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Steve Ballmer's opinions on the Clippers couldn't be clearer

As for Staples Center, Ballmer is proud that his team has made it a Clippers home on game nights, complete with covering up the Lakers' banners, but he said it's only natural to want more priority, which could eventually mean building his own arena.

"We're third guy in, we have third choice in dates," he said. "If you are a good businessman, you don't come to the end of your lease and say, 'I have no options, landlord, please take me to the woodshed and beat me.' We'll have options."

Ballmer also confirmed what he has been stating since he bought the team, that the Clippers will make their stand in Los Angeles, not in his Seattle home, and he cited an easily understandable reason.

"This team, outside of Los Angeles, isn't worth what I paid for it," Ballmer said. "It's worth what I paid for it because it is in this market with its financial opportunities and buyer base. I'm not moving this team. I'm happy to be playing in Los Angeles, and when it comes time to renew our lease, we'll either renew here or we'll build here."

Bill Plaschke, LA Times

2 years ago, the Clippers extended their lease 10 more seasons, which will run through June 2024. At that time, STAPLES will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

please take me to the woodshed lol

but this is great news. i don't hate being co-tenants with others but every now and then it is an annoyance. better to break away completely for myriad reasons.

This is. Bog F U to all Laker fans that desperately want the Clippers to leave LA.

We're here to stay, haters!

why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Rancho Cucamonga Clippers of Los Angeles! do it!

Clippers_FTW wrote:Rancho Cucamonga Clippers of Los Angeles! do it!

wow thats far

Spens1 wrote:why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Does it have luxury boxes?

Also, I think the capacity isn't very high.

Lastly, I'd like it because I live in Inglewood, but many people would of course say that the Clippers settled for the Lakers "sloppy seconds"

Santa Monica Clippers?
Venice Beach Clippers?
Marina Del Rey Clippers?

I love it. Especially since all you hear from Laker fans is, "go somewhere else."
No.
We move when we want to move bitch. Shut up.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:

Spens1 wrote:why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Does it have luxury boxes?

Also, I think the capacity isn't very high.

Lastly, I'd like it because I live in Inglewood, but many people would of course say that the Clippers settled for the Lakers "sloppy seconds"

Being a modern arena build by MSG, i would imagine it would have to have corporate boxes. Capacity is 17,500, so almost the same as staples

Spens1 wrote:why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Ballmer is worth 23 billion as of 2014 (and made another cool billion on his microsoft stocks in the same calendar year) and he cares a great deal of his Clipper brand, as he should for being the richest owner in NBA with the highest purchase cost of any team in NBA history. do you honestly think this man is going to take over the lease of your team's old house in a bad neighborhood to save a few coins no matter how "updated" this facility maybe? Steve dropped 2 billion when the next closest bid was reportedly 1.2. even if the Forum is as nice as you say, Ballmer ain't moving us into the house where the memories of Magic and Kareem are still haunting. in fact, if Forum is that nice, why not your Lakers move back?
IF Steve doesn't build his own arena come the end of the lease which would come as a surprise to many of us, I am sure he will pay twice the value if he has to, to buy the Staples.

there is no way ballmer doesn't make his own state of the art arena.

even if he didn't know better, zucker would eviscerate him for just moving back into the forum, which is about as horrible a pr move as clips could make with that.

anyway, i'm sure ballmer is gonna go all out on it. will be super sick!

Neddy wrote:

Spens1 wrote:why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Ballmer is worth 23 billion as of 2014 (and made another cool billion on his microsoft stocks in the same calendar year) and he cares a great deal of his Clipper brand, as he should for being the richest owner in NBA with the highest purchase cost of any team in NBA history. do you honestly think this man is going to take over the lease of your team's old house in a bad neighborhood to save a few coins no matter how "updated" this facility maybe? Steve dropped 2 billion when the next closest bid was reportedly 1.2. even if the Forum is as nice as you say, Ballmer ain't moving us into the house where the memories of Magic and Kareem are still haunting. in fact, if Forum is that nice, why not your Lakers move back?
IF Steve doesn't build his own arena come the end of the lease which would come as a surprise to many of us, I am sure he will pay twice the value if he has to, to buy the Staples.

thats the only problem, but it has been many years since then, i think the clippers can make it their own, since the lakers has really gone for a glitz and glam approach, clippers can distinguish themselves as the working mans team, or something along those lines. Whilst it is our building

and we've been at staples for a while now, since its opened really, plus we've won titles in the staples (2000 and 2010 we secured the title at staples)

But apart from that, i was just thinking why build a new arena if there is another arena across town that is ready for use, it will cost serious money to build a new arena anyway, like over half a billion to build something really good, even for a man worth 23 billion, that is some serious cash

Spens makes sense.

Lakers move into the Sports Arena, Clips will keep Staples.

Spens1 wrote:

Neddy wrote:

Spens1 wrote:why not the forum, its renovated and it seems up to standard, only issue is that is a bit far from downtown L.A (10 miles away from staples)

Ballmer is worth 23 billion as of 2014 (and made another cool billion on his microsoft stocks in the same calendar year) and he cares a great deal of his Clipper brand, as he should for being the richest owner in NBA with the highest purchase cost of any team in NBA history. do you honestly think this man is going to take over the lease of your team's old house in a bad neighborhood to save a few coins no matter how "updated" this facility maybe? Steve dropped 2 billion when the next closest bid was reportedly 1.2. even if the Forum is as nice as you say, Ballmer ain't moving us into the house where the memories of Magic and Kareem are still haunting. in fact, if Forum is that nice, why not your Lakers move back?
IF Steve doesn't build his own arena come the end of the lease which would come as a surprise to many of us, I am sure he will pay twice the value if he has to, to buy the Staples.

thats the only problem, but it has been many years since then, i think the clippers can make it their own, since the lakers has really gone for a glitz and glam approach, clippers can distinguish themselves as the working mans team, or something along those lines. Whilst it is our building

and we've been at staples for a while now, since its opened really, plus we've won titles in the staples (2000 and 2010 we secured the title at staples)

But apart from that, i was just thinking why build a new arena if there is another arena across town that is ready for use, it will cost serious money to build a new arena anyway, like over half a billion to build something really good, even for a man worth 23 billion, that is some serious cash

please... if anybody needs to save some serious cash, I'm sure it's the children of Jerry.

Neddy wrote:

Spens1 wrote:

Neddy wrote:
Ballmer is worth 23 billion as of 2014 (and made another cool billion on his microsoft stocks in the same calendar year) and he cares a great deal of his Clipper brand, as he should for being the richest owner in NBA with the highest purchase cost of any team in NBA history. do you honestly think this man is going to take over the lease of your team's old house in a bad neighborhood to save a few coins no matter how "updated" this facility maybe? Steve dropped 2 billion when the next closest bid was reportedly 1.2. even if the Forum is as nice as you say, Ballmer ain't moving us into the house where the memories of Magic and Kareem are still haunting. in fact, if Forum is that nice, why not your Lakers move back?
IF Steve doesn't build his own arena come the end of the lease which would come as a surprise to many of us, I am sure he will pay twice the value if he has to, to buy the Staples.

thats the only problem, but it has been many years since then, i think the clippers can make it their own, since the lakers has really gone for a glitz and glam approach, clippers can distinguish themselves as the working mans team, or something along those lines. Whilst it is our building

and we've been at staples for a while now, since its opened really, plus we've won titles in the staples (2000 and 2010 we secured the title at staples)

But apart from that, i was just thinking why build a new arena if there is another arena across town that is ready for use, it will cost serious money to build a new arena anyway, like over half a billion to build something really good, even for a man worth 23 billion, that is some serious cash

please... if anybody needs to save some serious cash, I'm sure it's the children of Jerry.

oh they have money, but they'll probably spend it on scrubs because Jim Buss

btw when did i attack the clippers for you to become so agitated i was just saying why build an arena when one is vacant, is of nba standard and is ready to be used. it saves Balmer and the clippers half a million, if i'm a businessman it makes a whole lot more sense (the only thing against the move is the location and the fact the lakers played in the renovated version of the arena 30 years ago)

Yes Spens.

the "only thing" is everything. Hope it makes sense now.

if you don't know what you did was offensive, you clearly have no business posting in Clippers discussion forum.

The Sports Arena is about to meet wrecking ball in a matter of time...a new MLS team is coming to L.A., and with it a new soccer stadium will open on the LASA site by 2018.

If Ballmer should build a new arena for the Clippers...why not next to the practice facility in Playa Vista? I haven't been by the area in awhile, but I remember there's ample room on the land next to the facility.

I'm thinking they should become the Las Vegas Clippers of Los Angeles. We're building a new arena or three right now anyways

I know it's a bit out of the way, but I always thought the honda center should be considered.

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