The former home of the Los Angeles Lakers is close to becoming the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. According to ESPN, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is in “advanced talks” with Madison Square Garden Co. about purchasing The Forum in Inglewood.
Ballmer, the billionaire former Microsoft CEO, acquired the Clippers for $2 billion in 2014. The Forum, the venue that was home to the Lakers when they won five championships during their dynasty in the 1980s, is located about a mile away from a parcel of land where Ballmer is hoping to build a new arena for the Clippers.
That project has yet to break ground as MSG Co. has filed multiple lawsuits to stop the arena from being built. By purchasing The Forum, Ballmer would eliminate that problem and, theoretically, construction could take place as planned.
The Clippers hope to start construction by July 2021 and complete the new arena in time for the 2024-25 season, according to The Los Angeles Times.
“The Clippers continue to pursue plans to build a state-of-the-art, 18,000-seat basketball arena and entertainment complex in Inglewood and are currently working with the city to successfully complete the comprehensive Environmental Impact Report,” the team said in a statement. “We are examining every possible way to resolve our differences with Madison Square Garden Co. regarding our new arena.”
Until the new arena is fully constructed, The Forum will continue to operate. For the time being, the Clippers will continue to share the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles with the Lakers and the National Hockey League’s Kings.
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