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A Look Back at The Clippers First Los Angeles Home

Today official marks the end of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, after a closing ceremony.

By Ray Samora
Brian Bahr/Getty Images

The Sports Arena was the first Los Angeles home of the Clippers after Donald Sterling moved the team up interstate 5 from San Diego in 1984. The team called the Sports arena home until they moved north again in 199, although this time, it was just a couple miles north on Figueroa St. Along with the Clippers, other teams that called the Sports Arena home include the Lakers (NBA - 1960-67), Kings (NHL - 1967), Stars (ABA - 1968-70), UCLA Bruins Basketball (NCAA - 1959-65; 2011-12), USC Trojans Basketball (NCAA - 1959-2006), Blades (WHL - 1961-67), Sharks (WHA - 1972-74), Aztecs (NASL - 1980-81), Cobras (1986), Ice Dogs (IHL - 1995-96), and the Temptation (LFL - 2009-11).

The arena also hosted numerous athletic events, such as the 1963 NBA All-Star Game, 1968 & 1972 Men's NCAA Final Four, 1984 Olympics Boxing, 1992 Woman's NCAA Final Four, and Wrestlemania 2 & 7. The renewed version of American Gladiators that aired in 2008-09, was filmed at the arena, along with the fight between Rocky Balboa and Apolo Creed in Rocky and Rocky II.

Just recently, in 2015, Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders hosted a campaign rally that drew over 27,500 people. The arena was also the scene of the 1960 Democratic National Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy for president.

The final concert at the arena happened just a couple months ago, when Bruce Springsteen performed on March 19, 2016. The arena is set to be demolished soon, to make way for a new soccer specific stadium for the new LA FC.

As horrible of an arena it became for basketball games in the 90's, the arena will always be a huge part of the Clippers and the city of Los Angeles' history. RIP Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

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