Two California teenagers recently gained unauthorized access to the Intuit Dome, the future home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, and documented their late-night escapade on social media. The unfinished billion-dollar arena in Inglewood, California, was infiltrated by the pair who used an orange work ladder to enter the construction site, as seen in a TikTok video they posted last Thursday.
The audacious pair filmed themselves wandering through the vacant stadium’s corridors and stands, and even shooting hoops on an incomplete basketball court. One of the teens, clad in Los Angeles Lakers pajama pants and Crocs, attempted a slam dunk using work buckets and discharged a fire extinguisher at the hoop. The video also showed them climbing to the rafters and eventually making their way to the roof.
From their elevated vantage point, the teens posed for the camera, revealing their faces, and captured panoramic views of the city skyline before ending the video. They boldly captioned the video “Breaking into Clippers stadium,” and included hashtags referencing the Clippers, Lakers, and LeBron James.
Inglewood Mayor James E. Butts has since identified the teens and their parents. He warned that such reckless behavior would not be tolerated, stating that a moment of TikTok fame could be followed by a period of misery. He also acknowledged that construction sites can be attractive to young people and potential thieves, but emphasized that this is a risk associated with any major project.
In response to the incident, Mayor Butts announced that security measures at the privately funded arena would be enhanced. He stated that off-construction hour security would be increased to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Clippers began construction on the arena in September 2021, with plans to open in August. The project, which cost the Clippers $2 billion, has not been marred by vandalism, according to Inglewood police. It remains unclear whether the teens will be charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor in California that could result in up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The Intuit Dome, located just four miles from Los Angeles International Airport, is not the first sporting venue these teens have infiltrated. Their social media account reveals a disturbing pattern of trespassing into sports facilities. Previous videos show them sneaking into Sofi Stadium and Dodger’s Stadium. Their most recent video, featuring their break-in at the Clippers’ new facility, has garnered over 140,000 views and widespread criticism.