The Forum (Inglewood, California) facts for kids
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"The Fabulous Forum"
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Prairie Ave. façade of The Forum in 2014
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| Full name | The Forum, presented by Chase |
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| Former names | The Forum (1967–1988, 2004–2012) Great Western Forum (1988–2003) |
| Address | 3900 W. Manchester Blvd |
| Location | Inglewood, California |
| Coordinates | 33°57′30″N 118°20′30″W / 33.95833°N 118.34167°W |
| Public transit |   Downtown Inglewood station |
| Owner | Steve Ballmer |
| Operator | Steve Ballmer |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 17,500 Half-bowl: 8,000 Hockey (Last NHL Season): 16,005 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 1, 1966 |
| Opened | December 30, 1967 |
| Renovated | 1988, 2012–2014 |
| Construction cost | $16 million Renovation: 2014: $76.5 million |
| Architect | Charles Luckman Associates (original) Brisbin Brook Beynon (renovation) |
| Structural engineer | Johnson & Nielsen Associates (original) Severud Associates (renovation) |
| General contractor | C.L. Peck Contractors (original) Clark Construction (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) (1967–1999) Los Angeles Kings (NHL) (1967–1999) Los Angeles Strings (WTT) (1975–1978) Los Angeles Aztecs (NASL) (1979–1980) Los Angeles Strings (WTT) (1981–1993) Los Angeles Lazers (MISL) (1982–1989) Los Angeles United (CISL) (1993) Los Angeles Blades (RHI) (1993–1997) Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) (1997–2000) Los Angeles Stars (ABA) (2000–2001) |
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Forum
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| NRHP reference No. | 14000661 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2014 |
The Forum is a famous indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States. It's close to Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Forum opened on December 30, 1967. It was a very special building for its time.
The architect, Charles Luckman, and engineers Carl Johnson and Svend Nielsen designed it without big support pillars. This was amazing for such a large indoor arena.
For many years, The Forum was one of the most well-known sports venues in the U.S. This was thanks to the success of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. Many Hollywood celebrities also came to watch games there.
The Forum was home to the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL) from 1967 to 1999. After that, these teams moved to the Staples Center. The WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks also played here from 1997 to 2001.
The Forum hosted many big events. These included the 1972 and 1983 NBA All-Star Games. It also held the 1981 NHL All-Star Game. Basketball games for the 1984 Summer Olympics were played here too.
Besides sports, the venue hosted tennis, boxing, and many major music concerts. It also held important political events.
In 2000, the Faithful Central Bible Church bought The Forum. They used it for church services and rented it out for events. In 2012, the Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) bought it for $23.5 million. MSG planned to make it a top concert venue.
On September 24, 2014, The Forum was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historical site. In 2020, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer bought The Forum from MSG for $400 million.
The arena is officially called The Forum Presented by Chase. It was once known as the Great Western Forum. Lakers announcer Chick Hearn nicknamed it the "Fabulous Forum." People also call it the L.A. Forum to tell it apart from other places.
Contents
History of The Forum
Building a Dream: 1960s and 1970s
The "Fabulous Forum" was built in 1967. It was built on what used to be a golf course. Jack Kent Cooke, who owned the Lakers, built it. He also started the Kings hockey team. Cooke, who was from Canada, really wanted to bring the NHL to Los Angeles.
Jack Kent Cooke's Vision
In 1966, the NHL offered six new teams. Cooke wanted to buy one. But another group, led by Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves, also wanted a team. This group already had a hockey team at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. They told Cooke he couldn't use their arena if he got a team.
So, Cooke decided to build his own arena in Inglewood. He later said that an official laughed at him for this idea. But Cooke got the team, paying $2 million for the Los Angeles Kings. He then built The Forum.
The building cost $16 million and was designed by Charles Luckman. It was round, like the ancient Roman Forum. It can hold 17,505 people for basketball and 16,005 for hockey. For concerts, it can hold up to 18,000. Over 70% of the seats are close to the action. No seat is more than 170 feet from the playing area.
During Cooke's time, the Lakers played in five NBA Finals at The Forum. The Boston Celtics won championships here in 1968 and 1969. The 1969 win was the last game for Bill Russell. The Lakers won their 1972 NBA Finals at The Forum. The New York Knicks also won their 1973 championship here.
Many famous bands played at The Forum. Cream played in 1968, and parts of their live album Goodbye were recorded here. Deep Purple also recorded a live album called Inglewood – Live in California.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young recorded shows here in 1970. The Rolling Stones performed in 1969, 1972, and 1975. Steppenwolf played in 1969, and Three Dog Night recorded Captured Live at the Forum then.
David Bowie played concerts in 1978. The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed in 1969 and 1970. Led Zeppelin played 16 times between 1970 and 1977. Part of their live album How the West Was Won was recorded here.
The Jackson 5 performed twice, in 1970 and 1972. Their 1970 show set attendance records. Both shows were released as Live at the Forum.
Elvis Presley played sold-out shows in 1970 and 1974. The Osmonds recorded their live album The Osmonds Live here in 1971.
Barbra Streisand performed in 1972 for a political fundraiser. Her performance was released as Live Concert at the Forum.
Bob Dylan's live album Before the Flood was mostly recorded here in 1974. Jethro Tull played five sold-out shows in 1975.
Kiss played their debut shows here in 1976. They returned in 1977, and live songs from those shows are on their album Alive II.
Paul McCartney and Wings played three shows in 1976. These were McCartney's first Los Angeles shows since the Beatles. Some songs are on the Wings Over America live album.
The Eagles performed three shows in 1976 for their Hotel California tour. Some songs are on Eagles Live.
The Bee Gees played in 1976, and their show was released as Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live. Parliament-Funkadelic recorded half of their live album Live: P-Funk Earth Tour here in 1977.
The Los Angeles Strings tennis team played here from 1975 to 1978. The Forum also hosted many boxing matches. Famous boxers like Muhammad Ali fought here.
In 1979, Jack Kent Cooke sold The Forum, the Lakers, and the Kings to Jerry Buss for $67.5 million.
The "Showtime" Era: 1980s
The Lakers were very successful in the 1980s. They won five NBA championships at The Forum. They won titles in 1982, 1987, and 1988 at home. Only the Philadelphia 76ers (1983) and Detroit Pistons (1989) won championships here as visiting teams.
Jerry Buss also owned the Los Angeles Strings tennis team again. His daughter, Jeanie Buss, became the team's general manager at age 19.
In 1981, Diana Ross filmed parts of her TV special Diana at The Forum. She sang her hit "I'm Coming Out". Michael Jackson joined her on stage for "Upside Down".
In April 1982, The Forum saw the "Miracle on Manchester". The Kings hockey team came back from a 5–0 deficit to win a playoff game. They beat the favored Edmonton Oilers.
In September 1982, Queen played their last U.S. concert ever at The Forum. Fleetwood Mac played two shows in 1982 for their Mirage tour.
Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez fought here several times. Rock bands AC/DC and Cinderella performed in 1988.
Olympic Glory and Concerts
In 1984, The Forum hosted the basketball tournaments for the 1984 Summer Olympics. It also held the men's handball finals.
In 1986, The Forum hosted the Amnesty International "A Conspiracy of Hope" concert. Big stars like U2, Sting, Bryan Adams, and Peter Gabriel performed.
In 1989, Neil Diamond set a new attendance record. He played eight sold-out shows, beating his own record of seven shows from 1983.
The Great Western Forum: 1990s
On December 5, 1988, The Forum's name changed. Jerry Buss sold the naming rights to Great Western Savings & Loan. The building was repainted blue from its original red. It was called the Great Western Forum. This was unusual for the time, but naming rights are common now. People still often called it "the Forum."
Before the 1991–92 seasons, a new scoreboard was installed. It replaced the original one from 1967. The new scoreboard included Sony Jumbotron screens.
Guns N' Roses played four sold-out shows in 1991. The Forum hosted the 1991 NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls won their first NBA championship here. It also hosted games for the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals between the Kings and Montreal Canadiens. This was the only time the Stanley Cup Finals were held at The Forum.
Mexican boxers Juan Manuel Márquez and Marco Antonio Barrera had many wins here in the 1990s.
By the mid-1990s, The Forum was seen as too small. It didn't have enough luxury suites or commercial space. Los Angeles officials planned a new downtown arena. They wanted the Lakers and Kings to move there.
The Kings' owners, who were also real estate developers, agreed to build the new complex. Jerry Buss agreed to move the Lakers there too. The new Staples Center opened on October 17, 1999. As part of the deal, Buss sold The Forum to the Kings' owners.
Final Games at The Forum
The Kings played their last regular-season NHL game at The Forum on April 18, 1999. They lost to the St. Louis Blues. Their very last game here was a preseason win in September 1999.
The Lakers' last regular or playoff game at The Forum was on May 23, 1999. They lost to the San Antonio Spurs. They played two more preseason games here before moving to Staples Center.
New Ownership and Renovation: 2000s and 2010s
The Los Angeles Sparks basketball team played their 2000 season at The Forum. Then they also moved to Staples Center.
Faithful Central Bible Church bought the Great Western Forum in late 2000. They started holding church services there on Sundays. They also continued to rent it out for concerts and sports. The church did have some say in which performers were allowed.
In 2003, the naming rights deal with Great Western Bank ended. The venue's name went back to "the Forum." The old "Great Western" signs stayed on the building until 2006.
The Forum was used for filming movies and music videos. The Foo Fighters used it for their "All My Life" music video in 2003. In 2008, scenes for Hannah Montana: The Movie were filmed outside.
Iron Maiden performed here in 2008. Their live version of "The Number of the Beast" was in their documentary Iron Maiden: Flight 666.
In May and June 2009, Michael Jackson rehearsed at The Forum for his "This Is It" concert series. After he passed away, footage from these rehearsals was used in the movie Michael Jackson's This Is It.
On October 9, 2009, the Lakers played a preseason game at The Forum. This was to celebrate their 50th season in Los Angeles.
The MSG Era and Reopening
In 2011, Prince performed 21 shows at The Forum. In 2012, the the Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) bought the arena. They announced a $50 million renovation plan. The City of Inglewood helped with an $18 million loan.
The arena was renamed "The Forum, presented by Chase" because of its sponsor, Chase Bank. The outside of the building was painted back to its original red color. New features included better lighting, new seats, and large LED video screens.
The Forum reopened with six concerts by the Eagles in January 2014. In March 2014, it hosted the men's freestyle wrestling World Cup.
On May 17, 2014, The Forum hosted its first boxing event since 2001. Juan Manuel Márquez won a championship fight. This event was shown on HBO.
On August 24, 2014, The Forum hosted the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. This was the first major awards show held there. On September 24, 2014, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Foo Fighters played a concert here in 2015 to celebrate Dave Grohl's birthday. Many other famous musicians joined them on stage.
On August 1, 2015, the Canadian rock band Rush played their final concert ever at The Forum. On March 27, 2016, former Pink Floyd member David Gilmour played his first concert at The Forum.
The Forum hosted the UFC 199 mixed martial arts event in June 2016. The Dixie Chicks recorded a concert DVD here in October 2016.
The Forum has also hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards several times (2015, 2016, 2018). It also hosted the iHeartRadio Music Awards (2016, 2017, 2018) and the Teen Choice Awards (2016, 2018).
Juan Gabriel performed his final concert here on August 26, 2016, just two days before he passed away.
It hosted the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards on August 27, 2017. The Forum also hosts the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas every year since 2014.
In 2018, The Forum hosted a world championship boxing match. In 2019, it hosted a professional wrestling event.
On April 6, 2019, Iranian singer Hamed Homayoun held a concert for 14,000 people. He broke the record for Iranian singers at this hall.
On October 11, 2019, Japanese band Babymetal became the first Japanese band to headline The Forum. This show was part of their "Metal Galaxy World Tour."
On November 29 and 30, 2019, the American band Slayer played their final shows ever at The Forum.
Future Plans: 2028 Summer Olympics
The Forum is set to host the Gymnastics events for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Images for kids
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The Forum Inglewood Logo
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Prairie Ave. façade of The Forum in 2014
See also
In Spanish: The Forum para niños
