Reps for Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer and Rams Owner Stan Kroenke have had "multiple discussions about the Clippers joining the Rams and Chargers in the sports and entertainment district Kroenke is building in Inglewood," according to Fenno & Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. Sources said that an arena "could either be on the 298-acre site or an adjacent parcel." Either way, an arena would "drive traffic to the planned mixed-use development and share parking" with the $2.6B football stadium scheduled to open in '19. While the Clippers’ lease at Staples Center runs through '24, Ballmer "hasn’t hidden the desire for an arena of his own." Inglewood is one of "multiple sites the Clippers are exploring in a process that started more than a year ago." It is believed that Ballmer "would not want to be a tenant and therefore would need to own the arena land." The site "isn’t entitled for a basketball arena ... though the city of Inglewood fast-tracked a ballot initiative in 2015 to move forward with the stadium project without putting it to a public vote or being saddled with time-consuming environmental reviews." A new arena would be a "direct competitor to the neighboring Forum." One source said that said the Forum "would be 'protected' as part of an agreement if a competing venue were to be built." Fenno & Farmer noted a "Clippers-only arena, going head-to-head with the Lakers at Staples Center, could have a difficult time selling suites, club seats and other premium products" (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).
