The new Intuit Dome welcomed basketball fans for the first time on Monday night as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-96 in a preseason game attended by 13,400 fans.
Although the arena has hosted concerts since August, this was the first basketball game in the venue, which cost over $2 billion to build under Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s vision. Fans entered through doors that used facial recognition technology. A double-sided halo board displayed photos, videos, stats, and more.
Previously, the Clippers shared the crypto.com Arena with the Lakers and Kings, but now they have their own space.
“It’s a great feeling to have a place to call home. Guys are very excited about it,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “Our whole organization is excited about it. Tonight our fans get the chance to see a part of it.
You have a chance to have our own place we call home. You can leave your shoes in the locker room and come back tomorrow and they’ll be there. We have our own place and own building and everything is secure.”
Derrick Jones Jr., who joined the Clippers during the offseason, scored 12 points.
“I love it. … The arena is amazing,” Jones Jr. said. “I definitely like it. It’s probably one of the best I’ve ever stepped foot in, and the practice facility, too. I’m glad to be able to play here in the Intuit Dome and be the first team to play here.”
In a segment on “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Ballmer showcased his new building, hoping it will help his NBA team succeed.
“Everything in my instinct says it will help our team, our basketball team, if our crowd team can really get into it and give them energy,” Ballmer mentioned.
He was present at the game, sitting courtside under one of the baskets, similar to where he sat in the previous arena. When Ivica Zubac of the Clippers made a hook shot in the second quarter, Ballmer celebrated with his signature fist pumps and excitement.
As fans arrived at the arena, they discovered an 80,000-square-foot outdoor plaza that features a basketball court open to the public. Patricia Blakemore was excited and jumping when she got to the arena.
“It’s so high tech,” said Blakemore, who lives nearby in Manhattan Beach. “One thing that makes me really happy is that from the moment we parked our car, the staff has been very helpful.”
Eric Swallow, who just bought season tickets, said he became a Clippers fan on Monday. “It’s a new stadium and it’s close to Manhattan Beach,” Swallow said. That was enough for the Clippers to gain a new supporter.
Estelle Talleu and Matteo Decarlini traveled from France to see Los Angeles and attend the game.
“I love basketball, and I wanted to see L.A. and this atmosphere,” Decarlini said. “In France, it’s not the same. There’s nothing like this. This arena is so big.”
Talleu was impressed with the halo board, saying, “It’s amazing.” She was recording lots of videos, as were many fans in the nearly 18,000-seat arena.
There are also many bathrooms, and Ballmer highlighted the 1,400 toilets on “60 Minutes.” There’s a good reason for this.
“I really hate it when people wait in line,” Ballmer told “60 Minutes.” “Waiting in line for toilets stops people from getting back into the game. It makes people frustrated.”
The Intuit Dome is located in a busy area for sports and entertainment. It’s less than a mile from Sofi Stadium, where the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers play, and The Kia Forum, which hosts concerts and used to be home to the Lakers.
The arena is carbon-free and cashless, with all the modern features. Juvenal Martinez, who is 14, attended the game with his uncle. “The arena is good. I like it. I like all the technology and the facial scan to get in,” he said.
There were some issues, though. During the first quarter, the halo board showed the score as 19-19, but it was actually 23-22, which was correct in other parts of the arena. The score was updated within a few minutes.
Ballmer began building the arena in 2021, and it opened in August. It is set to host many major events, including the 2026 All-Star Game and basketball for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“This is beautiful,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “To be able to practice here (Sunday) and have shootaround here, they did an incredible job. I think Clippers fans should be happy. When you look at fan experience, it will be like no other. It will be exciting to be the first visiting team to experience that.”
Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving from the Mavericks, along with the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, did not play.
