Clippers owner Steve Ballmer bought the Inglewood Forum as the next step to building and owning a new arena for the franchise in Inglewood. It ends litigation with Madison Square Garden, the company that owned the Forum and owns the Knicks, over a stipulation about selling land near the new stadium development.

Owning a significant relic of Lakers' history is a boss move to those who laugh at the legitimacy Ballmer brings to the Clippers. It’s also one more big middle finger to Lakers fans who continue to tease and overlook the organization as they build the new Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center.

No. There are no immediate plans to demolish the Forum, but that doesn’t mean the owner worth over $50 billion couldn’t if he wanted to. Talk about added value and a cherry on the top.

Ballmer’s move already garnered attention from the Lakers front office long before the purchase was official. They nicknamed him “Ballz” when discussing the rumors around Steve buying the Forum. Even James Worthy recently reacted saying the Clippers owner buying the forum is weird to think about.

Don’t forget Ballmer’s $100 million invested in the City of Inglewood previously as well as his recent gift of $25 million to area’s impacted by COVID-19 including L.A. Still, Ballmer buying the Lakers' old home is his biggest boss move.

Continuing the Process

This latest power move is only more proof Steve Ballmer is building a real business and culture the same way he did around Xbox and Surface.

Microsoft wasn’t built without adversity as they battled more established players like IBM, Sony and Apple with their products. They built good products and married them with perfect audiences and timing. Ballmer is using a similar strategy to help the Clippers battle the Lakers along the same lines and disadvantages.

Ballmer made it his mission to become a successful basketball owner. Since taking over, Ballmer disrupted the logo, stream rights and mascot. He hired on Lee Jenkins and Jerry West for special roles, got Doc Rivers to give up his Front Office spot to focus on coaching, hired Lawrence Frank to run the front office, established a G-league team an hour away in Ontario, traded Blake Griffin and signed Kawhi Leonard.

This manifest destination for a new arena is part of that same disruption. Ballmer is sparing no cost to turn the Clippers into a real sports powerhouse.

Buying the Forum continues the process of making the Clippers a real sports powerhouse. It instills confidence that Ballmer will continue leading this organization towards on and off court success as this project moves forward too.

Cemented in Future L.A.

The Clippers move one step closer towards cementing themselves in the future of Los Angeles with this purchase. These both come into play when the city hosts the Olympics in 2028, even maybe the Super Bowl.

Either way, L.A. is home for two teams from each professional sport. The Clippers will join the Rams, LAFC, Dodgers, Kings (AEG) and Galaxy (AEG) as the area franchises who actually own the places they play their games.  That’s no easy feat in Los Angeles where the property value costs a premium.

Not to mention, Steve Ballmer owns two significant pieces of Los Angeles real estate. The Forum tells the region’s history as it is the place that Showtime built and hung six banners.

The other, will be its own entity entirely. An unprecedented home for Clippers fans from the past and the future. No purple seats, no statues, no third tier games and no Lakers banners or retired jerseys. Instead, a unique basketball only experience embracing the loudness like a college game and equipped with supreme tech including an outdoor viewing experiences.

Of course, the new project isn’t only capitalizing on the resurgence in L.A. The Clippers give back to the community constantly. They donate tickets, refurbish rec centers and courts, donate backpacks and host charity events (I’ve actually been a part of all these events as an inter in 2015).

Ballmer’s lifetime charitable donations are right on par with investment to the Clippers too. The new facility will come fitted with community courts as well.

Thus,  Steve Ballmer is the boss who will continue giving to the future of Los Angeles as the Clippers already are.

Building their Own Lane

Many Lakers fans will never become Clippers fans. Nothing will change 60 years in the city and 16 Championship banners the Lakers hold over the Clippers but the Clippers don’t need Lakers fans to convert to become a ‘thing in Los Angeles.’

Regardless, building an arena and buying the forum wasn’t to go after Lakers fans.  Millions live in Los Angeles and greater Southern California. You’re seeing the Clippers go after those people with their ad campaigns across the region.

The Clippers don't need to own all four million people in the city to pack out an arena with 20,000 loyal fans every night. They just need to keep playing the long-game targeting young people and the greater region. That's who the new arena is for.

Ballmer is after that 10-year-old who saw the Lakers lose to the Clippers over and over the past decade. He’s chasing the four million people in the Inland Empire and extended Southern California region who might watch an Agua Caliente Clippers game in Ontario.

The new arena is for the five-year-old whose favorite player is Kawhi because he just won a ring. It will corner that teen who grew up hooping on a Clippers youth court, who first saw the NBA live with a free Clippers game or who got free merch from the Lob City Era.

Ballmer is targeting the casual basketball fan who goes to Rams or Chargers games in the new stadium. He’s putting the Clippers brand in front of transplants and tourists who go to the new NFL land or attend the Olympics and ponders the Clippers plans.

The Clippers building an arena will provide a home and legitimacy to lifelong fans like me. It puts their brand at the center of sports and entertainment in the No. 2 Media Market. It’s a boss move you love to see as a Clippers fan.

A Foundation for Winning

Yes, the Clippers still need to win a title in their continued quest for legitimacy in Los Angeles.

Still, L.A.C already looked like a contender before the postponement. They were in the race for the West’s second seed and flashed championship glimpses.  Hopefully, they can close out Staples with a banner or two before their lease is up in 2024.

Regardless, the new arena should only help them build a bigger competitive advantage. The Clippers already proved they could sign free agents by getting Kawhi to choose them over the Lakers.

Now, they’ll have their own arena to show off. Not to mention, the new arena could cut the players' commute in half. Commuting from Playa to Inglewood is faster than going east.

The Catalyst

Moreover, winning starts at the top and a Championship culture will come as long as Steve Ballmer keeps investing in long-term fans. His relentless attitude and fat pockets provide a foundation to win and make a mark in Los Angeles. The Forum is the latest proof and the greatest investment but it won’t be the last. The Clippers owner is will do whatever it takes to win.

Once the winning comes, you'll get casual Lakers fans and front-runners supporting the wagon. Los Angeles is known for their fair weather fans anyways, right?

If you build it they will come. Steve is building the groundwork for a Champion, manifesting a home, contributing to the future and owning a piece of Lakers history in the process. Buying the Forum was the essential part of the Clippers quest for legitimacy and the ultimate boss move.

Plus, there’s no telling if the Lakers will play in Staples forever or eventually venture for a new arena. Imagine if they end up paying Ballmer rent in his new arena like the Chargers will pay the Rams in their new stadium? Talk about flipping the script in an ultimate plot twist and chess move. Sounds pretty boss, Steve.