The NBA's newest arena, the dazzling Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, officially opened its doors this month with a Bruno Mars concert. While the "24K Magic" wasn't quite seamless, with some technical hiccups causing delays, the arena itself is a technological marvel.
Built by an AECOM Hunt-Turner joint venture, the $2 billion project broke ground in September 2021 and just finished construction. Designed by AECOM, the Intuit Dome will be the new home for the Los Angeles Clippers, who previously shared Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers.
While the arena boasts high-tech features, opening night had a few glitches. Facial recognition entry issues left thousands of fans waiting outside, according to ABC 7, delaying the concert. Apparently, attending events at the Intuit Dome requires downloading a special app, creating an account, and setting up a "Game Face ID" for contactless entry.
But the technology goes beyond just entry. Organizers emphasize the Intuit Dome's revolutionary spirit. The 17,700-seat venue, according to project mechanical engineer Henderson Engineers, boasts five basketball courts, a practice facility, a training center, and an outdoor plaza with bars, a restaurant, and a team store. Plus, the arena claims the world's largest "Halo Board," a massive, double-sided 4K scoreboard.
Sustainability is also a key feature. Henderson Engineers designed the Intuit Dome to operate carbon-free with two megawatts of rooftop solar panels and a whopping 11 megawatts of on-site battery storage. They claim the all-electric venue will produce zero pollution from fossil fuels.
Henderson also incorporated innovative features like sustainable heat pumps, heat recovery chillers, and an under-seat air distribution system, which provides ventilation and air conditioning directly from beneath the seats instead of relying on overhead ducts. This focus on sustainability earned the project LEED-Platinum certification, the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Intuit Dome is set to host major events, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and some of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics