Intuit Dome Explained

Stadium Name:Intuit Dome
Former Names:Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center (planning phase)
Logo Image:Intuit_Dome_logo.svg
Address:3930 West Century Boulevard
Location:Inglewood, California, U.S.
Coordinates:33.9451°N -118.3431°W
Pushpin Map:USA Los Angeles Metropolitan Area#USA California#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in L.A. metro area##Location in California##Location in the United States
Owner:Steve Ballmer (Murphy's Bowl, LLC)
Cost:$2 billion[1]
Architect:AECOM[2]
General Contractor:AECOM Hunt Turner NBA JV
Capacity:18,000
Dimensions:915000square feet
Tenants:Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) (2024–present)
Publictransit: Inglewood Transit Connector (2030)
Downtown Inglewood
Metro Local from
Hawthorne/Lennox

Intuit Dome is an indoor arena in Inglewood, California, south of SoFi Stadium. It is the home venue of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Clippers previously played games at Crypto.com Arena, a venue the team shared with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), from the 1999–2000 season through the 2023–24 season.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new arena was held on September 17, 2021. The arena opened on August 15, 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 NBA season. The arena will serve as a basketball venue during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Bruno Mars backed by his band, the Hooligans, opened the venue with a concert on August 15, 2024. Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga performed the world premiere of their new duet, "Die With a Smile".

History

In 2017, the City of Inglewood approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers to build a new, basketball-specific arena for the team, which would be located across from the then-under construction SoFi Stadium.[3] The Clippers have not had their own arena since they left the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in 1999 for Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), which they shared with the Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings.

Throughout the team's history, it never had any tangible ownership interest in any of its home arenas. The Clippers instead rented its previous venues in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium (as the Braves), where it held low priority beneath the Sabres and Canisius college basketball, then San Diego's Sports Arena when they became the Clippers, followed by the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Its previous deal with Crypto.com Arena allowed for a different Clipper court, and required a 'neutralization' process before and after each game to cover up and then restore Laker achievements, banners and sponsorships, along with setting its own court lighting pattern. In tightly-scheduled weekends, which included Kings games and musical concerts in addition to the Lakers, the process was often completed within a three to four hour window, including cleanup of the seating bowl from the previous event.[4] Clippers owner Steve Ballmer saw the construction of a dedicated arena for the team as being a high priority.[5] [6]

Lawsuits

Various lawsuits were filed to prevent the construction of the arena. Uplift Inglewood filed a lawsuit alleging that the agreement between the Clippers and Inglewood violated the state Surplus Land Act, which requires that proposals for affordable housing, recreation, and school projects be given preference when a city intends to sell its public land.[7] Mayor James T. Butts Jr. argued that the proposed site had already been deemed unsuitable for residential use due to its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport.[8]

The Madison Square Garden Company —owner of The Forum, a nearby arena in Inglewood that formerly served as the Lakers' home arena— were accused of using litigation to block the new arena, fearing that it would unduly compete with The Forum's live events business. MSG paid the legal fees of Inglewood Residents Against Takings and Evictions (IRATE), another group that filed lawsuits opposing the arena. In December 2018, the Clippers (via its subsidiary Murphy's Bowl, LLC) filed a countersuit against MSG over the matter.

In March 2019, leaked emails revealed that MSG's Irving Azoff attempted to lure the Los Angeles Lakers back to The Forum after their lease of Staples Center was up. Despite nothing coming of the proposal, Azoff's proposal to re-purpose The Forum was seen as a way of preventing the LA Clippers from building their own arena in Inglewood and ensuring that the Madison Square Garden Company got an unfair advantage over rival AEG, which is a Lakers minority owner.[9] In November 2019, a judge ruled against Uplift Inglewood's lawsuit. In December 2019, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the new arena, after evaluating the arena's environmental impact.[10]

Construction and opening

In March 2020, in a move to settle the litigation with MSG, Ballmer announced that he would acquire The Forum for $400 million in an all-cash deal. The sale was completed in May, with all existing employees retained under the new ownership. The acquisition of The Forum was considered to be the last major hurdle blocking the construction of the new arena.[11] [12]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 17, 2021. Ballmer described a goal for the new arena to be a "basketball palazzo".[13] A 23-year naming rights deal for at least $500 million was announced with Mountain View, California based financial software company Intuit, naming the arena Intuit Dome.[14] On April 5, 2024, it was announced that Bruno Mars would open Intuit Dome with back-to-back shows on August 15 and 16, 2024.[15] On August 12, 2024, Shams Charania reported that the Los Angeles Clippers would make their regular season and home debut at the Intuit Dome on October 23 against the Phoenix Suns.[16]

Events

College Basketball

The UCLA Bruins plan to open the 2024–25 season against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the arena.[17]

2026 NBA All-Star Game

The arena will host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on February 15, 2026.[18]

2028 Summer Olympics

The arena will serve as a basketball venue during the 2028 Summer Olympics.[19]

Concerts

Bruno Mars played the venue's inaugural shows on August 15 and 16, 2024 followed by Marco Antonio Solís on August 18 for his Eternamente Agradecido tour,[20] Olivia Rodrigo for her Guts World Tour on August 20 and 21,[21] Contemporary Christian musicians Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham on August 22 as part of their Summer Worship Nights tour,[22] Peso Pluma on August 24 for his Éxodo Tour,[23] Twenty One Pilots on August 27 and 28 as part of The Clancy World Tour,[24] Future and Metro Boomin on August 31 for their We Trust You Tour,[25] NCT Dream on September 12 for their 'The Dream Show 3: Dreamscape',[26] Slipknot on September 13 and 14 for their Here Comes the Pain Tour,[27] and Grupo Frontera on September 20 for their Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada Tour.[28]

Usher's Past Present and Future tour will perform at the arena from September 21 - 25.[29] Elevation Worship will perform on September 28.[30] Weezer's Voyage to the Blue Planet tour will perform at Intuit Dome on October 11,[31] followed by Billy Joel the following night.[32] Ana Gabriel will perform on October 19 for her Un Deseo Más tour,[33] followed by David Gilmour on October 25 for his Luck and Strange Tour.[34] Fuerza Regida will perform on November 15 and 16 for their Pero No Te Enamores Tour.[35] Cyndi Lauper will perform at the Intuit Dome on November 23 during her "2024 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour."[36]

Stand-up comedy

Sebastian Maniscalco will perform at Intuit Dome on August 17, as part of his It Ain't Right tour.[37] Franco Escamilla will perform on September 27.[38]

Features

On July 25, 2019, the Clippers released renderings of the proposed arena.[39] The 18,000-seat arena will be designed by AECOM. It will include a practice facility, sports medicine clinic, team offices, retail space and a large outdoor plaza with basketball courts that will be open to the public.[40] [41] [42]

The practice facility will be, the team offices and the sports medicine clinic . An additional are set aside for retail and for the outdoor plaza.

The Clippers have also launched a project where they will display basketball jerseys from high schools across the state of California on the arena's rafters.[43]

The arena will also have over 1,100 toilets and urinals, three times the league average to allow fans to return to their seats quicker instead of waiting in long lines.[44]

The arena features a double-sided halo board similar to the one at neighboring SoFi Stadium. The video board designed by Daktronics, covers with a 4K resolution display.[45] During an unveiling event on July 19, Steve Ballmer demonstrated some of the features that will be displayed on the screen including "player 360" which shows detailed player profiles and a section called "coaches corner" that displays advanced stats about the game.[46] The Halo Boards are also installed with T-shirt cannons capable of launching merchandise into the upper levels of the arena.[47]

There is a five-story Fairfield by Marriott hotel adjacent to Intuit Dome's east garage, expected to break ground April 2024, and open June 2026. A fifteen-story Arya Hotel south of the arena on 102nd Street is currently planned to be constructed by 2026.[48]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Teens break into Clippers' new $2B arena, wreak havoc in TikTok footage: 'Posting this is crazy'. Richard. Polina. April 3, 2024. New York Post. March 3, 2024. en.
  2. Web site: L.A. Clippers unveil design for new Inglewood arena. September 9, 2020. Building Design + Construction. David. Malone. July 29, 2019. en.
  3. Web site: New LA Clippers arena approved by Inglewood City Council. February 5, 2022. NBA. Associated Press. en.
  4. Web site: LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer still seeking Inglewood arena for team. February 5, 2022. NBA.
  5. Web site: December 18, 2018. Inglewood arena row: LA Clippers launch MSG countersuit. February 5, 2022. Nick. Friend. SportsPro.
  6. News: Lakers, Clippers, Kings share LA's Staples Center for playoffs games. AirTalk. Larry. Mantle. May 16, 2012. November 16, 2022.
  7. News: November 7, 2019. Judge rules against lawsuit opposing proposed arena for Clippers. Nathan. Fenno. Los Angeles Times.
  8. News: Chiland. Elijah. June 19, 2018. Inglewood residents sue to block Clippers arena. Curbed LA.
  9. News: March 14, 2019. Must Reads: Lakers explored leaving Staples Center for return to Forum, emails reveal. Nathan. Fenno. Los Angeles Times.
  10. Web site: Clippers Arena Gets Approval, Inglewood Rises Again. December 5, 2019. City of Inglewood.
  11. News: Pedersen. Erik. May 4, 2020. Los Angeles Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Closes Deal To Buy The Forum From MSG – Update. February 5, 2022. Deadline Hollywood. en-US.
  12. News: Young. Jabari. March 25, 2020. Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer buys the Forum for $400 million in cash. February 5, 2022. CNBC. en.
  13. News: The NBA's richest owner enters the arena arms race. en-US. The Washington Post. Ben. Golliver. April 3, 2024. 0190-8286. subscription.
  14. News: Young. Jabari. September 17, 2021. Steve Ballmer's LA Clippers strike $500 million-plus arena naming-rights deal with TurboTax owner Intuit. CNBC. December 7, 2023.
  15. Web site: Haring . Bruce . 2024-04-05 . L.A. Clippers' New Intuit Dome Will See Bruno Mars As Its Opening Act . 2024-04-05 . Deadline . en-US.
  16. Web site: Shams: Phoenix Suns will open the season against the Los Angeles Clippers, first game in new Intuit Dome .
  17. Web site: Gonzaga, UCLA are finalizing a two-year series starting next season. May 9, 2024. Gonzaga Nation.
  18. Web site: Los Angeles and LA Clippers to host NBA All-Star 2026. 2024-02-25. NBA. en.
  19. News: Clippers' Intuit Dome will host 2026 NBA All-Star Game, 2028 Olympics. Ben. Golliver. January 16, 2024. The Washington Post. subscription.
  20. Web site: Intuit Dome .
  21. Web site: Olivia Rodrigo to Close Out 'Guts' at Intuit Dome - Pollstar News . June 17, 2024 .
  22. Web site: 2024-03-25 . Phil Wickham & Brandon Lake Summer Worship Nights Tour at Intuit Dome on THU Aug 22, 2024, 7:00 PM . 2024-03-12 . Live Nation . en-US.
  23. Web site: Intuit Dome .
  24. Web site: The Clancy World Tour . Twenty One Pilots.
  25. Web site: Intuit Dome - Inglewood: Future & Metro Boomin. www.intuitdome.com.
  26. Web site: Intuit Dome - Inglewood: NCT Dream 9/12 . www.intuitdome.com.
  27. Web site: Slipknot LIVE in Los Angeles. www.intuitdome.com.
  28. https://thescenestar.typepad.com/ss/2024/05/grupo-frontera-to-play-a-show-at-intuit-dome.html
  29. Usher Announces Past Present Future North American Tour: See the Dates . . Michael . Saponara . February 6, 2024 . April 3, 2024.
  30. Web site: Intuit Dome - Inglewood: Elevation Nights. www.intuitdome.com.
  31. Web site: Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour. Instagram. March 11, 2024.
  32. Web site: Billy Joel Announces Los Angeles Concert at New Intuit Dome. Sandra B.. Olinger. February 26, 2024. Grimy Goods.
  33. Web site: Intuit Dome - Inglewood: Ana Gabriel . www.intuitdome.com.
  34. Web site: Intuit Dome .
  35. Web site: Fuerza Regida LIVE at Intuit Dome FRI NOV 15 & SAT NOV 16. www.intuitdome.com.
  36. Cyndi Lauper Announces 2024 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour: See the Dates, Billboard, June 3, 2024. .
  37. Web site: Event Schedule . April 3, 2024 . Intuit Dome.
  38. Web site: Intuit Dome - Inglewood: Franco Escamilla. www.intuitdome.com.
  39. Web site: July 26, 2019. Clippers unveil renderings of proposed arena. ESPN News.
  40. News: Fenno . Nathan . February 20, 2018 . New details of Clippers' proposed Inglewood arena complex revealed . February 21, 2018 . Los Angeles Times.
  41. Notice Of Preparation Of A Draft Environmental Impact Report And Public Scoping Meeting . February 20, 2018 . . April 3, 2024.
  42. News: Oram . Bill . June 16, 2017 . Clippers take first steps to Inglewood arena while keeping options open . June 16, 2017 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  43. News: January 31, 2024 . Clippers' Intuit Dome to showcase California high school basketball jerseys . April 3, 2024 . . Fox Television Stations.
  44. News: Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer is ECSTATIC About the Toilets at Team's New Arena. March 8, 2023. Nick. Selbe. Sports Illustrated.
  45. Web site: LA Clippers' Intuit Dome Halo Board Highlights largest Order Volume In Daktronics History.. June 8, 2022. Daktronics. July 19, 2024.
  46. News: 'It's crazy': How Intuit Dome's Halo Board changes Clipper fans' experience. July 19, 2024. Marissa. Kraus. Los Angeles Times.
  47. Web site: Clippers Unveil New Intuit Dome Video Board with Storm Effect, T-Shirt Cannon, More. July 19, 2024. Julia. Stumbaugh. Bleacher Report. July 19, 2024.
  48. Web site: 15-story hotel planned next to new L.A. Clippers arena in Inglewood. February 13, 2024. Steven. Sharp. Urbanize LA. April 3, 2024.