Intuit Dome Fast Facts
When Was Intuit Dome Built?
Construction on Intuit Dome broke ground in 2021 within the Hollywood Park development in Inglewood, adjacent to SoFi Stadium. The project took approximately three years to complete. The arena opened on August 15, 2024 with an NBA preseason game between the Clippers and the Denver Nuggets — the first event in a building that cost around $2 billion to construct.
The arena was designed by AECOM, one of the leading sports architecture firms in the world, and built by Turner Construction. A key design challenge was the arena's proximity to LAX flight paths: FAA regulations required significant underground infrastructure to keep the roofline below a certain height, which added to the total construction cost.
Unlike most modern arenas, the Intuit Dome was designed and built without a secondary tenant. Every decision — from The Wall fan section to the Halo Board scoreboard configuration to the locker room layout — was made exclusively with the Clippers in mind. This is unique in NBA arena history.
The $2 Billion Decision
Steve Ballmer bought the LA Clippers in 2014 for $2 billion, then the largest purchase price in NBA history, in a forced sale from Donald Sterling following a recorded racism scandal. Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft and one of the wealthiest people in the world, treated the acquisition as both a sports investment and a long-term infrastructure project.
From the beginning, Ballmer made clear he wanted the Clippers out of Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). The Clippers had been the building's secondary tenant since 1999, always second to the Lakers in scheduling priority, naming rights, and institutional identity. Ballmer's vision was an arena where the Clippers came first — and last, and only.
In 2020, Ballmer also acquired the Kia Forum (then The Forum) from Madison Square Garden for approximately $400 million. The purchase gave him control over the primary competing concert venue in Inglewood and removed a potential scheduling conflict for events. Together with the Intuit Dome project, it positioned Ballmer as the dominant force in Inglewood entertainment.
25 Years Sharing Staples Center
The Clippers moved to Staples Center in 1999, the same year the Lakers arrived. Both teams played there simultaneously for 25 years, creating an unusual arrangement where Los Angeles had two NBA teams in the same building. The Lakers, with their championship history and larger fanbase, naturally dominated the building's identity throughout that period.
The Clippers played their last game at Staples Center (renamed Crypto.com Arena in 2021) in April 2024. The team finished the final season of a 25-year tenancy and moved to Inglewood for the 2024-25 season.
Before Staples Center, the Clippers had an even more nomadic history: founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, relocated to San Diego in 1978, then moved to Los Angeles in 1984 where they played at the Sports Arena for 15 years. The Intuit Dome is the first arena the franchise has ever called its own.
Why Is It Called Intuit Dome?
Intuit is the financial technology company behind TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma. The company signed a naming rights deal with the Clippers in 2021, before construction was complete. The deal is one of the largest arena naming rights agreements in NBA history, though the exact financial terms were not publicly disclosed.
Before the Intuit deal was finalized, the arena was referred to publicly as “The Clippers Arena” or informally as “The Dome.” The Intuit name connects a major Southern California tech employer — Intuit is headquartered in Mountain View but has major offices in San Diego — to Los Angeles sports culture.
The naming rights deal runs for 23 years according to reports at the time of signing. That would keep the Intuit name on the building through approximately 2044.
Intuit Dome Timeline
The San Diego Clippers relocate to Los Angeles and begin sharing the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The team spends 15 years in the shadow of the Lakers at inferior facilities.
The Clippers move to Staples Center alongside the Lakers. The sharing arrangement gives the Lakers priority on scheduling and building identity. The Clippers play as the building's secondary tenant for the next 25 years.
Steve Ballmer acquires the LA Clippers from Donald Sterling for $2 billion, then the largest sale price in NBA history. Ballmer immediately states his intention to build a dedicated arena for the team.
The Clippers officially announce plans for a new arena in Inglewood, adjacent to the under-construction SoFi Stadium. The Hollywood Park development provides the land. The arena is projected to cost $1.8 billion.
Steve Ballmer acquires the Kia Forum (then The Forum) from Madison Square Garden for approximately $400 million, in part to control the competitive entertainment landscape in Inglewood.
Ground breaks on the Intuit Dome project. Intuit (TurboTax, QuickBooks) signs the naming rights deal. Turner Construction begins work on the arena's foundation, requiring extensive underground infrastructure due to LAX flight path regulations.
Construction progresses on the main arena bowl. The distinctive circular steel skeleton of the Halo Board ring becomes visible above the construction site. The Wall fan section framing takes shape behind the north basket.
Interior construction accelerates. The Halo Board — a 360-degree LED ring scoreboard unlike anything in the NBA — is installed. Seat installation begins. The arena's total cost revises upward to approximately $2 billion.
Intuit Dome opens August 15 with a preseason game against the Nuggets. Regular season begins in October. The arena becomes the first purpose-built arena in NBA history designed without a secondary tenant.