NY vs. LA
Clippers Win at Home
Madison Square Garden waged an all-out war to stop the Los Angeles Clippers from building a $1-billion arena in Inglewood, Calif., fearing that it would compete with the nearby Forum, an MSG-owned concert venue and former home of the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers.
MSG’s strategy was to swing public opinion its way by funding political opponents and phony grassroots groups and planting unfavorable stories in the media.
Working closely with the city of Inglewood’s legal team, Rise Communications countered by securing coverage that favorably promoted news of key legal motions and court rulings in Inglewood’s favor. This put the city on offense rather than defense, allowing it to shape the narrative rather than react to negative publicity. Coverage expanded to include positive pieces about Inglewood’s economic growth. The suit was settled in 2019. The Clippers will host their first game in the new Intuit Dome to start their 2024-25 basketball season.