The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers have been co-tenants in LA since the latter moved there in 1984 from San Diego, California. The Lakers moved to the city 24 years earlier in 1960, so they have almost always had an exclusive stranglehold on fan support in the area. The Lakers and Clippers’ rivalry has taken on a new dimension with the latest Lakers announcement.
Lakers And Clippers Rivalry Takes On A New Dimension
When Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers for $2 billion, many thought he overpaid. That was somewhat valid reasoning at the time. The $2 billion he paid dwarfed the previous $550 million paid for the Milwaukee Bucks earlier that year. Now, the team is worth $4.65 billion. Maybe it was foolish to doubt the business acumen of the Microsoft billionaire.
Desperate to own an NBA franchise, the Clippers somewhat fell into his lap because of the Donald Sterling saga. After acquiring the team in 2014, he immediately set to work to make them the premier team in LA. We have to remember that this was a team that had never even made a conference finals appearance before. They were trying to displace the 16-time (at the time) champion LA Lakers. After acquiring Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in 2019, they finally had the star power to compete against the Lakers, who had just signed LeBron James to a long-term deal. Now that the Clippers matched the Lakers on the court, it was time to take the rivalry to the next frontier.
Intuit Dome
The Clippers had been sharing the Crypto.com Arena (previously known as the Staples Center) all this time with the Lakers. Ballmer further showed his dedication to the Clippers fanbase by investing $2 billion in an arena he said will be the ‘basketball mecca.’ It was officially opened on August 15, 2024. When a media poll was done in 2023, the best NBA arena was given to the iconic Madison Square Garden. In a few years, media members could be singing a new tune with the Intuit Dome.
“We designed what we think will work for fans that are very serious, hardcore basketball fans,” said Ballmer, seated on a folding chair amid the Intuit Dome construction site. “We want people to be in their seats as much as they can because they appreciate the game.”
Intuit Dome is meant to be an immersive and comfortable experience. The Intuit Dome is designed so that fans in any section can quickly dash up the stairs, use one of the nearly 1,200 restrooms (all within a 60-second walk), and grab food or drinks from the easily accessible concession stands. These stands will offer a consistent selection of items, eliminating the need for fans to search for their favorite snacks or beverages. All of these tasks can be completed within the 12-minute NBA halftime break. The venue’s efficient layout is intended to promote a “head-up experience,” minimizing cellphone use. At the center of this concept is the halo board, an expansive video display with 233 million LEDs. It will provide fans with all the information they need about the game and its players.
Crypto.com Announcement
With all the noise going on 10 miles away, one can understand how the management at Crypto.com will feel. Being the premier venue in downtown LA for the last 25 years, that distinction could be in the rearview mirror. This latest announcement from the Lakers comes on the back of the official opening of the Intuit Dome. The Lakers are trying to one-up the Clippers in their rivalry.
As we prepare to celebrate our 25th anniversary, behold https://t.co/mht717xyVs Arena’s stunning new centerpiece! The 5,500-square-foot, six-display configuration features 41.7 million pixels and will bring fans even closer to the action. @Lakers @LAKings @LASparks pic.twitter.com/ZNf1gxTqsp
— Crypto.com Arena (@cryptocomarena) August 15, 2024
“We’re elated to unveil a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard with crisp, clear graphics and imagery for our fans to enjoy at Lakers, Kings, and LA Sparks games, as well as other live events inside Crypto.com Arena,” Lee Zeidman, president of Crypto.com Arena, revealed in a statement. “As the arena celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024, working with Daktronics to showcase this spectacular centerpiece, which will bring our guests even closer to the action, complements the numerous additional upgrades and technological advances within this historic venue.”
The scoreboard includes new technology to propel the level of fan entertainment. Installation began on August 1 with a crew of more than 60 workers. They worked nonstop to meet the quick deadline of August 14. Given the arena’s busy schedule, the task was even more challenging to complete.
The Last Word
Eventually, the Lakers will need to come to terms with the fact that, despite any minor adjustments or improvements they make, the Clippers’ new arena far surpasses the 25-year-old venue in downtown Los Angeles. The landscape is shifting, and the Lakers are lagging behind the Clippers in their rivalry in this aspect. Still, the Clippers have a long way to go if they want to usurp the Lakers as the premier team in LA.
