INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — The $2 billion Intuit Dome, which would be the new residence of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, formally opened Thursday night time as Grammy winner Bruno Mars carried out the primary of two live shows to inaugurate the venue.

Mars was set to take the stage at 8 p.m. however the present started simply earlier than 10 p.m. after technical snags led to delays. 1000’s of individuals have been stored ready exterior, apparently resulting from an issue with the facial recognition system on the area slowing down the entry course of.

The Grammy winner placed on a present as soon as the live performance started and followers have been handled to a shock look by Woman Gaga. The 2 stars carried out their new music, “Die With a Smile.”

Earlier within the night, a ribbon slicing was held to rejoice the opening of the world.

“I am excited in regards to the Clippers. I really like the stadium,” concertgoer Bettie Tillman mentioned. “I am enthusiastic about Bruno Mars, most. I am principally excited in regards to the new starting right here in Inglewood.”

Southern California’s latest venue has been years within the making. It spans 26 acres of land in Inglewood and has nearly 18,000 seats. Building on the Intuit Dome formally started in September 2021 close to the nook of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, south of SoFi Stadium and the Kia Discussion board.

“We’re now a middle for social excellence, financial resurgence and nice range in our inhabitants,” mentioned Inglewood Mayor James Butts. “However now, we may have the latest, grandest stadium on the earth, SoFi, and the latest, grandest area on the earth – the Intuit Dome. There are not any phrases.”

The proximity of the Discussion board initially created a authorized snag for the mission, with then-owner Madison Sq. Backyard Co. suing the Clippers and Inglewood, claiming the brand new venue violated a non-competition clause of the Discussion board’s working agreements with the town. In 2020, Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer discovered a singular resolution to resolve the lawsuit — by buying the Discussion board from MSG for $400 million.

The Discussion board stays primarily a music venue, and whereas Intuit Dome has already landed a collection of high-profile live shows, its principal function will likely be to deal with the Clippers, who’ve lengthy shared the downtown Crypto.com Area with the Lakers.

Ballmer has insisted Intuit Dome can be a technological marvel, most notably for the two-sided “Halo Board” scoreboard that encircles the world with almost an acre of lighting. There are even T-shirt cannons mounted on the board so each seat has an opportunity to seize a shirt.

The sector additionally consists of 5 basketball courts — the sport court docket, two follow courts, one promotional court docket and one court docket on the out of doors plaza. As well as, it options 86,000 sq. toes of coaching, medical and participant areas, together with an indoor pool, and an 80,000-square-foot out of doors plaza that options two bars, a restaurant and 5,000-square-foot staff retailer.

The seating space options what is named “The Wall,” a 51-row part with strict guidelines designed to make sure solely Clippers followers are admitted — by restrictions on ticket resale and the carrying of opposing staff gear.

The sector can be highlighted by a half-dozen public artworks created by native artists, together with murals, sculptures and digital shows.

Folks attending occasions at area must obtain the Intuit Dome app and create an account to enter the venue. As soon as the account is created, ticketholders can arrange a “Sport Face ID” that permits them to stroll straight into the world with out displaying a ticket, or use an “Id Cross” that requires individuals to scan a smartphone ticket to enter.

The sector can be cashless, so individuals should add a cost technique onto the Intuit Dome app to make concession and retail retailer purchases.

Future occasions at Intuit Dome

Mars has one other efficiency set for 8 p.m. Friday. The reveals will likely be Mars’ first Los Angeles performances in six years.

Comic Sebastian Maniscalco is about to carry out on the area Saturday, adopted by Mexican music icon Marco Antonio Solis on Sunday and Olivia Rodrigo Aug. 20 and 21.

Different notable acts already on the world’s calendar embody Twenty One Pilots on Aug. 27-28; Slipknot on Sept. 13-14; Usher on Sept. 21, 22, 24 and 25; Weezer on Oct. 11; and Billy Joel on Oct. 12.

Trying forward, the dome has already been chosen as the location of the 2026 NBA All-Star Sport, and can function the basketball venue for the 2028 Summer season Olympics.

Metropolis Information Service contributed to this report.