| "The Fabulous Forum" "LA Forum" |
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The Prairie Ave facade of The Forum in 2014
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| Full name | The Forum, presented by Chase |
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| Former names | The Forum (1967-88, 2003-present) Great Western Forum (1988-2003) |
| Address | 3900 W Manchester Blvd Inglewood, CA 90305-2200 |
| Location | South Bay, Greater Los Angeles |
| Coordinates | 33°57′29″N 118°20′31″W / 33.95806°N 118.34194°WCoordinates: 33°57′29″N 118°20′31″W / 33.95806°N 118.34194°W |
| Owner | The Madison Square Garden Company |
| Operator | MSG Entertainment |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 17,500 Half-bowl: 8,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 1, 1966 |
| Opened | December 30, 1967 |
| Renovated | 1988, 2014 |
| Closed | 2012-13 |
| Construction cost | $16 million $76.5 million (2013 renovations) |
| Architect | Charles Luckman Associates |
| Structural engineer | Johnson & Nielsen Associates |
| General contractor | C.L. Peck Contractors |
| 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 (TeamTennis/WTT) (1981–1993) Los Angeles Lazers (MISL) (1982–89) 1984 Summer Olympics 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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| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
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Forum
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| NRHP Reference # | 14000661 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2014 |
The Forum (known for sponsorship purposes as The Forum Presented by Chase,[1] previously known as the Great Western Forum[2] and commonly known as the Fabulous Forum[3] or L.A. Forum[4]) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, a city adjacent to Los Angeles. Located between West Manchester Boulevard, across 90th Street (re-dedicated as Pincay Drive in December 2003) and to the north of the now demolished Hollywood Park Racetrack and casino, it is situated about three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport.
It is a prominent feature on the landing approach to the airport from the east. Along with Madison Square Garden, it was one of the most well-known indoor sports venues in the U.S. during its time operating as a major venue. The Forum achieved its greatest fame as the home of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, from 1967 to 1999, when the teams moved to the new Staples Center. The building was also the home of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, from 1997, until they also moved to the Staples Center in 2001.
The arena was the site of the 1972 and 1983 NBA All-Star Games, the 1981 NHL All-Star Game, Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics and hosted the Big West Conference men's basketball tournament from 1983 to 1988 and the 1989 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament. In 2000, it was acquired by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which used it for occasional church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events. In 2012, the Forum was purchased by The Madison Square Garden Company, owners of New York's Madison Square Garden, for $23.5 million; MSG announced plans to renovate the arena for use as a "world-class" concert venue.[5]
On September 24, 2014, The Forum was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History[edit]
1960s and 1970s[edit]
Situated on a former golf course, The "Fabulous" Forum, as it would become colloquially known to locals,[6] was constructed in 1967 by Jack Kent Cooke, then-owner of the Lakers and founding owner of the Kings.[7] As a Canadian, Cooke particularly enjoyed ice hockey, and he was determined to bring the NHL to Los Angeles. In 1966, the NHL announced it intended to sell six new franchises, and Cooke prepared a bid. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, which operated the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, supported a competing bid headed by Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves, and advised Cooke that if he won the franchise he would not be allowed to use that facility. In response, Cooke threatened to build a new arena in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood. Nearly thirty years later Cooke told the Los Angeles Times sportswriter Steve Springer that he recalled "one official representing the commission laughing at him" (Springer's words) when Cooke warned he would build in Inglewood. Cooke won the franchise, and paid $2 million for the new Los Angeles NHL club, which he called the "Kings". Springer: "Cooke went to Inglewood and built the Forum. Goodbye, Lakers. Goodbye, Kings."
The circular, US$16 million[8] structure was designed by renowned Los Angeles architect Charles Luckman and was intended to evoke the Roman Forum. The arena seats 17,505, for basketball, 16,005, for ice hockey and up to 18,000 for concerts; it has no luxury suites, but held an unprecedented 2,400 club seats for events. In excess of 70 percent of the seats were located between the goals and no seat is more than 170 feet from the playing surface.
The Forum became a landmark in the Greater Los Angeles Area, in large measure from the success of the Lakers and from the Hollywood celebrities often sighted in its audiences. It hosted a vast number of events such as tennis matches, concerts, boxing matches, and political events. It is sometimes referred to as the "Los Angeles Forum" or "L.A. Forum" to differentiate it from other buildings, venues and places carrying the name "Forum".
Cream performed two consecutive shows during their Farewell Tour on October 19–20, 1968, with Deep Purple as their opening act. Cream's performance from the 19th was used for the live tracks that appeared on their farewell LP, entitled Goodbye. Deep Purple recorded their part of the show, which was later released as a live album, entitled Inglewood – Live in California.
The Rolling Stones performed at the Forum during their 1969, 1972 and 1975 North American tours.
Steppenwolf performed during their At Your Birthday Party Tour on July 14, 1969, with Three Dog Night as their opening act. TDN recorded their part of the show, which was later released as a live album, entitled Captured Live at the Forum.
Between 1970–1977, Led Zeppelin performed 16 times (their live album, How the West Was Won, was partly recorded at the venue), including a run of 6 sold out dates in 1977; one of these shows comprises the famous bootleg, Listen To This Eddie (Eddie Van Halen, prior to the release of Van Halen's first album, was reported to be among those in attendance). Another bootleg from the Forum shows, For Badgeholders Only, features one of the last live performances by Keith Moon on drums.
The Jackson 5 performed two shows, during their First National Tour on June 20, 1970 and during their Third National Tour on August 26, 1972. The 1970 show broke attendance records, with 18,675 paid admissions grossing $105,000, with only having released two albums and three singles, the band were able to draw a very big crowd, a clear example of a very early part of their career. By 1972, they were established icons and had released seven albums on the Motown label, not including Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson's solo albums, which plays a big part in the '72 set. Michael's voice shows early signs of changing, he's still singing in a high-pitched voice but throughout most of this set he's straining to do so, at times screeching to hit the notes he once could sing the years prior. Both shows were recorded and released as a live album, entitled Live at the Forum.
On November 14, 1970, Elvis Presley did two shows (one in the afternoon, another one in the evening) with 18,700 and 18,698 paid admissions. This was during Elvis' second tour. He would return on his 10th tour, to perform for two more sold out shows on May 11, 1974 (with 18,500 paid admissions each).
On December 4, 1971, The Osmonds performed two shows, which were recorded and released as a live album, entitled The Osmonds Live.
Barbra Streisand performed on April 15, 1972, during a fundraiser for Senator George McGovern's presidential campaign. Seat prices ranged from $5.50 to $100 and the event grossed $300,000, but after the expenses of producing the show, McGovern's campaign was given only $18,000. During the performance, Streisand offered the audience the choice of hearing "Second Hand Rose" or "Stoney End", the latter was the overwhelming choice. Her performance was recorded and released as a live album, entitled Live Concert at the Forum.[9]
Jethro Tull played 5 sold-out shows in one week, February 3–4 and 8–10, 1975, the first time any music artist had done so in the history of the arena.[citation needed]
On June 21, 1976, Paul McCartney and his band Wings performed on the first of 3 consecutive nights at the Forum in their "Wings Over America" concert tour. These shows marked McCartney's first live performances in Los Angeles since playing in Dodger Stadium in 1966 as a member of the legendary Beatles. Some of the songs performed at the Forum appeared on the Wings Over America live LP that was issued later that year and reissued in 2013.
The Eagles performed three consecutive shows during their Hotel California Tour on October 20–22, 1976. The shows were recorded and some songs were included on their live album, entitled Eagles Live.
The Bee Gees performed during their Children of the World Tour on December 20, 1976, the show was recorded and released as a live album, entitled Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live.
Parliament-Funkadelic recorded half of their live album, Live: P-Funk Earth Tour, here on January 19, 1977.
KISS performed three consecutive shows during their Love Gun Tour on August 26–28, 1977. The shows were recorded and released as a live album, entitled Alive II.
In 1979, Cooke sold The Forum, along with the Lakers and the Kings, to Jerry Buss for a then-record $67.5 million.
1980s[edit]
The Lakers experienced a tremendous run of success in the 1980s, winning five NBA Championships and making the NBA Finals every year but two (1981 and 1986). This level of success raised The Forum's profile greatly across the sporting world, as fans became accustomed to watching playoff games and other important games played there by the Lakers.
In 1981, singer Diana Ross filmed the concert portion of her "Diana" television special at The Forum, entering the arena through the audience, performing her 1980 Billboard Top 5 pop hit, "I'm Coming Out". Special guests included Quincy Jones, who conducted a special performance of "Home", from "The Wiz" and Michael Jackson, who joined Ross onstage for a performance of her 1980 No. 1 hit "Upside Down". The special began with footage of Ross in a photo session atop The Forum, dressed in a silver lamé bodysuit, complete with large, extended wings made of the same material.
In April 1982, The Forum was the site of the Miracle on Manchester, in which the Kings completed the largest comeback in NHL playoff history, going from being down 5–0 to win the game 6–5 in overtime over the Edmonton Oilers. Combined with upset wins in Games 1 and 5, the Kings eliminated the heavily favored Oilers in a 3–2 series victory to reach the second round.
Queen performed two consecutive shows, concluding the U.S. leg of their Hot Space Tour, on September 14–15, 1982, with Billy Squier as their opening act. These marked Queen's final live performances in the U.S., before the death of lead vocalist Freddie Mercury on November 24, 1991 and retirement of bass guitarist John Deacon in 1997, until 23 years later, during the Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour, on October 16, 2005.
Fleetwood Mac performed two consecutive shows during their Mirage Tour on October 21–22, 1982, with Dave Mason as their opening act. The shows were originally scheduled for October 4–5th, but were postponed, due to lead vocalist Stevie Nicks suffering from walking pneumonia. The shows were recorded for their tour video, which aired on television in 1983.[10]
In 1984, The Forum also found itself in an international spotlight, as it hosted the basketball tournaments and the finals of men's Team Handball of the 1984 Summer Olympics.[11]
The Forum played host to Amnesty International's A Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert on June 6, 1986. The show was headlined by U2 and Sting and also featured Bryan Adams, Jackson Browne, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Joan Baez and The Neville Brothers.
In December 1988, Buss capitalized on all of this success by selling the arena's naming rights to Great Western Savings & Loan.[12] This also coincided with the arrival of Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, which greatly increased the profile of the building's other tenant, the Kings. The exterior of the building was repainted blue from the original "Roman red" color, and the building was officially renamed the Great Western Forum, and that name was retained for several years, even after Great Western was acquired by Washington Mutual (now JPMorgan Chase) and ceased to exist. Such naming rights deals eventually became commonplace in major American sports, but were not so at the time of Buss' deal with Great Western.[13] There was some initial negative public reaction to the changing of the venue's historic name, and most local residents continued to refer to the arena as simply "The Forum".[14][15] However, the adverse reaction was eventually somewhat muted by the fact that the new name of "Great Western Forum" sounded rather like a natural name for the arena, given its location in the western United States.[16] So much so that many people, particularly among those outside the Los Angeles area, remained unaware that the name was the result of a naming rights deal. To this day, many residents of the Los Angeles area still refer to the building as the Great Western Forum.
1990s[edit]
Before the 1991–92 NBA and NHL seasons, a new, modern scoreboard was installed, replacing the one that had been in use since the building opened in 1967. The original scoreboard, designed by All American Scoreboards in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, contained a two-line messageboard on each side, the third electronic messageboard in the NHL (and the second in the NBA); the new scoreboard, designed by Daktronics, kept the two-line messageboards but now incorporated a Sony JumboTron videoboard on each side. However, by the middle of the decade, the Great Western Forum was still regarded as too small, and more importantly, it lacked premium skyboxes and sufficient retail and commercial space. Los Angeles officials, seeking to redevelop that city's downtown area, began planning for a new sports arena and entertainment complex to be located there, with an eye toward wooing the Lakers and Kings away from Inglewood.
The Kings' owners (who did substantial business as real estate developers) agreed to develop the complex, eventually given the name "Staples Center", and signed Buss on to move the Lakers into the new arena as a co-tenant with the Kings (as well as a third tenant, the Clippers, who would move there from the Los Angeles Sports Arena). The new arena was to open in the autumn of 1999 and, as part of this deal, Buss sold the Great Western Forum to L.A. Arena Co. (a company also owned by the Kings' owners).
Last Games[edit]
In April 1999, the Kings played their final NHL game at the Forum, and on the same day former King Wayne Gretzky played his final NHL game as a New York Ranger. While waiting for Staples Center to open, the Kings played almost their entire preseason home schedule at San Diego Sports Arena and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The Lakers' 118–107 playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs on May 23, 1999 was their last regular or postseason game played at the Forum. The Lakers would play two more preseason games at the Forum the following season before moving to the Staples Center.[17]
2000s[edit]
The Sparks made 2000 their last season in the venue and then followed the Lakers and Clippers to Staples Center.
The Great Western Forum housed the regular live events as well as the offices and training facilities for the 2000–2001 syndicated television series WOW! Women of Wrestling.
Faithful Central Bible Church, home to a congregation numbering over 12,000, purchased the Great Western Forum at the end of 2000 and began holding its regular service there each Sunday morning.[18] However, unlike Houston's Lakewood Church converting the former Summit arena into their new central sanctuary, Faithful Central representatives said that their intention in purchasing the arena was never to convert into a religious building, and in 2009, the church discontinued regular use of The Forum for its church services.[19]
Under Faithful Central, the building continued to be made available for rent for concerts, sporting events and other activities that require that type of large venue. As such, ownership was held through the church's for-profit entity, Forum Enterprises, Inc., which continued to welcome to the arena mainstream and secular fare, including concerts by well-known secular and popular music artists. At times, however, the church's ownership of the building had influenced the approval of specific performers for the venue, such as in 2005 and 2009, when The Forum refused to allow performances by the heavy metal band Lamb of God because the band's former name had been "Burn the Priest".
On February 14, 2003, Phish kicked off their first post-hiatus tour at The Forum. In addition to a fan jumping up on stage to give a message of love during the song "AC/DC Bag", they performed a cover of the Dr. Hook classic "The Cover of the Rolling Stone". They had recently made their first and only cover of the popular publication.
In 2003, Great Western's naming rights contract on the building expired and Forum Enterprises reverted the venue's official name to the original "The Forum". Despite this and despite the fact that Great Western had in 1997 ceased to exist as a separate entity, the Great Western corporate logo and the letters forming the words GREAT WESTERN initially remained on the building's exterior, even though during the Lakers and Kings' final season at the Forum in 1999, the arena's "Great Western Forum" name was omitted from the teams' center court and center ice, respectively. Great Western's exterior lettering was finally removed from the building in 2006.
The venue continues to be made available for film use, such as arena interior shots used in the 2002 film Like Mike. Rock band Foo Fighters used the building as the setting and filming location in the music video for the song "All My Life" in 2003, prominently featuring the outside architecture and name of the building in the opening and closing shots. In 2008, a scene for the 2009 feature film Hannah Montana: The Movie was filmed outside The Forum, as was the video for the Weezer song "Troublemaker" from their 2008 album The Red Album. More recently, the venue was featured in the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica.
Iron Maiden performed during their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour on February 19, 2008, with Lauren Harris as their opening act. The recording of their song "The Number of the Beast" was included on their documentary film, entitled Iron Maiden: Flight 666.
In May and June 2009, Michael Jackson rehearsed at the Forum for his planned This Is It concert series in London. After Jackson died on June 25, 2009, footage of these rehearsals, along with those from the Staples Center, formed part of the film, Michael Jackson's This Is It, released by Sony Pictures in October 2009.
On October 9, 2009, the Lakers returned to the Forum for a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors to celebrate the start of the team's 50th season in Los Angeles. The Lakers lost 110–91. Because the scoreboard was removed during its use as a church, a temporary scoreboard and video monitor was brought in for the game.
2010s: Reopening[edit]
In 2011, Prince kicked off a 21-concert residency at the Forum, with ticket prices starting at $25, and each show lasting about three hours.[20]
The Forum reopened with six concerts by L.A. rock band the Eagles, during their History of the Eagles Tour in January 2014, on the 15th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 24th, and 25th.[21][22]
On March 15–16, 2014 the Forum hosted the Men's freestyle Wrestling World Cup.[23]
On May 17, 2014, the Forum hosted its first boxing card since 2001. Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez defeated Mike Alvarado for the WBO international welterweight championship and became the mandatory challenger to WBO world champion Manny Pacquiao. The event was broadcast by HBO, marking the first time since 1996 when it hosted its initial episode of Boxing After Dark that took place at the Forum.[24]
On August 24, 2014 the Forum hosted the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, the first major award show to ever take place at the venue.[25]
The Forum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 2014.[26]
MSG era[edit]
After acquiring the facility in June 2012, MSG announced plans to spend $50 million to refurbish the arena.[27] The City of Inglewood provided an $18 million commercial rehabilitation loan, conditioned on MSG's spending the promised $50 million for improvements.[5][28] The facility has been renamed "The Forum, presented by Chase", to include the name of the sponsor Chase. The building's exterior was restored to its original red color.
References[edit]
- ^ Bond, Paul (July 30, 2013). "L.A.'s The Forum to Get $76.5 Million Makeover and Reopen With Eagles Concerts". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 7, 1988). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Great Western's Name On Los Angeles Forum". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ "Stand by for the resurrection of boxing at the Fabulous Forum". Los Angeles Daily News. MediaNews Group. March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Velin, Bob (May 18, 2014). "Marquez defeats Alvarado in slugfest at L.A. Forum". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ a b Vincent, Roger (June 26, 2012). "Forum Owners Plan to Revive Venue with $50-Million Renovation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
- ^ Heisler, Mark. Madmen's Ball: The Inside Story of the Lakers' Dysfunctional Dynasties (2004) ISBN 1-57243-681-6
- ^ Gustkey, Earl (March 11, 1990). "Lakers Don't Have Forum's Only Championship Rings : Boxing: Jerry Buss would like to average a world title fight a month in the building where the Lakers and the Kings play.". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Media. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (July 30, 2013). "The Forum's legacy: A key force in the birth of arena rock". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Media. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Spada, James; Nickens, Christopher (1981). Streisand: The Woman and the Legend. Garden City, New York: Dolphin Books, an imprint of Doubleday. p. 149. ISBN 0-385-17567-1.
- ^ http://www.fmlegacy.com/concertsfmmirage.html
- ^ 1984 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 102–4.
- ^ Horovitz, Bruce (December 6, 1988). "They're Banking That It's a Great Advertising Forum". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Sanders, Edmund (August 19, 2000). "High Price of Naming Rights Sometimes Worth It". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
The Great Western Forum was one of the nation's first sports venues to cut a corporate sponsorship deal when it did so in 1988
- ^ Sanders. "Great Western, for example, never convinced Southern Californians to embrace the bank's name when referring to the former Forum in Inglewood despite its $17.8-million sponsorship deal."
- ^ Zitner, Arron. (May 15, 1993). "A BANK SHOT FOR NEW GARDEN HIGH-INTEREST BIDDING TO NAME ARENA REPORTEDLY YIELDS SHAWMUT CENTER", Boston Globe
"'I don't believe I've heard anyone on the street call it the Great Western Forum', Kupper said." - ^ Downey, Mike (June 21, 1989). "Event Names No Longer Are Givens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
I was simply happy that the banking company's name blended in so nicely. After all, some other bank could have bought the joint. The Lakers just have easily could have ended up playing in the Security Pacific Forum, or the Mitsui Manufacturers Forum, or even the Downey Savings Forum
- ^ "History of the Lakers". Los Angeles Lakers. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
The arrival of Shaquille O'Neal necessitated the trading of longtime center Vlade Divac, and the trading or renouncement of several other veterans
- ^ Hirsch, Jerry (December 29, 2000). "Church to Buy Forum in $22.5-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Crowe, Jerry (May 17, 2009). "A Funny Thing Happened Along the Way to the Forum". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Edwards, Gavin (April 15, 2011). "Prince Kicks Off 21-Concert Residency With Epic Three-Hour Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (July 30, 2013). "The Forum Aims to Rock Rival Staples with Major Renovation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
- ^ "Eagles to Reopen The Forum With 3 Concerts in January". Eagles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ "Pool draw & team pairings set for Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles, Calif., March 15-16". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Juan Manuel Marquez earns unanimous decision win over Mike Alvarado in elimination bout - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Are Going Back To Cali". MTV News. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/22/14 Through 9/26/14". National Park Service. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ "The Madison Square Garden Company Acquires Famed Forum Arena" (Press release). New York City, New York: The Madison Square Garden Company. GlobeNewswire. June 26, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Bachrach, Eve (July 30, 2013). "Here's What the Revamped Inglewood Forum Will Look Like". Curbed Los Angeles. Vox Media Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
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