Great Western Forum
The intimate cathedral where Showtime legends forged their golden legacy.
The Great Western Forum was the legendary home arena of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1967 to 1999, serving as the hallowed ground where the franchise's most iconic eras were forged. Located in Inglewood, California, this intimate venue hosted the 'Showtime' dynasty of the 1980s and the early years of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, witnessing countless championship parades and historic rivalries against the Boston Celtics.
Before moving to Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center), the Forum was synonymous with Lakers basketball culture, known for its unique architecture, raucous atmosphere, and the distinct sound of the crowd echoing off the low ceiling. It stands as a permanent monument in sports history, representing the transition from the West Coast expansion era to global superstardom.
- Location
- Inglewood, California
- Primary Tenants
- Los Angeles Lakers (1967–1999), Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
- Notable Era
- Showtime Dynasty Championships (1980s)
- Status
- Demolished in 2023 (Formerly a Church of Scientology campus)
- Capacity (Basketball)
- Approximately 17,505
- Architectural Style
- Distinctive circular design with low overhang
Lore & Background
The Forum wasn't just a venue; it was the pressure cooker where the Lakers' golden dynasties were forged. Within these walls, six NBA championships were claimed during the Showtime decade alone, but none more defining than the 1984 and 1985 Finals against the Boston Celtics. Those series transcended sport, turning the Inglewood arena into a national stage where East Coast grit collided with West Coast flair. Even after the franchise's exodus to downtown in 1999, the site retained its spiritual weight for generations of fans who remembered when purple and gold ruled the Southland, standing as a silent witness until the final Lakers game was played there before the building's eventual repurposing.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Forum always tasted different—sweat, popcorn, and anticipation. It was Game 6 of the 1985 Finals. The ceiling felt low enough to touch, trapping the roar of 17,000 fans in a pressurized bubble of noise. Magic Johnson dribbled near the sideline, his eyes scanning the court as the crowd's chant grew into a deafening rhythm. He passed to Kareem, who rose up with that familiar, unstoppable hook shot. As the ball swished through the net, the Forum didn't just cheer; it erupted, shaking the very foundations of Inglewood, sealing another title in the annals of Lakers history.
Reader's Guide
For decades, the Great Western Forum functioned less like a modern stadium and more like a raucous, intimate theater of basketball. Its circular design and low-hanging overhangs created an acoustic trap that amplified every squeak of sneakers, every coach's shout, and the collective gasp of 17,000 fans into a singular, deafening roar. Unlike today's sanitized arenas prioritizing corporate suites, the Forum demanded proximity; you didn't just watch the game, you felt it vibrating through the floorboards.
The atmosphere was a unique alchemy of Hollywood glitz and Inglewood grit. It was common to see fans in tuxedos and evening gowns rubbing shoulders with die-hard locals, treating every playoff matchup like an opening night premiere. Yet, when the tension spiked, that glamour vanished, replaced by a fierce, working-class loyalty. The tradition of celebrating championships on the floor became sacred here—confetti raining down onto the hardwood as legends embraced the crowd in a chaotic, joyous embrace that defined an era before the team moved to the sterile luxury of downtown.
Did You Know?
- Originally christened simply 'The Forum' upon its 1967 opening, it was rebranded the Great Western Forum in 1988 following a landmark naming rights deal with Great Western Bank, though die-hard fans stubbornly clung to t
- Its circular design was revolutionary for its time, engineered specifically to minimize the distance between the court and the furthest seats, ensuring no fan felt like an outsider in the action.
- The venue hosted the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, a pivotal moment that showcased the league's exploding popularity on the West Coast during the 1980s boom.
- Unlike modern mega-arenas built with luxury suites from day one, the Forum was originally suite-free; corporate boxes were only retrofitted in later years as the team raced to keep pace with newer facilities before the e