Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer almost granted fraudulent fintech company Aspiration naming rights to Inglewood arena

What could have been - but the Los Angeles Clippers must be taking a big sigh of relief now that it didn't. The team, back in 2021, when the $300 million deal with Aspirations was signed almost came close to granting naming rights for its Inglewood arena to the company.

Thankfully, it never happened and the deal too was cancelled, in less than two years. In light of the latest reports about the Clippers alleged salary cap circumvention controversy, this would have just been used as another nail in the coffin to close this case shut for good.

Steve Ballmer almost gave Aspiration naming rights for Los Angeles Clippers home arena

The Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer signed a $300 million deal with the eco-friendly fintech company, Aspiration, and the team back in 2021.

And in keeping with the same, he also granted the company naming rights to the Clippers home arena. But that didn't happen, and instead, that opportunity was given to financial services firm Intuit, who reportedly paid $500 million, over 23 years, for the naming rights.

The Inglewood arena, which was opened in August of 2024, is now known to all as the Inuit Dome. It includes an 18,000-seat arena with the largest video halo board in the league. Had the rights been given to Aspiration, things would have looked much more grim in the Clippers board room, especially with all the recent reports of alleged salary cap circumvention by the team. Though allegations of the team and Ballmer using Aspiration as a means to pay players like Kawhi Leonard extra money have been denied, this could have been disastrous for them.

Also Read: Los Angeles clippers owner Steve Ballmer denies any involvement with Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration deal