Clippers’ $400 Million Forum Purchase Paved Way for Inglewood’s Sports Renaissance

In a landmark deal that transformed Inglewood’s sports and entertainment landscape, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer purchased The Forum from Madison Square Garden Company for $400 million in cash, setting in motion the development of what would become the Intuit Dome.

The 2020 acquisition resolved years of litigation with MSG and New York Knicks owner James Dolan, who had repeatedly attempted to block Ballmer’s plans for a new arena in Inglewood. The purchase allowed the Clippers to move forward with their privately funded 18,500-seat arena project adjacent to SoFi Stadium.

“This is an unprecedented time, but we believe in our collective future,” Ballmer said in a statement at the time. “We are committed to our investment in the City of Inglewood, which will be good for the community, the Clippers, and our fans.”

The Forum purchase represented a crucial turning point in Inglewood’s emergence as a premier sports and entertainment destination. Rather than demolishing the historic venue, the Clippers committed to maintaining The Forum as a music venue while developing their new arena nearby, now known as the Intuit Dome.

At the time of purchase, the Clippers aimed to have their new arena ready for the 2024-2025 NBA season, coinciding with the end of their lease at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), which they shared with the Lakers, Kings, and Sparks.

“We are looking forward to putting the legal issues behind us,” the Clippers said in a statement following the acquisition. “This will allow us to focus on delivering world-class experiences for music fans and building a new arena that will provide a unique environment and a true home court advantage for Clippers fans.”

The development of the Intuit Dome, now nearing completion, has created thousands of construction jobs and is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Inglewood residents and businesses. The arena complex includes community spaces, offices, a practice facility, sports medicine clinic, and retail establishments.

Ballmer’s investment in Inglewood, which now totals well over $2 billion including The Forum purchase, SoFi Stadium development, and Intuit Dome construction, has solidified the city’s transformation into one of the nation’s premier sports and entertainment hubs.