Features
Inglewood’s Clippers Arena Faces Obstacles
The Inglewood, Calif., City Council is facing opposition after unanimously voting to re-approve a deal that could bring a new arena for the NBA’s Clippers.
Mark J. Terrill/AP, file – L.A. Clippers
Forward Blake Griffin shoots as Washington Wizards center Ian Mahinmi, left, of France, guard Bradley Beal, second from right, and forward Otto Porter Jr. defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles.
A hearing was held July 21 to discuss potential problems with an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Clippers-controlled Murphy’s Bowl LLC that the city approved in June, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Madison Square Garden Co., owner of the
The agreement would allow Inglewood to use eminent domain to acquire private property for the project.
Some Inglewood citizens are not happy with the agreement either.
More than 40 residents attended the hearing to protest the deal. Many fear a new arena would accelerate the rising cost of housing.
Randy James, a public relations representative for the Forum, told the paper that the area in the agreement contains homes, apartments and business.
“While the parcels of lands that the city owns may be vacant, those vacant parcels comprise just a fraction of the total area,” James told the Times. “There is no question that residents would need to be displaced within this area.”
“The City Council’s first responsibility is to ensure continues progress of the city,” he told the paper. “No one is being displaced with the sales of these parcels.”
The arena would be across from the new Rams stadium, which is currently under construction, and would seat between 18,000 and 20,000 fans. The negotiating agreement between the city and Murphy’s Bowl would last 36 months, with the possibility of a six-month extension.