By Andy Marston, Sports Pundit
Speaking on the Acquired podcast, Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, laid out the (refreshing) vision behind the team’s new home:
“Intuit Dome is probably the product for which I had the clearest vision I’ve ever had. I knew what user I wanted to make happy.”
That user wasn’t a luxury suite buyer. It wasn’t a visiting celebrity. It was the hardcore Clippers fan.
“I wanted to make Intuit Dome the best place for the hardcore basketball fan.”
That clarity runs through every design decision:
No compromises for hockey.
No luxury suites on the fan side.
No eclectic food options to browse.
No lounge-first layouts.
Instead there are steep stands, standing sections, frictionless concessions, and a wall of sound with a student section at its core. Even the art is basketball.
“Our major piece of public art is a Clipper ship whose masts are basketball backboards from around the world. Basketball, basketball, basketball.”
Ballmer openly admits he left revenue on the table:
“We could’ve made more revenue… but it’s about basketball. We have a lot of toilets, three times the average, because it’s about basketball. Get out and get back into your seat. Don’t miss the action.”
“I I took some financial hits on this. We have fewer suites [which means] less revenue, and we only charge a thousand bucks for a season ticket that gets you pretty close to the damn floor.”
It’s rare to see someone with the resources to do anything, choose to do less, on purpose, for the sake of a better fan experience.
“We could’ve designed for the contemporary audience. More lounges, more space. But I designed for me. And it turns out, Clipper fans are kind of like me; long-suffering, loyal, and they care about the game.”
Ballmer isn’t chasing prestige. Instead, he’s focused belonging and is thinking as a fan. Forget maximum revenue for a moment and instead aim for maximum resonance.
Or as he put it: Basketball, basketball, basketball!
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