Kia Forum

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The Kia Forum, commonly known as The Forum, is a large indoor arena in Inglewood, California, just outside Los Angeles. Located at 3900 West Manchester Boulevard, it’s near SoFi Stadium and about 3 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The venue seats about 17,500 for basketball, 16,000 for hockey, and up to around 18,000 for concerts. It’s a short drive from downtown Los Angeles and is connected to public transit via the nearby Inglewood area.

Opening and design
The Forum opened on December 30, 1967. It was designed by architect Charles Luckman, with a cable-suspended roof that spans roughly 407 feet across, allowing a large, column-free interior. The arena was built on the site of a former golf course to lure the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings to the city.

Names and ownership over the years
- The Forum (1967–1988)
- Great Western Forum (1988–2003) after naming rights were sold
- The Forum presented by Chase (2014–2022) after a major renovation
- Kia Forum (since 2022) after Kia Motors acquired the naming rights

The Lakers and Kings played there from 1967 until 1999, when both teams moved to the new Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). Other tenants over the years included various sports and entertainment acts, and the venue hosted many landmark concerts and events.

National Historic designation
In 2014, The Forum was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its significance as a Los Angeles landmark and a major stop for sports, entertainment, and culture.

Renovations and recent ownership
The arena underwent major renovations in the early 2010s, reopening in 2014 with improved lighting, seating, and electronics. In 2020, Steve Ballmer bought The Forum from MSG to support the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome project, and in 2022 the naming rights were acquired by Kia, giving the venue its current name, Kia Forum.

Today
The Kia Forum continues to host a wide range of events, including concerts, boxing and MMA matches, wrestling, and special performances. It remains a well-known Los Angeles-area venue, closely associated with iconic moments in sports and music.