Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has some exciting plans for the franchise in years to come. They currently have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as the superstar players and Ballmer has big plans for them and for the franchise which starts with shifting to a new arena that will be ready in 2024.
Ballmer recently came on George’s podcast and shared his vision for the franchise. He feels that the fans are bored of the old Clippers and he wants to turn them into something big and exciting. He wants the fans to be proud of their franchise.
“What is it that I hope to deliver to our fans? I hope to deliver a stronger, better kind of brand and image. I don’t wanna be the old Clippers. The old Clippers, that’s pretty…our fans don’t wanna be there! We wanna be known as a hot team, a hot place. I want our fans to be able to feel proud like that,” Ballmer stated.
The American businessman revealed that the new arena that is under construction is for the Clippers fans. He has recognised the support and love that they have shown towards the franchise even during their tough days. So the new arena is a tribute to the fans as he does not want to stay under anyone’s shadow.
“This new arena is a thing to give to the fans, it really is. We’re never gonna be all we can be unless we’re nobody’s shadows, so to speak. I view that as part of giving our fans something. … I think of that as a contribution I can make to the fans,” he added.
Ballmer bought the franchise in 2014 and since then he has been very keen to develop a separate identity for the Clippers. Therefore he wanted to move out of the Crypto. Com, where they are co-tenants along with their cross-town rivals Los Angeles Lakers.
So this new arena will give the Clippers fans a new identity and also won’t keep them under the shadow of the Lakers. For years people have trolled the Clippers as the other team from LA while Lakers used to get far more importance due to their illustrious history.
Therefore Ballmer’s vision and leadership can be the start of something exciting for the Clippers. The new arena of the Clippers which will be called the Intuit Dome can be the start of the new era. The arena will be in use from 2024 and if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are still around for the Clippers then it will be a special moment for the franchise and for the fans.
