The Forum

Verified Timeline

In Their Own Story

The air inside The Forum was always thick with anticipation, a unique blend of hairspray, popcorn, and the electric hum of Los Angeles nightlife. On this particular night in June 1987, the lights seemed to dim just enough to make the purple jerseys glow brighter against the dark wood of the court. For a split second, time suspended itself in Inglewood, capturing the pure essence of Showtime before the confetti even began to fall.

Did You Know?

• The Forum's roof is a cable-suspended structure with a diameter of approximately 407 feet (124 meters), which was groundbreaking for an indoor arena of its size at the time.
• The first Lakers game at the Forum was a 147–118 victory against the San Diego Rockets on December 31, 1967.
• The Boston Celtics clinched the 1969 NBA championship at the Forum, which marked the final games Bill Russell ever played.
• The Forum was purchased by the Madison Square Garden Company in 2012 for $23.5 million, and later by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in 2020 for $400 million.
• Long-time Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn nicknamed the venue 'The Fabulous Forum.'

Architectural Innovation and Origins

Built on land that once held an Inglewood golf course, The Forum showcases visionary engineering from the late 1960s. Architect Charles Luckman designed the structure, with engineers Carl Johnson and Svend Nielsen handling realization; it pushed boundaries for indoor arenas of its size. Jack Kent Cooke built the $16 million venue after being shut out of existing city facilities for his new NHL franchise, modeling it after Roman coliseums. It officially opened on December 30, 1967, with a Kings game followed by a Lakers victory the next day.

A Decade of Sporting Glory

From its inception in 1967 through the end of the century, The Forum served as the spiritual home for Los Angeles' premier professional sports teams. It hosted the NBA's Lakers and the NHL's Kings from 1967 to 1999, before both franchises relocated to what is now Crypto.com Arena. During its first six years alone, the arena was a witness to five NBA Finals, cementing its status as a critical stage for championship history. Notable moments included the Boston Celtics clinching titles in 1968 and 1969, with the latter marking Bill Russell's final game, alongside Lakers championships in 1972. The venue also hosted major All-Star games for both basketball and hockey, as well as Olympic basketball during the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Even after losing its primary tenants, it continued to host significant collegiate tournaments, including the Big West Conference and Pacific-10 men's basketball championships in the late 1980s, maintaining a legacy of high-stakes athletic competition.

Legendary Musical Performances

Outside of sports, The Forum became a top destination for rock and pop, hosting some of history's most famous live shows. In the late 1960s, it hosted legendary acts; Cream played their farewell tour here in October 1968, with recordings from those dates appearing on their final album. The Jimi Hendrix Experience debuted at the venue in April 1969 and returned the next year, while Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young recorded material there that defined their live sound. The arena's acoustics drew giants like The Rolling Stones, who performed multiple times across the decade, and Queen, who played twelve concerts between 1977 and 1982. A standout moment happened on September 15, 1982, when Freddie Mercury performed his final U.S. concert with the band at this location. David Bowie also took the stage in 1978, securing The Forum's status as a key spot for musical history.

Ownership Evolution and Historic Status

The ownership trajectory of The Forum reflects its shifting cultural role from a sports hub to a historic landmark. After decades under Jack Kent Cooke's control, the venue was acquired in 2000 by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which utilized it for services while leasing it out for events. A major turning point arrived in 2012 when the Madison Square Garden Company purchased the arena for $23.5 million with ambitious plans to renovate it into a world-class concert venue. Recognizing its cultural significance, The Forum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 2014. Throughout these transitions, the venue has retained various names, including Great Western Forum and The Fabulous Forum, a nickname coined by legendary announcer Chick Hearn, ensuring its identity remains distinct within the Los Angeles entertainment landscape.