As the Los Angeles Clippers pursue a proposed arena in Inglewood, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is voicing his support for the plan.
The City of Inglewood began an exclusive 36-month negotiating period with Clippers-controlled entity Murphy’s Bowl, LLC in the summer of 2017, with discussions revolving around a privately financed arena and surrounding development on city-owned land along West Century Boulevard. Nothing has been finalized in regards to the proposal, but it has been met with legal challenges from a few entities, including Madison Square Garden Co.–owner of Inglewood’s Forum.
During a press conference before the NBA Finals, Silver voiced his support of the Clippers’ ongoing efforts. He pointed to the scheduling advantages that would come with the franchise having its own arena, as the Clippers are currently part of a busy slate at downtown Los Angeles’s Staples Center that also includes the NBA’s Lakers and NHL’s Kings.
The commissioner did acknowledge the ongoing legal dispute involving the Clippers MSG, noting that is not an ideal situation for the league but that it is currently “existing sort of outside of NBA governance.” More from the Los Angeles Times:
During his annual news conference before the NBA Finals, Silver acknowledged that pending litigation that involves two NBA owners — Steve Ballmer of the Clippers and James Dolan of the Knicks, who is chairman and chief executive of Madison Square Garden — is less than ideal.
“I have talked to Jim Dolan and Steve Ballmer about that lawsuit,” Silver said. “Obviously it’s not something you like to see between partners in the NBA. I don’t think there’s a role for the league at the moment, but it’s something that we’re paying a lot of attention to, and there may be an opportunity at some point for us to help create some sort of reconciliation, but right now it’s existing sort of outside of NBA governance.”
MSG has two lawsuits pending in regards to the Clippers’ project in addition to lawsuits by two other community groups.
The Clippers are pursuing the new arena as they approach the 2024 expiration of their Staples Center lease. In addition to the arena, the franchise’s proposal in Inglewood calls for surrounding development that includes team offices, a medical center, and a practice facility.
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