The Intuit Dome is the best in the buisness
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers’ new home is the most advanced arena in the NBA, rivaling top NFL stadiums like their neighbor, SoFi Stadium, and the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The amount of thought, time, and resources that Steve Ballmer and his team put into the project will make the Inuit Dome a checklist designation.
As fans begin their journey into the dome, they are guided by pieces from locally based artists that make the location feel bigger and more unique than a typical arena. A Los Angeles dream team of Refik Anadol, Glenn Kaino, Patrick Martinez, Michael Massenburg, Kyungmi Shin, and Jennifer Steinkamp was assembled to pull off the artwork.
The Los Angeles Clippers unveiled the inside of the Intuit Dome on Friday, July 19, 2024. The Intuit Dome is the new home to the NBA franchise. Photo credit: Melinda Meijer for News4usonline
“Art and sport are better live in real-time, and they have the power to create bonds and connections and empathy in ways that others don’t,” said Kaino. “I do believe that there is a strong connectivity between art and sports in the ability of both venues to bring wide audiences together to have conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen.”
Photo credit: Melinda Meijer for News4usonline
The work of each artist contrasts the other pieces in a way that will keep viewers’ heads on a swivel as they try to take it all in. The diverse collection of art makes it hard to pick a standout, as they are all stars in their own right.
Once inside, after walking through the 80,000-square-foot plaza, fans will notice high school jerseys from every team in Califonia lining the hallway walls. After making their way to their seat, the real fun begins.
The Intuit Dome features a bowl design that brings everyone closer to the action, no matter where one sits. There truly is no bad seat in the house, and even fans who purchase the cheapest tickets will be satisfied with the view.
There are 51 consecutive rows of seats hovering over the far baseline, making up “The Wall,” which is said to be reserved exclusively for home fans. The Wall is advertised as a standing-only section for the most passionate and energetic Clippers fans, designed to enhance the team’s home-court advantage.
“I think the wall will be really unique within the NBA. I think the comfort of the seats and the clarity of the sight lines will create an unbelievable fan experience, but when I sit back and ask myself what people will be talking about when they pull onto the 405 to drive home, it very well may be the size, shape, and capability of this board,” said Gillian Zucker, Clippers’ president of business operations.
The Intuit Dome does not feature a typical jumbotron. Instead, Ballmer opted for a 38,375-square-foot, 233 million LED Halo Board. The Halo wraps around the entirety of the rafters and looks like it is straight out of a fantasy. It takes the arena from state-of-the-art to an entirely new tier.
“At first, I said this is weird, and then it sort of grew on me; I asked a little bit about what it costs, I was getting my mind around it, and then I said, make it bigger!” said Ballmer.
Pictures and videos do not do the Halo any justice. It is something that has to be experienced in person to get the full effect, and there is no doubt people will fill the arena just to get a glimpse of it.
“Something like this, you could say, is just supposed to be impressive, like some artwork. I didn’t want that,” said Ballmer. “I wanted to make sure the thing was totally functional, that it really added to the game, and that it was not just an art object if you will. It had to be something that would really enhance the game for us.”
After 25 years of playing at Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena, the Clippers have their own home. Crypto always felt like it was owned by the Lakers, and now the Clippers can create their own identity inside of a building they can certainly be proud of.
“Just knowing that we have our own space, kinda building our own aura, is definitely a dope situation to be in as a player instead of sharing with that other team on the other side of town,” said Terance Mann.
Mann’s favorite part of the new location is the practice and training area, where he said he will spend most of his time. The media has not seen that part of the facility yet, but based on the rest of the Intuit Dome, it is likely first-class.
Mann will be asked to fill a larger role this upcoming season with the departure of two future Hall of Fame players, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.