Great Western Forum

Great Western Forum
Name	Great Western Forum
Location	Inglewood, California
Opened	1967
Architect	Charles Luckman Associates
Capacity	17,505 (basketball)
Owner	Nederlander Organization; later owners included Madison Square Garden Company, Steve Ballmer-led group

Great Western Forum The Great Western Forum is a multi-purpose arena in Inglewood, California, that opened in 1967 and became a landmark venue for Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Walt Disney Company-era productions, and major touring musicians. It served as a focal point for National Basketball Association and National Hockey League competition, hosted headline events associated with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and anchored redevelopment efforts tied to Los Angeles International Airport area planning and Los Angeles Rams stadium proposals.

History

The Forum was commissioned by Jack Kent Cooke and developed amid 1960s expansion by entrepreneurs connected to Madison Square Garden Corporation, Walter O'Malley-era sports franchise relocations, and Southern California suburban growth influenced by Howard Hughes projects. It opened with events featuring entertainers represented by William Morris Agency, and quickly became the home of the Los Angeles Lakers following the franchise's relocation trends and the Boston Celtics rivalry era. Over decades, the venue witnessed championship runs tied to figures like Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and playoff series involving teams such as the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. Ownership transfers involved entities such as Nederlander Organization, Wachovia-era financing groups, and later corporate transactions with Madison Square Garden Company and private investors.

Architecture and Design

Designed by Charles Luckman Associates in a modernist idiom, the Forum featured a circular bowl, unobstructed sightlines championed in arenas contemporaneous with Madison Square Garden (1968), and luxury suites influenced by trends set by Staples Center developers. The interior incorporated acoustic treatments used by producers associated with Phil Spector sessions and touring production managers who booked The Beatles-era tribute acts and The Rolling Stones. Exterior façades and lobby configurations were influenced by urban planners who worked with Harvey Milch, and seating geometry mirrored solutions seen in venues like Boston Garden and Maple Leaf Gardens.

Events and Tenants

The Forum hosted a panoply of tenants and events including regular-season and playoff games for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, boxing cards featuring champions promoted by Don King and Bob Arum, and concerts promoted by Bill Graham Presents and AEG Presents. It staged awards shows linked to organizations like the Grammy Awards and television specials tied to NBC and ABC productions. The arena accommodated conventions and graduations for institutions such as University of Southern California and benefit galas involving charities connected to United Way and celebrity philanthropists including Magic Johnson.

Sports Use and Legacy

As the Lakers' home during multiple NBA championships, the Forum became synonymous with dynasties led by stars tied to Phil Jackson coaching trees, rivalries with franchises like the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, and playoff moments memorialized alongside the NBA Finals archives. For hockey, the Kings’ tenure predated their later Stanley Cup successes and featured contests against the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers. The Forum also hosted NCAA tournament games involving teams like UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans, and served as a boxing venue where fighters promoted by Don King and managers associated with Tex Rickard boxed on cards that influenced Los Angeles combat sports history.

Entertainment and Cultural Impact

The Forum became a premier concert destination for artists including Elvis Presley era tributes, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and generations of acts represented by Live Nation. It hosted tapings and specials for television networks such as CBS and HBO, and residency-style runs that influenced how entertainers negotiated contracts with agencies like Creative Artists Agency. Pop culture references to the arena appear in works tied to filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and music videos produced by directors who collaborated with MTV and labels like Motown Records. Community impact included local partnerships with the City of Inglewood government and civic events coordinated with Los Angeles County cultural initiatives.

Renovations and Redevelopment

The Forum underwent multiple renovations to update seating, acoustics, and hospitality spaces, influenced by renovation practices seen at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center (Crypto.com Arena). Efforts to modernize VIP suites and event technology paralleled investments made by ownership groups including Madison Square Garden Company and developers who later coordinated with the Ontario International Airport planning authorities. Redevelopment proposals tied to the Forum site intersected with major projects such as the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park proposal and metropolitan planning by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Ownership and Management

Ownership history involved prominent entertainment and real estate figures including Jack Kent Cooke, the Nederlander Organization, corporate entities linked to Philip Anschutz holdings, and later acquisitions by groups associated with private equity and sports magnates such as Steve Ballmer and investors connected to AGC Equity Partners. Management and booking were executed in partnership with agencies like William Morris Agency, Creative Artists Agency, and promoters affiliated with AEG Live, with operational oversight coordinated alongside municipal regulators in Inglewood and Los Angeles County.

Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles County, California