Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO, is constructing the Intuit Dome as the Los Angeles Clippers’ headquarters. During a recent tour, Ballmer demonstrated that he pays detail to every aspect of the arena. “We ended up being forced to use the metal here, did we not?” – he complained about a metal divider. Lead designer Bill Hanway pacified him by telling him that this would be made of quartz glass and would be completely transparent by the start of the NBA season this fall.
The Blueprint: Designing a Peculiar Fan Engagement
Ballmer’s vision for Intuit Dome is clear: an unprecedented and very personal encounter with basketball that cannot be witnessed elsewhere. He has no love for the suites that interrupt the flow of the arena and though he could easily have gone with the sweeping social space that is in vogue, he has deliberately refrained from doing so. The structural form that has been adopted was inspired by features such as the height of the stands of the European soccer stadium and the closer arrangement in the form of a special seating plan designated by the Viejas arena at San Diego State University. “This and the team, that’s our product,” he said, echoing the Microsoft days.
Financial Power and Uncompromising Devotion
Ballmer has been prevalent in his pursuit of the Clippers and the builders of the Intuit Dome; he also has the money to back his words. His investment consists of approximately $100 million on an LED halo board and the $400 million acquisition of the Forum to finally pay off legal claims. Nevertheless, having some minor drawbacks such as the absence of key players like Kawhi Leonard or Lonnie Walker, Ballmer is striving for consistent growth of the team. He is a big enthusiast and goes to nearly all home matches while remaining directly involved with the functioning of the team.
Clippers basketball hits a new direction
With Intuit Dome set to reach completion soon, Ballmer has been incredibly active and passionate about the Clippers, which is set to reshape the rock-bottom franchise. What he seeks to do is to not just be a player, but be a king, a king of the newly formed bank, the NBA. With Steve Ballmer at the helm, the Clippers are poised for an exciting future in their new Inglewood home, embodying the spirit of their passionate owner.
