Clippers' New Arena Secures Prestigious Hosting Gig
The Los Angeles Clippers' future home, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, has secured a major sporting event even before its construction is complete. The NBA officially announced on January 16th that the 75th edition of the All-Star Game will be held at the arena on February 15, 2026.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, alongside Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and other dignitaries, made the announcement at the Intuit Dome construction site. Silver praised the arena's potential, calling it "a unique and innovative live basketball experience" and an "extraordinary venue" for the All-Star Game. He also revealed that the Intuit Dome will host basketball games at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ballmer, who has envisioned the Intuit Dome as a multi-purpose venue beyond Clippers games, expressed his excitement about landing the prestigious All-Star Game. He stated, "We are building Intuit Dome to house and showcase the best basketball players in the world, and we are honored they will all be under our roof for NBA All-Star."
This will be the seventh time the Los Angeles area has hosted the NBA All-Star Game. The event was previously held at various locations in the city, including the Los Angeles Sports Arena, The Forum, and the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center).
The 2026 All-Star festivities will extend beyond the main game. The Rising Stars game for rookies and sophomores will be held on February 13th, followed by the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Challenge, and Slam Dunk Contest on February 14th.
With this announcement, the NBA has secured the venues for the next three All-Star Games. Indianapolis will host the event in February 2024, followed by San Francisco in 2025 and now Los Angeles in 2026.
The Intuit Dome is slated to open in August 2024, marking a significant milestone for the Clippers and the Inglewood community. The arena's ability to attract major events like the All-Star Game even before its completion underscores its potential to become a premier sports and entertainment destination in Los Angeles.
