The Intuit Dome, the new arena 20 minutes away from campus in Inglewood, will be the new home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Photo Courtesy of SportsTravelMagazine.com
By Taylor Ogata, Staff Reporter
The new arena for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association in nearby Inglewood will be completed in the near future. California State University, Dominguez Hills basketball fans and athletes look forward to its opening and first event.
“If we have time, and it’s on a good day, I would definitely go out to see [the Clippers] play the [Phoenix] Suns,” said Colten Kresl, a guard from Scottsdale, Ariz. on the men’s team.
The arena will be called Intuit Dome, as the sponsor company better known for making the popular tax filing software, TurboTax. The new sports complex will be in the same vicinity of SoFi Stadium (LA Rams and Chargers) and the Forum. The arena is said to be part of a gentrification project for the city of Inglewood, according to multiple sources.
Gentrification generally means to redevelop areas with bad reputation. The neighborhood of Inglewood where SoFi Stadium and the future Intuit Dome currently stands, ranks seventeenth out of 100 on the United States’ crime index (a rank where 100 is the safest), according to NeighborhoodScout.com stats.
According to Intuit Chief Executive Officer, Sasan Goodarzi, “Intuit and the Clippers have a history of supporting local communities, and we look forward to helping the Inglewood community thrive. Intuit and the Clippers are mission-driven organizations that share the common goal of putting their customers and fans first.”
The Clippers have played at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles since it opened in October 1999. They currently share it with the rival Lakers, who, at the same time, moved in from the Forum, which is in close proximity to the site of Intuit Dome.
Inglewood has a history of being high in crime and gang violence, but with the construction of SoFi Stadium and now the Intuit Dome, it’s becoming a better place to live.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Andre Ball, another player on the men’s basketball team. “The Lakers put in a lot of work for Staples Center, so for the Clippers, they get a fresh start at a new stadium.”
The corporate sponsor, Intuit, who makes the popular tax filing software, TurboTax, was said to be an excellent sponsor for the Clippers and their new arena.
A quote on the Clippers’ website from chairman Steve Ballmer said, “When we began the search for a partner for the Clippers and our new dome, we looked for one that shares our passion for technology, the pursuit of innovation and our commitment to customers, fans and community.”
According to a project fact sheet, Intuit Dome will dedicate $100 million to Inglewood causes and infrastructure, the largest community benefits package ever associated with an arena. It is also said to generate $260 million per year in economic activity in Inglewood.
Also, over the next three years, Intuit will donate $1 million to Los Angeles schools.
With the city’s economy going up and down over the years, this could be a great investment to better neighborhoods around the stadium and to help youth across the Los Angeles area.
