Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Launches Halo Sports And Entertainment

When Steve Ballmer became owner and chairman of the LA Clippers in 2014, he likely didn’t envision having this much on his plate.

A decade into his mission of revamping the franchise, Ballmer is still discovering ways to leverage his resources and creative thinking — in hopes to maximize the team’s fanbase and separate the Clippers from the pack.

Between signing (and retaining) maximum-salary superstars, meticulously preparing for the Intuit Dome’s grand opening, and landing 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, he’s in the midst of his busiest year as an NBA governor.

You can now add another business venture to his list in 2024.

Ballmer is launching a new brand called Halo Sports and Entertainment, which will focus on his four primary entertainment holdings. Under this new umbrella, Halo S&E’s collection of assets will feature the LA Clippers, their G-League affiliate the Ontario Clippers, Intuit Dome, and KIA Forum.

As part of Thursday’s announcement, Gillian Zucker will be named Chief Executive Officer of Halo S&E. She will oversee all business operations for the four brands while continuing in her role with the Clippers.

Zucker, currently in her 10th year as Clippers President of Business Operations, has become one of the leading women in sports business. She became part of the Clippers’ brain trust in November 2014 when Ballmer made his first significant hire after purchasing the team. Since then, her role has evolved as the brand continues to grow.

“Gillian is a proven leader and one of the most respected executives in the NBA,” Ballmer said. “She has a successful track record running our business. I have continued to expand her role because I have the utmost confidence in her ability to achieve our ambitious goals.”

Before venturing into the basketball scene, Zucker spent nine years as President of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Ballmer credits Zucker for being the driving force behind the organization’s brand and identity movement since 2015, which ultimately played a role in the Clippers attracting high-level talent on the floor. Had the team not experienced a total refresh after the Lob City era and Donald Sterling fiasco, it would be hard to imagine Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and eventually James Harden wanting to spend the rest of their careers with the franchise.

Zucker led the campaign for the Clippers’ latest rebranding, which was announced on Feb. 26. Her team conducted many focus groups with fans to get appropriate feedback during the process.

You can read my full take on the decision to rebrand, their new logo design, and jersey colorways here:

Zucker was recently recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the most powerful women in LA, mostly through her work in the Clippers’ corporate partnerships and the advancements she’s helped bring to life in the surrounding LA communities.

Perhaps the most important achievement of her tenure with the franchise has been spearheading the LA Clippers Foundation, which re-launched in 2015 to focus on leveling the playing field for children in Los Angeles. With the idea of giving kids a better and safer environment for activities, the Clippers donated $10 million to the LA Parks Foundation to renovate nearly 500 community basketball courts around the city.

By consolidating his entertainment entities into one brand, Ballmer’s goal with Halo S&E is to create more collaboration and focus on a singular brand voice. It also ties directly into the Clippers’ mantra for the Intuit Dome’s design and perks, largely centered on efficiency.

With Halo being a nod to Los Angeles and the ‘City of Angels,’ it also doubles as a reference to Intuit Dome’s gigantic Halo Board that will revolutionize in-game entertainment and set the new standard for scoreboards at sporting events.

The Halo Board will be a double-sided 4K display hovering above the fans, featuring approximately 38,375 square feet of digital canvas and more than 230 million LEDs. Powered by Daktronics, it stretches nearly an acre to give every fan in the building a unique experience.

Intuit Dome, scheduled to open this August, will become the mecca for entertainment. Hosting Clippers games, concerts, and community events, the facility will leverage its state-of-the-art technology to provide convenient experiences for every type of customer.

Ballmer wanted to ensure it was a privately-financed arena and required no taxpayer dollars in the process. In total, the project cost well over $2 billion with the construction, design features, and land acquisitions in Inglewood that made it possible. For instance, he had to purchase the KIA Forum in March 2020 for $400 million after the previous owners, the Madison Square Garden company, opposed to the idea of Intuit Dome’s construction.

The bowl design of the Intuit Dome was built to intimidate opposing teams and create an intense fan experience, most notably with the “The Wall,” which will be 51 steep, uninterrupted rows near the opposition’s basket. Oh, and the Clippers won’t let you forget — there will be many checkpoints fans have to pass in order to obtain tickets for those rows as they try to mimic a college’s student section.

Intuit Dome will feature courtside cabanas, backstage bungalows, and private suites. Additionally, there will be an outdoor plaza and other basketball courts for the community to utilize.

According to the Clippers, the new facility is expected to create more than 7,000 new jobs for the Inglewood community.