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Clippers Pitch $100M in Benefits as Part of Inglewood Arena Proposal

New L.A. Clippers arena

As they pursue a new arena in the city, the Los Angeles Clippers are proposing an estimated $100 million in benefits for Inglewood, including a substantial commitment toward affordable housing.

Under owner Steve Ballmer, the Clippers are proposing to build a privately financed 18,500-seat arena in Inglewood that would be completed by the 2024-25 NBA season. The venue would anchor The Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center, a 26-acre project located on West Century Boulevard between South Prairie Avenue and South Yukon Avenue that would also include the team’s business and basketball offices, training facility, community and retail spaces.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Clippers are proposing to invest $100 million in community benefits as part of their plans to build the arena. Of that sum, a substantial portion would go toward affordable housing, with youth and education programs, and libraries also receiving some funds. More from the Los Angeles Times:

Such benefits, presented Tuesday at a meeting of Inglewood’s council by city manager Artie Fields, would include “up to $75 million in low-interest loans for the acquisition, preservation, or development of affordable and mixed-income housing in Inglewood,” according to the team. Other proposals include more than $12 million for youth and education programs, up to $6 million toward improvements of its public library and financial assistance for renters and first-time homeowners in the city.

The Clippers say the value of their “community benefit plan” would be the largest connected to the construction or renovation of a stadium or entertainment venue in the state….

Gillian Zucker, the Clippers’ president of business operations, said the specifics of the proposed benefits were reached through discussions with Inglewood residents and city officials.

The developers’ intent is “making sure that there’s a positive benefit of this building,” Zucker said. “Even if you have no interest in basketball, and can’t name our coach or a player and will never come to our game, that you’re still glad the Clippers are in Inglewood.”

Discussions of a new Clippers arena come as the team approaches the 2024 expiration of its lease to downtown Los Angeles’s Staples Center, where it is currently part of a busy slate that includes the NBA’s Lakers and NHL’s Kings. Thus far, there have been a few legal challenges seeking to stop construction of the proposed arena, including a lawsuit from Madison Square Garden Co.–owner of Inglewood’s Forum. Detailed plans on the proposal, including renderings of the arena and surrounding area, were released in July.

Rendering courtesy L.A. Clippers.

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