The Los Angeles Clippers are finally getting their own place.
After sharing the Staples Center with their big brother, the Los Angeles Lakers, since 1999, they will have a stadium to call their own.
Inglewood, a city just southwest of Los Angeles, and the Clippers entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement back in June of 2017.
This agreement is for the team to build a privately funded 18,000-seat arena to be open by 2024.
Last Friday, September 17, the team unveiled the first renditions of the new arena.
Introducing the @IntuitDome.
Future home of the LA Clippers.— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 17, 2021
Expected to cost up to $2 billion, the venue will include a practice facility, sports medicine clinic, team offices, retail space, and an outdoor plaza with basketball courts that will be open to the public.
Intuit bought the naming rights to the stadium for the next 23 years for $500 million.
The Intuit Dome will be the home of the Los Angeles Clippers starting in 2024.
Clippers Stepping Out Of Lakers Shadow
Having their own stadium is a big step for the Clippers.
Los Angeles has always been a Laker town with the Clippers playing second fiddle.
They did not receive top priority at the Staples Center for scheduling.
With the Intuit Dome, the Clippers will be able to build a schedule as they would like it.
No longer will they need to compete with the Lakers, LA Kings of the NHL, or the LA Sparks of the WNBA.
A new arena will allow the Clippers to form their own identity, one that isn’t tied to the historic Lakers franchise.
Kawhi Leonard showed that the Clippers can be a high-profile free agency destination for stars.
Having a space that does not need to be shared with a rival team should only better their appeal.
If the Lakers and Clippers do meet in the playoffs, the Clippers will finally have a home-court advantage.
Better The Community
Owner Steve Ballmer hopes this groundbreaking arena will better the local Inglewood community.
The new home of the LA Clippers:
The Intuit Dome 🏟
The Clippers have agreed to a 23-year naming rights deal with software company Intuit worth over $500 million, per @cnbc.
The $1.2 billion, 18,000-seat arena is scheduled to open in Inglewood in 2024. pic.twitter.com/6hcrtktFEd
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 17, 2021
He predicts the new stadium will generate $260 million in annual economic activity for Inglewood.
Part of that number is $100 million in new tax revenue that will be used to improve local parks, libraries, and police and fire services.
The franchise plans to use the outdoor plaza and basketball courts to host community and charity events.
The team also has pledged to donate $100 million for community benefits.
This will include investments in after-school programs, senior services, and affordable housing.
Intuit Dome will help give the Clippers their own identity and should hopefully help the local community grow.
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