It turns out the LA Clippers were serious about getting their own place and leaving the Staples Center in the sole possession of the Los Angeles Lakers. The franchise detailed the plans for building their own arena on Friday, revealing that their new home will be called the Intuit Dome.
The name of the arena reflects the partnership of the team and technology company Inuit. The two sides also agreed to a 23-year strategic partnership as part of the deal.
The arena will be located in Inglewood, California, and is expected to be finished by 2024. This would allow the Clippers to play the 2024-25 NBA season in the Intuit Dome.
According to the Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, the team’s new home, which will cost around $2 billion, will allow the franchise to connect with their fan base and build their own identity.
“We’re good now, and we’re going to be a good year in and year out,” Ballmer told ESPN. “We’re going to build our own building, more of our own identity, more of our own personality. And I think some of the fans on the other side if you will, it’s like, ‘What? You dare to question our supremacy?’ No, we do.”
The Clippers moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and initially played in Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Due to bad conditions, the franchise considered moving to Anaheim but settled to join the Lakers and the LA Kings in the Staples Center in 1999.
Since moving to Staples, the Clippers had 11 winning seasons and made the playoffs 10 times with six Western Conference Semifinals appearances.
