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Sources:Team Marketing Report and Mediaventures
The Great Western Forum is located at Manchester and Prairie in Inglewood, north of Hollywood Park race track, situated centrally between the San Diego and Harbor Freeways. Parking spaces for approximately 3,500 cars; overflow parking can be accommodated. The Forum, including its land, cost slightly in excess of $16,000,000.
Built by Jack Kent Cooke in 1967 to resemble its namesake in Rome, the Forum is renowed for the celebrities both on the ice and in the crowd. "Los Angeles has a special atmosphere because the crowds are good and are marked by celebrities," said Brian Burke, former General Manager of the Hartford Whalers, "It is fun and exciting to see people like Tom Cruise, (the late) John Candy, and others in attendance."
The Forum has a carnival atmosphere. "There's a lot of hoopla surrounding the games," said at the time former Los Angeles Kings player Marty McSorley, "A lot of people have fun at the games, and they're becoming knowledgeable. In our building, fans swear and yell and want to have a great time. You can see other players on opposing teams skating around during warm-ups and looking around. I've heard other teams talk about an injured guy on the ice looking over the boards and seeing Julia Roberts sitting there. It takes their interest away from the game for a minute."
More than 70 percent of the seating at the Forum is located between the goals, and no seat is more than 170 feet from the ice. More than 63 million spectators have attended nearly 6,000 events at the Forum, including the Stanley Cup Finals and NBA Championships. The 1996 season marks the Forum's 30th year as one of the premier arenas for both sporting and entertainment events.
Getting there
- From Highway 105, exit at Prairie Avenue and head north for a few blocks to the stadium.
- From Highway 110, exit at Manchester Blvd. and head west to the Forum. From the San Diego 405 Freeway, exit at Manchester and go east.
Great Western Forum history
- First regular-season game: Dec. 30, 1967, 2-0 loss to the Flyers
- First Stanley Cup finals game: June 5, 1993, 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens
Parking:
The safest lots are the ones surrounding the Forum ($7), but some say the Hollywood Park lot ($10) across the street is easier to exit.
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