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Report: Los Angeles Clippers Considering Inglewood Arena

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer could be eyeing Inglewood as a possible location for a new arena, according to the Los Angeles Times.

On Friday, the Times reported that representatives of Ballmer and Stan Kroenke–the owner of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams–have engaged in discussions about developing an NBA arena near the home of a future football stadium.

The potential for a new Inglewood arena comes with some intrigue. The football stadium, which is slated to open for the Rams and Chargers in 2019, is expected to be a part of a larger entertainment complex. With the stadium serving as an anchor, the area is already slated to host several major events–including Super Bowl LV in 2021–and is seen as a major component in Los Angeles’ push for the 2024 Olympics.

However, some uncertainties will have to be ironed out. For one thing, it remains to be seen how a new arena would affect the nearby Forum, which would have to coexist in the Los Angeles market with a Clippers venue and the Staples Center. In addition, Ballmer and the Clippers will have to clear some hurdles. More from The Los Angeles Times:

It’s believed that Ballmer would not want to be a tenant and therefore would need to own the arena land. But Kroenke isn’t known for selling what he acquires. If Ballmer relied on common parking, an arena wouldn’t require a large footprint; Staples Center occupies 10 acres.

The site isn’t entitled for a basketball arena, however, 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.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. wasn’t aware of the discussions between Ballmer’s and Kroenke’s representatives.

“Any change they make would have to be rezoned through the city,” Butts said. “Those would be pretty significant changes.”

The process could take time to play out. The Times reported that Inglewood is one of several options being evaluated by the Clippers, who lease at the Staples Center runs through 2024.

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