LOS ANGELES – The LA Clippers today announced that it has formed a global partnership with CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to bring to market the naming rights for the Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center, the future home of the franchise.
The privately-financed IBEC project will include a world-class 18,000-seat facility, uniquely designed to prioritize fan comfort and ease, player experience, home court advantage, and community. The campus in Inglewood will serve as a hub to bringing the organization together, with the new team practice facility and corporate offices. The project, expected to break ground in summer of 2021, will open for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Clippers one-of-a-kind basketball arena reflects the team’s commitment to being environmentally-friendly and energy efficient, while providing the City of Inglewood with the largest community benefits package ever connected to a sports venue.
“We are proud to work alongside the visionary ownership and management team of the LA Clippers, to bring to market the naming rights for their new arena in the city of Inglewood,” said Paul Danforth, CAA Board Member and President, CAA Sports. “Steve’s vision for ‘the best home in all of sports,’ combined with the dynamic Clippers franchise and explosive growth of the NBA worldwide, makes this a singular opportunity for a marketer to plant its flag in the sand in the vibrant capital of sports, media, and entertainment.”
“We are thrilled to partner with CAA on this endeavor, as we work together to identify a corporate partner who shares our values and embraces our vision for what this campus will mean to the Clippers community,” said Gillian Zucker, Clippers President of Business Operations. “We have set an ambitious goal to provide disproportionate value to a naming rights partner by having them in-place before a shovel hits the ground in Inglewood. This aggressive timing will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate our partner's brand into the design of the construction and deliver their own personal touch to this amazing facility.”
CAA Sports’ industry-leading Property Sales division has completed more than $4 billion in new sponsorship business on behalf of its clients and orchestrated precedent-setting agreements for the new Yankee Stadium and the naming rights for the San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium and Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.
About The L.A. Clippers
Led by Chairman Steve Ballmer, the L.A. Clippers in 2019-20 are competing in the franchise’s 50th season, after nine consecutive winning seasons and eight Playoffs appearances in the past nine seasons. Head Coach Doc Rivers, the winningest head coach in franchise history, has compiled the NBA’s 5th-best record over the course of his time in L.A. The Clippers are committed to the city of Los Angeles and through the L.A. Clippers Foundation, provide resources and opportunities that make a positive difference toward leveling the playing field for youth in Southern California. Visit the Clippers online at www.clippers.com or follow them on social media @LAClippers.
About CAA Sports
The five-time recipient of the award for “Best in Talent Representation and Management,” presented by the Sports Business Journal, CAA Sports represents more than 2,000 of the world's best athletes in such sports as baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, Olympics and action sports, in addition to coaches, on-air broadcasters, and sports personalities. Beyond traditional athlete representation, CAA Sports provides unique opportunities for clients off the field, in areas including entertainment, licensing, endorsements, speaking, philanthropy, publishing, and video games. CAA Sports also works in the areas of broadcast rights, corporate marketing initiatives, and sports properties for sales/sponsorships, and received the award for “Best in Corporate Consulting” at the 2018 Sports Business Awards, and “Best in Property Consulting, Sales, and Client Service” in 2014, 2016, and 2019.
CAA Sports is a division of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). CAA represents the most creative and successful artists working in film, television, music, theatre, video games, and digital content, and provides a range of strategic marketing services to corporate clients. For more information about CAA Sports, visit www.caa.com.