Intuit Dome, Home of the Los Angeles Clippers
Background
I have been lucky enough to have seen a Clippers and Lakers home game when both teams played at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Although they used to play in the same arena, the experiences could not be further apart from each other. Imagine two scenarios: one has the lights dimmed, the celebrities are in attendance, and the game has the soundtrack played by an organist. The other scenario: bright lights, worse team, and lack of enthusiasm in comparison. Coming from the opinion of a neutral fan, a change was necessary.
History
In 2017, the dome was announced as a possibility. Multiple lawsuits later and various government issues, combined with a pandemic, it was a long struggle to get this Stadium off the ground. Finally in 2020, Steve Ballmer, the Clippers owner, made this idea possible.
As a casual fan, I was very excited about the idea of a separate arena. I have always gravitated towards new stadiums in any sport. Between the updated concourses, restrooms, and organization throughout, new stadiums tend to feel like a better experience for me. Steve Ballmer is also a very enthusiastic individual. The arena started to gain attention from non-clippers fans from his passion for the amount of toilets in the arena. According to the arena statistics, there are over 1,100 toilets and urinals at Intuit Dome. This is three times the league average for the NBA. This is a funny and unique statistic that Ballmer constantly promoted that I truly have to emphasize for this post.
In addition to the toilets, the arena has a scoreboard similar to SoFi Stadium, located across the street. These circular scoreboards create an immersive experience for the fan. Most arenas typically have the basic scoreboard above center court. For a basketball game, I feel that your attention typically gets directed to center court. Because of this, you tend to not want the distraction of the scoreboard in your view.
Intuit Dome Parking
I have visited many arenas and stadiums in my life. One area that can be a detriment to the fan experience is getting in and out of the stadium. While I need to preface that this is not a cheap lot, the West Garage is one of the more seamless parking situations for a stadium that I have been to.
Highlights of the garage:
- Organized. For any big event that you park in a garage at, getting in can be a very time consuming process. When you get into this garage, they have it organized in a way that people take a different path to various floors of the garage.
- Bright. This garage is very well lit. Getting to and from your car is easy with how bright the garage is, while having specific labeled locations.
- Helpful. At some sporting events that have garage parking, it can feel very isolated. As you approach the West garage, there is a team of people there to help you park and navigate your way to the arena.
- Accessible. My favorite part of this garage is the illuminated pedestrian bridge. The skybridge connects you from the garage to the promenade that is right in front of the Intuit Dome. From start to finish, it really adds to the experience.
- Departure. This might be the most essential function of the garage in that the time it takes to leave is shockingly fast. I have been on high floors of garages for concerts before and it has sometimes taken close to an hour to exit. For as big of an event as this was, it could not have gone any quicker
The Garage address is: 10117 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90304
Cell Phone Entry
Technology powers the Intuit Dome in almost every way possible. It is integrated into every avenue within the dome, that includes getting in.
This is not your typical arena experience. Upon arrival, it is required to have what they call an “Identity Pass” that allows you to scan in, which is separate from your actual ticket. I did not research if there was a way around this, but as far as I knew, this was the only method of entry. Keep this in mind before you go the arena. For more information, click the link below.
Here is the link to: Know Before You Go
The Wall
Leading up to this game, I was infatuated not with the toilets, but The Wall. In constructing the dome, Ballmer was keen on creating an atmosphere that rivaled a college basketball game. It can be tough to generate that level of enthusiasm at a professional level. While it would never be able to mirror what a college game can, it is pretty close.
To give background, “The Wall” is one side of the arena that has no boxes, just 51 straight rows up. Fans have unique signs and yell throughout the game in this section. I believe they also have discounted seats, so if you are looking for a cheap ticket to a game, I would start looking here for seats. It is really something you have to see with your own eyes.
Concessions
Based on where my seats were located, I did not venture to scout out the concessions throughout the stadium. As I passed through the sections, one commonality throughout the arena is that waiting is something you never have to think about. Intuit Dome prides itself on being an arena that does not take time away from the event.
If you are able to, I highly recommend sitting in a section that has lounge access. This is where I sat for the game. There is something special about exiting the ramp into the atmosphere at eye level. At halftime, everyone from these sections descend upon the club and there are plenty of grab and go options, with lounge-esque seating. It is truly an experience.
Closing Thoughts
Watching a Los Angeles Clippers game at Intuit Dome is an incredible experience. Initially, I had no idea what to expect. From the videos of the wall to the rounded scoreboard, a lot of hype was built before I even stepped foot inside. As someone who has been to many arenas for NBA and NHL games, most locations tend to run together, even the newer ones. The Intuit Dome is the first time I have been to a new arena and thought this is something that I have never experienced before.
If you are a fan of the NBA, I would recommend finding a game to see here. Regardless of where your seat is, it is an immersive experience that will have you wanting to come back.
