The Kia Forum is a storied indoor arena at 3900 West Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood, California, that opened on December 30, 1967. Built by Los Angeles Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke for $16 million and designed by architect Charles Luckman, the circular structure was modeled on ancient Roman amphitheaters. Its cable-suspended roof spans roughly 407 feet in diameter, and about 90 percent of its 17,500 seats fall within 150 feet of the stage — delivering an intimacy that few arenas of its size can match.
After the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings departed for downtown Los Angeles in 1999, the venue underwent a $76.5 million renovation completed in January 2014 and reinvented itself as a music-first destination. The Kia Forum now bills itself as the only arena-sized venue in the United States dedicated exclusively to live entertainment. It ranks consistently among the top two U.S. arenas on Pollstar and Billboard box-office charts and earned Pollstar’s Arena of the Decade honor for the 2010s. In April 2022, Kia Motors acquired the naming rights, giving the arena its current identity.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Inglewood, California
- Type: Indoor arena
- Opened: December 30, 1967
- Capacity: About 17,500
- Renovation: 2012–2014 ($76.5 million)
- Historic Designation: U.S. National Register of Historic Places (September 24, 2014)
- Famous for: Led Zeppelin (16 shows, 1970–1977); Harry Styles 15-night residency (2022)
A History of Legendary Performances
From its earliest years the Forum attracted the biggest names in rock and pop. Led Zeppelin performed 16 times there between 1970 and 1977, cementing it as a pilgrimage site for rock fans. The Rolling Stones, Queen, Elvis Presley, and Diana Ross all graced its stage during the arena’s first decades. The circular design, which gives nearly every seat an unobstructed sightline, made the Forum a favorite among both artists and audiences long before dedicated music venues became common.
After the 2014 renovation — which added new acoustic treatments, LED video systems, and artist dressing rooms converted from old locker rooms — the arena re-emerged as a purely music-focused venue. Recent residencies have underscored that reputation: Harry Styles staged 15 consecutive nights in October and November 2022, drawing fans from around the world to Inglewood and becoming one of the most talked-about residencies in arena history.
Architecture and Landmark Status
Charles Luckman designed the Forum’s distinctive circular form without the internal support pillars common to arenas of the era, a structural feat that maximized sightlines across the entire bowl. The original construction used a cable-suspended roof system spanning roughly 407 feet, deliberately evoking the grandeur of Roman amphitheaters. The building also hosted the basketball tournaments and the men’s handball finals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, adding an Olympic chapter to its already storied history.
On September 24, 2014, the Forum was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, recognizing both its architectural significance and its cultural legacy. Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer acquired the venue from MSG for $400 million in March 2020, and under his ownership the arena has continued to rank among the highest-grossing concert venues in the country.
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Kia Forum FAQs
When did the Kia Forum first open?
The Kia Forum opened on December 30, 1967, with a Los Angeles Kings hockey game as its inaugural event. It was built by Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke for $16 million and designed by architect Charles Luckman.
What sports teams called the Kia Forum home?
The Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and Los Angeles Kings (NHL) both played at the Forum from 1967 until 1999, when both teams relocated to the Staples Center — now Crypto.com Arena — in downtown Los Angeles.
How did the venue get the Kia Forum name?
On April 4, 2022, Kia Motors — whose American headquarters are in Irvine, California — acquired the naming rights, renaming the arena the Kia Forum. It had previously been known as The Forum, the Great Western Forum, and The Forum presented by Chase.
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Photo: Ritapepaj / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.