MSG Co. Files Suit Against City of Inglewood For Deal To Explore Clippers Arena

MSG Co., which owns the The Forum, yesterday "filed a claim for damages" against the city of Inglewood, Calif., for "quietly entering into a deal" to build a new Clippers arena, according to Sandy Mazza of the Torrance DAILY BREEZE. MSG, repped by Latham & Watkins on the matter, claims that Inglewood Mayor James Butts "used a bait-and-switch strategy to coerce Forum executives into clearing the way for the project" near the Rams and Chargers' stadium now under construction. MSG execs said that Butts "persuaded them to give up their leasehold in April on part of a parking lot to make way for a new business-technology park." Inglewood officials "shocked MSG" by announcing their deal with Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer for a 18,000-20,000-seat arena that "would likely also host concerts." When MSG "relinquished the parking lease to the city, its approved contract states that the land would not be used for anything that would hurt the Forum’s business" (Torrance DAILY BREEZE, 7/20).