The Clippers’ plans to build their own arena could be tied up in court for the foreseeable future, reports Nathan Fenno of The Los Angeles Times.
Owner Steve Ballmer wants to create a new home for the franchise, which currently shares Staples Center with the Lakers and the NHL’s Kings with a lease that runs through 2024. Ballmer has targeted a four-block area in Inglewood as the location for a privately funded arena, team offices, a practice facility, a sports medicine clinic and other ventures.
The project, which undergoing an 18-month environmental impact study, is the subject of a legal battle between Ballmer and Madison Square Garden Co., which owns the nearby Forum. Neither side is commenting publicly on the legal proceedings, but the battle intensified this week when Murphy’s Bowl LLC, which is controlled by the Clippers, countersued MSG.
“The proposed Los Angeles Clippers Arena … is the latest in this series of projects that will reshape Inglewood and benefit its residents for decades,” the countersuit read. “MSG Forum LLC … fearing the competition it would face from a new arena in Inglewood, seeks to stop the Clippers Arena in its tracks.”
The project has attracted opposition since Ballmer reached an exclusive negotiating agreement with the city nearly a year and a half ago. Uplift Inglewood contends the community violated California’s Surplus Land Act by offering to use the area for an arena rather than affordable housing. A group called IRATE has filed a pair of lawsuits claiming the project would violate the state’s Environmental Quality Act.
A quick resolution isn’t expected, but about half of the Clippers’ 36-month negotiating agreement still remains. Ballmer appears resolute in his desire to build a new home for the franchise, and a spokesman for AEG, which owns Staples Center, confirmed that the team hasn’t engaged in any discussions about extending its lease.
Plenty of room in Las Vegas for the Clippers!
Vegas sucks!
Ballmer move them to Seattle already
no more gentrification!!!!!!!
seatle seacliffs?
Sonics are closer and closer!!! Please!!!
Take your stinkin clippers to Seattle that would be fantastic !!!
The Rod
Lakers Fan For Life!!!!
steve is a microsoft guy
I would like to see the Clippers at the Honda Center in Anaheim or in a new arena. The Supply Room is the Lakers and the Kings exclusively.
Ballmer KNOWS Cali isn’t gonna let him build a new arena. This is step two in moving the clippers to Seattle. (Step 1 was buying them).
He could even be funding the opposition groups if that’s the plan. After all the league might want to see attempts to stay before approving a leave.
There’s really no reason for LA to have two teams and NBA hungry cities like Seattle and Las Vegas to be without. If finding a new arena to call your own without a legal battle I don’t see why he wouldn’t just move the franchise and start anew Cali already has 4/30 teams in the NBA losing one to a state without one like Nevada wont hurt that much trust me plus the clippers have always been considered the “other” Los Angeles team make a name for yourself get your own arena and move already!
I like the Clips to stay in Cali, not LA but San Diego, if they move clearly should be Seattle or San Juan… but no way Las Vegas, I wouldn’t like at all a team in there, it just doesn’t feel right.
Serious question: why wouldn’t Vegas be a great spot for an NBA team? There’s a big basketball following there, and the Golden Knights have shown that a team will be supported there.
Vegas, Seattle, and Louisville are my personal favorites for relocation or expansion.
Vegas is an illusion. Not that big of one, as well.