On Friday, September 17th the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers unveiled the plans for their new $1.8 billion dollar stadium in Inglewood California, the Intuit Dome. With Clippers owner Steve Ballmer leading the way, he was joined by Clippers staff, players, and fans during the event. The reason for the new arena? Well, the Clippers currently share Los Angeles’ famed Staples Center with their longtime rivals, the LA Lakers, and they have been since 1984. Not only do the Clippers want their own place, but they also want their own community for their fans. 

Back in 2019, Ballmer first revealed the new arena’s plans, saying that ground would be broken in 2021, and the arena would be opened in 2024. He was correct. The Associated Press’s Tim Reynolds puts it that this new arena “…may be building the coolest possible basketball hangout for [Ballmer] and 18,000 of his closest friends”. 

The new arena is planned to have spacious leg room, many rows, suites with no tv screens and concessions that are said to have you quickly back to the game just like you would be if you went to grab a snack from your fridge at home. Behind the opposing team’s bench, will be “The Wall” which consists of 51 rows of 4700 fans with a space in between for fans to get up and cheer for their team. The team also unveiled the plans for their 44,000 square foot halo video screen in the middle of their arena. All of these plans came from the influence of German soccer stadiums, other current NBA stadiums, and NFL stadiums. 

The Clippers with the resigning of superstar Kawhi Leonard this last summer, and the revival of superstar Paul George from last postseason, are read to revolutionize Clippers basketball in the years to come.