Great Western Forum
Generated by DeepSeek V3.2Expansion Funnel Raw 54 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
| Great Western Forum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Great Western Forum |
| Location | Inglewood, California, United States |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | December 30, 1967 |
| Closed | December 30, 2021 |
| Owner | Madison Square Garden Company (1999–2021) |
| Operator | Los Angeles Lakers (1967–1999) |
| Construction cost | $16 million |
| Architect | Charles Luckman |
| Former names | The Forum (1967–1988, 2003–2021) |
| Tenants | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) (1967–1999), Los Angeles Kings (NHL) (1967–1999), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) (1997–2001), Los Angeles Lazers (MISL) (1982–1989) |
| Seating capacity | Basketball: 17,505, Ice hockey: 16,005, Concerts: 18,000 |
Great Western Forum. Often referred to simply as "The Forum," it was a major indoor sports and entertainment arena located in Inglewood, California. For over three decades, it served as the celebrated home of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL, becoming an iconic venue during their championship eras. Its distinctive circular design and vibrant history made it a landmark in Southern California and a premier destination for concerts, sporting events, and cultural gatherings until its closure.
History
The arena was conceived by Jack Kent Cooke, the flamboyant owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and the expansion Los Angeles Kings, to provide a modern home for his franchises. Designed by architect Charles Luckman, construction began in 1966 on land adjacent to the Hollywood Park Racetrack. It opened on December 30, 1967, with a Grateful Dead concert followed by a Lakers game. In 1988, a naming rights deal was secured with Great Western Bank, leading to the "Great Western Forum" moniker until 2003. Following Cooke's sale of his teams and the arena, it was purchased by the Madison Square Garden Company in 1999, the same year the Lakers and Kings departed for the new Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
Architecture and features
The Forum's most recognizable architectural feature was its sweeping circular roofline, a design by Charles Luckman that earned it the nickname "The Fabulous Forum." Its exterior was clad in white ceramic tiles, giving it a sleek, modern appearance. The interior was famously intimate for a major arena, with steeply pitched seating that brought spectators close to the action. A signature element was its distinctive purple and gold color scheme, matching the Los Angeles Lakers' team colors, which adorned the seats, carpets, and interior fixtures. The arena's acoustics were highly regarded, making it a favorite venue for major concert tours by artists like The Rolling Stones, Prince, and Madonna.
Notable events
Beyond hosting countless NBA Finals and Stanley Cup playoff games, the venue was a hub for historic events in music and sports. It was the site of Muhammad Ali's successful heavyweight title defense against Ken Norton in 1973. The 1972 NBA All-Star Game was held there, and it frequently hosted the Grammy Awards during the 1970s. In tennis, it was the home of the ATP Finals from 1976 to 1979. Legendary concert residencies included Led Zeppelin's 1977 run and Bruce Springsteen's multi-night stands. The 1984 Summer Olympics utilized it for basketball preliminaries, and it was a central venue for the 1981 NBA Finals rivalry between the Lakers and Boston Celtics.
Tenants and usage
The primary tenants for most of its operational life were the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, whose successes in the 1980s under stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wayne Gretzky defined the arena's golden age. Other sports tenants included the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. After the departure of the major teams, the Forum transitioned to hosting a robust schedule of concerts, family shows, and special events. Promoters like Concerts West and later Live Nation booked major acts, maintaining its status as a top-tier live music venue in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Closure and legacy
The arena hosted its final event, a concert by Kanye West, on December 30, 2021, exactly 54 years after its opening. In 2020, the Madison Square Garden Company sold the property to the Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, with plans to redevelop the surrounding area. The Forum itself was preserved and renovated to continue as a dedicated concert venue, operated by Live Nation. Its legacy endures as the hallowed ground where the "Showtime" Lakers dynasty flourished and as a pivotal site in the cultural history of Los Angeles, remembered for its electrifying atmosphere and architectural distinction.
Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles County, California Category:Indoor arenas in California Category:Music venues in Los Angeles Category:Defunct National Basketball Association venues Category:Defunct National Hockey League venues