Kia Forum Fast Facts
When Was Kia Forum Built?
The Kia Forum was built in 1967 by Jack Kent Cooke, who owned both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings. Cooke commissioned architect Charles Luckman to design a purpose-built arena for his teams after the Lakers had been playing at the outdated Sports Arena in South Los Angeles. Construction cost approximately $16 million, entirely privately financed.
The arena opened on December 30, 1967, with a Lakers game against the San Diego Rockets. Cooke named it simply "The Forum" after the ancient Roman gathering place. It quickly earned the nickname The Fabulous Forum as it became the premier sports and entertainment venue in Los Angeles.
The circular design was intentional: Luckman wanted every seat to have a direct sightline to the floor. At 17,500 seats, it was smaller than many competing arenas but offered better sightlines and acoustics than the venues it replaced. The circular bowl remains essentially unchanged today, which is a primary reason the acoustics are still among the best of any major venue in Los Angeles.
The Great Western Forum and the Showtime Lakers
In 1988, Great Western Bank signed a naming rights deal and the arena became the Great Western Forum. The name change coincided with the peak of the Showtime Lakers: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and coach Pat Riley. The Lakers won back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988, and five total during the 1980s, all played at this arena.
The Forum also hosted some of the biggest concerts of the era. Michael Jackson, Prince, the Rolling Stones, and U2 all played multiple nights here during the 1970s and 1980s. The venue became synonymous with Los Angeles entertainment culture: athletes and celebrities sitting courtside, the Forum Club (the arena's exclusive restaurant), and the electric atmosphere of Showtime basketball.
The Kings also reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993 while playing at the Great Western Forum, losing to the Montreal Canadiens. It was the closest the arena came to hosting a hockey championship.
After the Lakers Left (1999 to 2014)
Staples Center opened downtown in October 1999. Both the Lakers and the Kings relocated. The Great Western Bank naming deal expired and the arena reverted to simply The Forum. Without anchor sports tenants, the venue operated primarily as a concert hall and faced an uncertain future.
Various sale attempts and redevelopment proposals emerged over the 2000s, including plans to convert the site into a retail center or church campus. The building stayed intact but was underutilized. The circular bowl that had hosted Lakers championships sat largely empty compared to its earlier prominence.
In 2012, Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) acquired The Forum for $23.5 million from the Cooke estate. MSG saw an opportunity to convert the venue into a dedicated, world-class concert arena close to LAX. The $100 million renovation followed, and the results transformed the building back into a premier destination.
The $100 Million MSG Renovation
MSG's renovation ran from 2012 to 2014 and invested $100 million into the building. The work preserved the original circular bowl while updating every modern component: a new state-of-the-art sound system engineered specifically for the circular room, new seating throughout all levels, premium suites and hospitality areas, upgraded LED lighting and production rigging, and modernized concourses and entry points.
The renovated Forum reopened on January 15, 2014 with a sold-out Eagles concert. Within months, it had booked some of the biggest tours of that year. The venue's reputation as one of the best-sounding rooms in the country was reestablished almost immediately. Artists noted that the circular design creates a natural acoustic environment that purpose-built rectangular arenas cannot replicate.
In 2020, Steve Ballmer, owner of the LA Clippers, acquired The Forum from MSG for approximately $400 million. The purchase coincided with Ballmer's development of Intuit Dome, which opened in 2024 as the Clippers' new arena. In 2021, Kia Motors signed naming rights and the venue became the Kia Forum. Today it operates as Inglewood's dedicated concert and events arena.
Kia Forum Timeline
The Forum opens on December 30 with a Lakers game against San Diego. Built by Jack Kent Cooke for $16 million. Designed by Charles Luckman Associates. Seats approximately 17,500.
The Forum earns the nickname "The Fabulous Forum." The Showtime Lakers era begins to take shape under Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Kings play all home games here through this decade.
Magic Johnson leads the Showtime Lakers to five NBA championships at The Forum (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). The Lakers are one of the dominant teams in NBA history during this era.
Great Western Bank signs a naming rights deal. The arena becomes the Great Western Forum. The Lakers win back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988, the last titles won at this building.
Staples Center opens in downtown Los Angeles. The Lakers and Kings both relocate. The Great Western Forum loses its anchor tenants and reverts to "The Forum." Great Western's naming deal expires.
The Forum continues operating with concerts, boxing matches, and events but without a major sports tenant. Various sale and redevelopment proposals are floated over the decade.
Madison Square Garden Company acquires The Forum from the Cooke estate for $23.5 million. MSG announces plans for a comprehensive renovation to restore it as a premier concert venue.
The $100 million renovation completes. The Forum reopens on January 15, 2014 with a sold-out Eagles concert. New sound system, seating, suites, and LED lighting. Major tours return immediately.
Steve Ballmer, owner of the LA Clippers, acquires The Forum from MSG for approximately $400 million. The purchase coincides with Ballmer's plans to build Intuit Dome in nearby Inglewood.
Kia Motors signs naming rights. The venue officially becomes "Kia Forum." Intuit Dome breaks ground nearby. Kia Forum continues as a dedicated concert and events venue.
Intuit Dome opens as the new home of the LA Clippers. Kia Forum operates fully as a concert and entertainment venue, no longer connected to NBA basketball.