Steve Ballmer: "When I bought the team I thought it was great we didn't need to build an arena. But as we looked forward we were at some disadvantages in Staples Center ... The new arena is a way for us to define our own identity. People, I think, will say, we play in the Lakers' building. We'd like to play in the Clippers' building. That's what we're working on. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to really step our identity up another level. We're not moving, let's get that out of the way.”
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that he’s open to a complete rebrand of the Clippers franchise when the team is supposed to open up a new arena in Inglewood in 2024.
The team announced last week its plans to build a $1.1 billion, 18,500-seat arena in Inglewood, Calif., a city roughly 12.5 miles from Los Angeles. The Clippers have played in LA since 1984, sharing the Staples Center with the Lakers ever since they came over from San Diego 35 years ago.
The 63-year-old Microsoft co-founder worth over $50 billion, says he will finance the stadium with private funds.
Ballmer stressed to Shaikin that he’s fully committed to the franchise being able to distance themselves from the rival Lakers, not only getting out of their shadow as ‘guests’ in the Staples Center, but completely transforming their identity altogether, as the team is one of the losingest and least successful franchises in North American sports history. Not only would the Clippers’ arena change, but also possibly their team name and logo.
The Clippers have the second lowest win percentage in NBA history (Minnesota Timberwolves the worst), including one miserable stretch from 1994 to 2005 when they were 328 games under .500.
Ballmer stressed the team is NOT leaving Los Angeles.