The Forum (Inglewood)

The Forum (Inglewood)
Name	The Forum
Location	Inglewood, California
Opened	1967
Capacity	17700
Architect	Charles Luckman
Owner	Madison Square Garden Sports

The Forum (Inglewood) The Forum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles International Airport and SoFi Stadium. Opened in 1967, it has hosted professional sports, major concerts, and cultural events, attracting figures from The Beatles-era performers to contemporary artists like Kanye West and Beyoncé Knowles. The venue has been associated with franchises and organizations such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Madison Square Garden Sports, AEW, and events from the Grammy Awards to the NBA All-Star Game.

History

The Forum was commissioned by businessman Jack Kent Cooke and designed by architect Charles Luckman to serve as a home for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings. Construction commenced amid urban growth in Inglewood, California and the arena opened to fanfare that included attendees from City of Los Angeles officials and celebrities like Jackie Robinson. Over the decades, the venue witnessed championship eras for the Lakers dynasty featuring players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and later Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Forum also figured in the rise of concert spectacles with performances by The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Madonna, Prince, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie. Ownership changed from Cooke to Steve Soboroff interests, later to Plaza de Toros-era developers, before being acquired by Madison Square Garden Sports in a deal linked to the company's reshaping of venues and partnerships with entities like AEG and Walt Disney Company affiliates. The site’s history intersects with major events including the 1984 Summer Olympics cultural programming, the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, and televised awards such as the MTV Video Music Awards.

Architecture and design

Charles Luckman’s design employed a circular plan with a distinctive gold-leafed exterior and an interior bowl that emphasized sightlines for basketball and hockey, drawing comparisons with arenas such as Madison Square Garden and the Rexall Place. The Forum’s façade and lobby spaces incorporated elements reminiscent of mid-century modern architecture seen in works by Frank Lloyd Wright and contemporaries like Eero Saarinen, while engineering solutions paralleled advances at venues such as Staples Center and Rose Bowl. The arena’s acoustics attracted production teams for artists including Soundgarden, U2, Metallica, The Who, and Bruce Springsteen, who leveraged the interior volume similarly to performances at Wembley Stadium and Royal Albert Hall. Amenities evolved to include luxury suites and technical rigs comparable to upgrades at Barclays Center and United Center.

Events and performers

The Forum’s calendar has included a cross-section of entertainment and sporting events: residencies by Cher, televised specials featuring The Doors archival presentations, and gala concerts with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, and Celine Dion. Rock acts such as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, and Nirvana performed alongside pop stars Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. Hip hop and R&B figures like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Whitney Houston, and Aaliyah used the stage, while DJs and electronic producers including Calvin Harris and The Chemical Brothers staged festivals comparable to Coachella programming. The Forum hosted award shows including the Soul Train Music Awards and televised events produced by networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox Broadcasting Company. Fight nights and boxing cards featured boxers from the Muhammad Ali era parallels to modern champions like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Sports tenants and uses

Originally built as the home of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Forum staged championship runs and playoff series, including NBA Finals appearances against teams like the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. The venue accommodated figure skating exhibitions, college basketball tournaments involving schools such as UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans, and ice shows comparable to productions at Madison Square Garden. It served as a neutral site for exhibition matches featuring international soccer clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, and hosted wrestling cards televised by organizations including WWE and AEW. The Forum’s adaptability mirrored multipurpose uses seen at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Oracle Arena.

Renovations and ownership

Renovations in the 1990s and a major transformation in the 2010s—spearheaded by investment groups including Steve Ballmer-linked interests, Silver Lake Partners, and ultimately Madison Square Garden Sports—reconfigured seating, upgraded concourses, and modernized rigging and broadcast infrastructure to align with standards at SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com Arena. Redevelopment plans coordinated with the City of Inglewood and regional agencies, addressing transportation links to Los Angeles International Airport and transit initiatives connecting to Metro (Los Angeles County) lines. The Madison Square Garden Sports acquisition integrated the Forum into a portfolio containing Madison Square Garden and partnerships with sports franchises and media entities like MSG Networks.

Cultural impact and reception

The Forum has been cited in cultural histories alongside venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and CBGB for its role in shaping live performance in Los Angeles County. Critics and scholars referencing the venue include commentators from outlets like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Times, noting its contribution to the careers of artists from The Doors through Dr. Dre and to sports legacies for the Lakers and Kings. Community responses intertwined with urban development debates involving figures like Mayor of Los Angeles administrations and preservationists akin to those who campaigned for historic sites such as Griffith Observatory and Union Station. The Forum remains a landmark in Southern California cultural memory, comparable in imprint to Hollywood Bowl and Dodger Stadium.

Category:Sports venues in California Category:Music venues in Los Angeles County