The Forum rips Inglewood, Clippers of 'backroom deal'

When it comes to Inglewood’s agreement to explore developing a new arena with a Clippers-controlled company, needless to say the Forum does not think it’s fabulous.

Citing violations of the Brown Act and the Califoia Environmental Quality Act, attoeys for the Forum shredded the deal before it was unanimously approved by Inglewood’s City Council on Thursday moing, calling it a “backroom deal” and an “unprecedented agreement without a shred of public notice or public process.”

News broke Wednesday that the Clippers and the city of Inglewood were closing in on an exclusive negotiating agreement on 22 acres of land owned by the city between Prairie and Yukon avenues south of Century Boulevard.

The proposed construction, which would feature parking, a practice facility and team offices, would be across the street from the 300-acre mixed-use development — featuring a $2.6 billion stadium that would be home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers — being built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. That project is scheduled to be finished by 2020 — a year behind schedule because of the recent heavy rainstorms.

In its letter, Latham & Watkins, representing the Forum, addressed Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. and the four city councilmen, saying “to our knowledge this action was done without the courtesy of an substantive discussions with the Inglewood community, or for that matter, our client.”

The Forum alleged, as a result, it had no time to assess the proposed action or enter into discussions with the city or any of the parties involved.

The letter also said the agreement “fails to comply with requirements of law” with regard to using eminent domain to obtain private property for the proposed complex, as well as entering into an agreement without the benefit of an environmental review.

Owned by former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer, the Clippers have played at Staples Center since it opened in 1999, but are third in line when it comes to scheduling behind the Kings and Lakers.

The Clippers’ lease at Staples Center runs through 2024, though an early-release agreement could be reached with AEG, which owns the downtown arena.

The Forum, which opened in 1967, was home to the NBA’s Lakers during their Showtime championship years in addition to the NHL’s Kings until 1999.

In 2012, it was bought by The Madison Square Garden Company for $23.5 million and renovated as a top concert venue.

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