Kia Forum

The Kia Forum is a 17,500-capacity indoor arena in Inglewood, California, opened on December 30, 1967. Formerly known as The Forum, Great Western Forum, and The Forum presented by Chase, it was renamed Kia Forum in 2022 after Kia Motors acquired naming rights. The Kia Forum is the only arena-sized venue in the United States dedicated exclusively to music and entertainment. Best suited for major touring artists who need an arena-sized venue in the Los Angeles area.

Venue Specifications

The arena was designed by architect Charles Luckman to resemble a Roman coliseum. It opened on December 30, 1967, with a Los Angeles Kings hockey game. The building was the brainchild of Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke. The roof is a cable-suspended structure with a diameter of approximately 407 feet (124 meters), groundbreaking for its lack of internal support pillars. The Forum was home to the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and NHL's Los Angeles Kings during the latter half of the 20th century. It hosted basketball and handball events during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Madison Square Garden Company acquired the venue for $50 million in 2012 and renovated it for $76.5 million, reopening in 2014 as "The Forum, presented by Chase." Steve Ballmer acquired the venue for $400 million in 2020. Kia Motors acquired naming rights in 2022. The venue has no luxury suites but offers 2,400 club seats. More than 70% of seats are between the goals, and no seat is more than 170 feet from the stage. The venue consistently ranks in the top two US arenas and top four worldwide by Pollstar and Billboard Box Office Reports.

Notable Events and Recent Programming

The Kia Forum hosts almost 100 events per year, including concerts, award shows, and combat sports. Pollstar named it Arena of the Decade for the 2010s. The venue's "star-filled" LED ceiling adds theatrical elements to performances. The arena can be configured to half capacity (8,000 guests) for smaller events. The venue's location in Inglewood is approximately 3 miles east of LAX and north of SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome, and Hollywood Park Casino. The K Line Downtown Inglewood station provides public transit access.

The 2026 schedule includes Rufus Du Sol (August 6, 7, 11, 12, 13), Melanie Martinez (August 14), Chicago and Styx (September 6), Soda Stereo (September 12), Robyn (September 23 and 24), Billy Strings (September 26), Mumford and Sons (October 6 and 7), Charli XCX (October 17 and 18), Gorillaz (October 24), Doja Cat (October 22), The Smashing Pumpkins (November 12), Slayer (November 13 and 14), Gracie Abrams (four nights in December), and Pentatonix (December). The venue also features an outdoor Terrace with food and beverages available for purchase before shows.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The Kia Forum is the only arena-sized venue in the United States dedicated exclusively to music and entertainment, meaning its acoustics and sightlines are optimized for concerts rather than sports. The venue's Pollstar Arena of the Decade designation confirms its industry standing. The Los Angeles market is the largest in the US for live music, and the Forum provides an arena option separate from Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center). The half-capacity configuration (8,000) allows mid-sized tours to use the venue without it feeling empty. The LED ceiling provides production possibilities that artists can incorporate into their shows. The venue's proximity to LAX makes it convenient for international touring artists. The Inglewood location is undergoing major development with SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, creating an emerging entertainment district. See our guide on how to book your first tour for routing through Los Angeles.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The 17,500 capacity is far beyond what most independent artists can fill. Booking requires major promoter involvement (typically AEG or Live Nation). The venue's history as a sports arena means some audience members associate it with basketball and hockey rather than music. The Inglewood location, while convenient to LAX, is far from central Los Angeles and Hollywood. Traffic on Manchester Boulevard and the 405 freeway can be severe on event nights. The venue has no luxury suites, which limits VIP revenue opportunities compared to newer arenas. The $400 million acquisition by Steve Ballmer created uncertainty about the venue's long-term music focus, given his ownership of the LA Clippers and the nearby Intuit Dome. Parking is expensive and limited. The venue's age (opened 1967) means some infrastructure is dated despite renovations.

Related Resources

• Venues Directory
• How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
• How Much Does It Cost to Go on Tour in 2026?
• Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to estimate earnings from LA shows
• Visit Kia Forum for event listings