On Thursday, August 15, the Los Angeles Clippers’ new home, Intuit Dome, hosted its grand opening. The new mega stadium in Inglewood, California, allowed the NBA franchise to have its own venue for the first time in 25 years. The Intuit Dome’s opening marked the end of sharing a basketball arena with the Lakers.
In 1999, the Clippers joined the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL team) at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles. In November 2021, Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com acquired the naming rights to the Staples Center, renaming it to Crypto.com Arena in 2021.
The new home of the LA Clippers is about a mile and a half away from the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers’ home venue, SoFi Stadium. Read on to learn about the Clippers home stadium, Intuit Dome.
Also Read: How 3*3 Basketball Is Different from Regular Basketball?
Why Is It Called The Intuit Dome?
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wanted to build a “basketball palazzo” for his NBA team. At the same time, California-based financial software company Intuit signed a 23-year naming rights deal for at least $500 million. The former Microsoft CEO’s new stadium was named Intuit Dome, which cost around $2 billion.
Ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ballmer said in his speech, “This is the product where I had the most clear view of what we should do.” As one of the richest men in the world, he kept his word and delivered the Clippers their own arena.
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What Is The Capacity Of Clippers’ New Stadium?
The Intuit Dome is built on 26 acres of land with a full-acre massive Halo board. The stadium has around 18,000 seats and will house the first-ever franchise’s flagship store. The huge arena also incorporates an outdoor plaza with a community basketball court, over 1,100 toilets, and urinals.
What Was The First Event At Intuit Dome?
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Intuit Dome took place on August 15, 2024. The stadium is meant for sports, concerts, and events. Popular singer Bruno Mars opened the venue with a concert and performed the world premiere of their new duet, ‘Die With a Smile,’ with Lada Gaga.
After Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo also performed at the Intuit Dome. Later in the month, Twenty One Pilots will perform at the arena during ‘The Clancy World Tour.’
Who Will The Clippers Face In Opening Game at the New Venue?
The 2024-25 NBA regular season will commence on October 22, while the Clippers will open their season on the next day against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s Phoenix Suns. Kawhi Leonard and Co. will take on the Suns in the first NBA game at the Intuit Dome.
After their season opener, the Clippers are scheduled to play two road games. Following that, Tyronn Lue’s team will host five back-to-back games at the new venue, facing Portland, Phoenix, Oklahoma, San Antonio, and Philadelphia, respectively.
What Big Games Will Be Hosted At Intuit Dome?
The newly built stadium will open in the 2024-25 season. In 2026, the Clippers’ new arena will host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on February 15. In addition to the NBA games, the arena will be part of the Olympics.
In the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Intuit Dome will serve as a basketball venue. The arena will also host several concerts and other entertainment events besides basketball.
Also Read: NBA 2024-25 Schedule: Teams With Most Back-to-Back Games
