INGLEWOOD (Calif.) — Steve Ballmer is spotted in a yellow safety vest and a black construction hard hat standing in a cave area that will house the Intuit Dome’s loading dock.
The area is currently on uneven dirt. LA Clippers The layout is known by the owner. Ballmer visits the construction site every month and points out where the visiting team’s locker rooms will be. He also makes sure to include one detail in the design plans for the Clippers’ new home.
“As you are aware, there are back halls In [Crypto.com Arena that connect locker rooms] Ballmer explains to ESPN that there is no difference between visitors during a late-July tour of Inglewood’s construction site.
“No, that’s not what we want. Let me just say that. Let’s try this. We don’t want back hallways connecting locker rooms.
Sorry, Chris PaulBut the NBA’s richest shareholder isn’t skimming any details about his arena, which will be open for the 2024-25 seasons. It cost $2 billion to fund. Ballmer is the one paying the bill. He will oversee everything that goes into Inglewood’s latest sports palace. It will be located right across the street from the $5B SoFi Stadium.
Ballmer has spent billions of dollars on the Clippers’ future and present. He built an organization that can compete for the title this season. Kawhi Leonard Expected to make a full recovery from an ACL injury. The Clippers don’t want to be just another team competing for the title. They must live and play in a city known for its purple and gold past.
Ballmer is determined to change that. Even if that means placing the Clippers logo onto as much pavement as possible. Connie, his wife, and he celebrated the recent renovations of 350 public basketball courts with the Clippers logo. He is now just a few years away from building the franchise’s first home in Southern California. This futuristic landmark in L.A. will provide every comfort possible in the hopes of developing a home-court advantage.
Ballmer said, “I think it’ll be so cool,” when asked if he ever thought the Clippers would have their own home after sharing a building with the Los Angeles Lakers. It should be. You stated that this was a Laker community. No. [It’s a] Laker-Clipper [town].
“And someday, I want to know Clipper-Laker.” [town].”
Famously, the fist-pumping Ballmer gets so excited about games that he has torn his dress shirt. The Clippers owner, who is so excited about his prize that it is second to none, makes sure he always wears a hardhat.
Ballmer said, “It is another statement that states, ‘Hey! We’re not anybody’s little brother’.” “We are a real team.”
WHEREAS THE CONCRETE Frame foundation is in. One area is where the steel beams rise upwards. This is where you will find a black-and-white sign that marks the location of “The Wall”, one of Ballmer’s favorite features.
Ballmer refers to this as the “wall of sound”, where 51 rows of fans will be filled with 5,000 fans to give the Intuit Dome an “elevator-feel”. The Clippers also brought in sound specialists from The Forum (which Ballmer purchased from Madison Square Garden Company for $400million) to help clear the path to build The Wall. This will enhance acoustics, and give The Wall as much home-court advantage possible.
Ballmer has reviewed digital renderings of The Wall and can now see the wall come to life. The outline of the one baseline is marked in green at the bottom of The Wall. This is where the basketball court should be drawn into the ground.
Ballmer imagines the area he wants to hear and see from the steel beams as he looks up at the steel beams.
Ballmer points up from the baseline, where he will find his courtside seat under a basket. “Look 51 rows straight up. Literally stands all the way here.”
“‘Clips!” Ballmer shouts, his voice getting deeper. “Let’s Go Clips!”
Clippers executives and Ballmer visited at least 16 NBA arenas and venues in Europe. The organization’s members visited places like Utah’s Vivint arena, where the Jazz draw one of the largest crowds in the league. Ballmer attended regular-season and postseason games in Toronto (Scotiabank Arena), Minnesota (Target Center), Dallas (American Airlines Center), Houston (Toyota Center), San Antonio (AT&T Center), Phoenix (Footprint Center), Golden State (Oracle Arena and Chase Center) and Portland (Moda Center), among other places, to see how loud these buildings get and gather details of what makes players, their families and even their agents feel as comfortable as possible.
Ballmer said, “You simply copy ideas.” These guys have a fantastic practice facility. That’s a great idea. These guys have plenty of space. These guys are able to have family spaces. It is vital. We want our players say “Yeah, it’s our house!” … [will have] You can find more information at [rehab] Pool outdoor, because we are here in California.
Ballmer is obsessed about details such as getting fans to the concessions or back to their seats, without missing an inflight moment. He wants his fans to be able choose concession items like they would in their own kitchen. This will allow them to skip the lines and make payments using technology that is designed to simplify the process. Fans will find 199 game clocks around the arena that will let them know when play will resume.
Ballmer tried to make the Clippers the best franchise he could buy since acquiring them for $2 billion in 2014. He hasn’t been able give his team their own place as Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center, is shared with the Lakers and the NHL’s Kings.
The Clippers will have their own arena so they won’t have the frustration of playing at 12:30 p.m. on weekends — which can be frustrating for coaches and players — while the Lakers and Kings play at night.
A team that hopes to win a championship can be affected by such disadvantages. Early starts may draw fewer supporters.
The Clippers will have the best times, but Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts thinks they will also have their own city. Butts laughed when asked about the Clippers’ ability to build their arena in a city full of Lakers fans.
Butts stated that “First of all, it’s not true.” He and Ballmer were celebrating the completion of Intuit Dome’s concrete frame last month. “The Lakers left us [The Forum in Inglewood] They are also in Los Angeles.
“I think there are a lot of Clippers fans. This is the most advanced and best-equipped basketball arena anywhere in the world.
AS THE TOUR As the game winds down, Ballmer starts to walk up a large dirt ramp back to the top. He is then asked about his journey with the Clippers in trying to win a championship.
This year will mark the fourth year of Leonard-Paul George era. The Clippers reached their first ever Western Conference finals in 2020-21. However, injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic have hampered their championship dreams.
Leonard hasn’t played in any game since Game 4 against the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals on June 14, 2021. George missed a significant portion of the 2017-2018 season after an elbow injury. He was limited to playing in 31 games in 2021-22. George was forced to miss the Clippers’ New Orleans play-in by COVID-19 after he returned late in season.
Ballmer stated that the Clippers are one of Las Vegas’ oddsmakers’ favorites to win the championship. “I think we have an excellent team. … We want championships. Kawhi’s death two years ago put us in a position similar to ours. It is difficult without your best player.
Ballmer states, “It is really hard to win a NBA championship.” “But we’ve got one guy who has done it twice. You need one of them.”
Ballmer is also aware that his team needs a home. In a few seasons, that will be his home.
Ballmer can see the future and imagines the possibilities by looking out at the location of the club level.
Ballmer states, “This is our home, man.”