the decommissioning of the existing plant on May 26. By August 29, the new plant was ready for ice-making ahead of the Los Angeles Kings’ 2026-2027 season. The project’s most demanding challenges were preparing the space and getting the new equipment into the machine room while the arena remained open and hosted basketball games, family events and sold-out concerts.
The delivery and move-in alone took a total of 19 hours, between two Los Angeles Sparks games. The equipment arrived in five main pieces: two heat exchanger halves weighing 26,000 and 34,000 pounds, and three compressors weighing 15,015 pounds for a total of 75,015 pounds. Creating an access route required removing walls, doorways and a temporary seating section for the equipment to travel across the arena floor and into the machine room. Every step was dependent on carefully coordinated scheduling with very little room for planning or shipping delays.