The Clippers began in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, moved to San Diego in 1978 and to Los Angeles in 1984. Along the way they have had six regular homes: Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium, the San Diego Sports Arena, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, a part-time second home in Anaheim, Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) and, since 2024, Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Here is every home in order, with the years the Clippers played there, what made each one matter and what stands on the site today. Each arena with a ThrillZing guide links to it.
Every Clippers Arena, 1970 to Today
- Buffalo
1970–1978Home of the Buffalo Braves for eight seasons, shared with the NHL's Sabres, who arrived the same year. Fights over dates with Canisius college basketball and a change of owners led to the move to San Diego.
Today: Demolished in 2009; the site is now part of Canalside, where re-dug canals freeze for skating in winter
Stadium history →- San Diego
- 1978–1984
San Diego Sports Arena
Home of the San Diego Clippers for six seasons. Donald Sterling bought the team in 1981; the NBA refused his request to move to Los Angeles in 1982, and he moved the team there anyway in 1984.
Today: Still standing as Pechanga Arena; the Midway Rising redevelopment plan calls for replacing it with a new arena
- Los Angeles
- 1984–1999
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
The first Los Angeles home, in Exposition Park next to the Coliseum, for 15 seasons. The building opened in 1959 and had been the Lakers' home in the 1960s.
Today: Demolished in 2016; BMO Stadium, home of Los Angeles FC, opened on the site in 2018
- Anaheim
1994–1999A part-time second home: usually five to eight regular-season games a year, which drew far bigger crowds than the Sports Arena. Sterling turned down a deal to move to Anaheim full-time in 1996.
Today: Now Honda Center, home of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks
Stadium history →- Los Angeles
1999–2024Opened in 1999 and shared with the Lakers and Kings, who had first choice of dates. Now named Crypto.com Arena; the Clippers left when their lease ran out in 2024.
Today: Still home of the Lakers, Kings and Sparks as Crypto.com Arena
Stadium history →- Inglewood
- 2024–presentCurrent home
Privately built by owner Steve Ballmer south of SoFi Stadium and opened in August 2024: the Clippers' first arena of their own since 1999. It will host basketball at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Visiting guide →
Clippers Arena FAQ
Where did the Clippers play before Intuit Dome?
At Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena, from 1999 to 2024, sharing it with the Lakers and the Kings. Before that they played at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (1984–1999), with five to eight games a year at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim from 1994 to 1999.
How many arenas have the Clippers had?
Six regular homes in three cities: Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the San Diego Sports Arena, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim (part-time), Staples Center and Intuit Dome. As the Braves they also played occasional games at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
Why did the Clippers build Intuit Dome?
For most of their Staples Center years the Lakers and Kings had first choice of dates, and the Clippers took what was left. In 2017 the team and the city of Inglewood agreed to a privately funded arena; Steve Ballmer bought the nearby Forum in 2020 to end opposition from its owner, and Intuit Dome opened in August 2024.
Is the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena still standing?
No. It closed in 2016 and was demolished that September; BMO Stadium, home of Los Angeles FC, opened on the site in 2018. Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was demolished in 2009, while the San Diego Sports Arena still stands as Pechanga Arena.
Where do the Clippers play now?
At Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which opened in August 2024 and seats 18,300. It sits just south of SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum.