Steve Ballmer recently said, “We’re going to try to make this the most intimate, exciting place in the world to watch a basketball game. And I think we’re there.” Despite losing their season opener against the Phoenix Suns, the LA Clippers still ended up being the talk of the town of Inglewood, thanks to the Intuit Dome. Built at the cost of $2 billion, the arena is not just another new architectural structure to marvel upon, it is also a separate home base for the former Microsoft CEO’s NBA franchise, which had until now had to share its space with the Los Angeles Lakers and NHL’s Los Angeles Kings for two decades.

Along with the memorable amenities that the arena brings with it, there is one particular part of it that Devin Booker is sure might create some trouble for the other visiting teams. In the aftermath of the Suns-Clippers game, the 27-year-old guard took some questions from media members. Touching base about the ‘Wall’ filled with Clippers fans, Booker highlighted how distracting it was, stating, “I missed a free throw, man. I was pissed. KD (Kevin Durant) missed two down there, too, so that sh*t might work. You spend $2 billion and put a wall up.” Yeah well, if Steve Ballmer spent so much on his project for the Clippers, might as well be making the most of it.

The ‘Wall’ in the Intuit Dome has nothing to do with Game of Thrones. However, it might be as cool as that fictional structure of ice. Amongst the different sections of the arena that seats over 18,000 fans is this one, located right behind a basket. It reportedly houses ‘51 uninterrupted rows of passionate Clippers fans.’ It also includes a standing-only section that reportedly “houses 300 of our most energetic fans who will cheer loudly,” as mentioned on the franchise’s website. Unfortunately, not everyone can get a seat in The ‘Wall’ section, as the people occupying the seats cannot cheer, or even wear the gear, of the visiting team!

Even if you can afford the price of the season tickets, which range from $5,000 to $25,000, you have to be a ‘Chuckmark-certified fan’ to avail the opportunity of occupying a seat at the ‘Wall’ during a Clippers game.

Having an entire section of the arena solely cheering you on, and only your team, can be very motivating for an NBA player, and the most distracting for his rival. Plus, it doesn’t help the visiting team that the ‘Wall’ section is located right behind the basket, meaning that the jeers and boos will only increase when a member of their squad attempts a layup, an alley-oop, or a three-pointer. Given that the Clippers have failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs for three years in a row, maybe possessing an added advantage like the ‘Wall’ can help in increasing the win numbers for the regular season along with the postseason.

“You have to follow us on Instagram. You have to buy a jersey. You have to have been a season ticket-holder, three or four different things you can pick from,” said Ballmer in an interview with The Boston Globe back in January. “You’re not going to sit there if you’re not really on our team.” If the billionaire NBA franchise owner sure has a bold, hidden agenda behind implementing a concept like the ‘Wall’, then he isn’t being too subtle about it.

Even a section completely made exclusive for the top Clippers fans is a part of the Intuit Dome, making it more unique than all the other NBA arenas located in the United States. However, if you think that the jaw-dropping features of the Inglewood Arena stop right at the ‘Wall’, then there is much that you need to know about the Clippers’ new home base.

What other notable features are present in Steve Ballmer’s $2 Billion Intuit Dome?

According to reports, Steve Ballmer has called the Intuit Dome a “basketball mecca”, taking the title from Madison Square Garden, which has unofficially held it for several years. The outdoor area around the dome consists of an 80,000-square-foot plaza, regulation-size basketball court, and an amphitheater-styled staircase that would remind one of the iconic red stairs located in Times Square, New York.

The highlight of the arena, however, lies inside. A state-of-the-art Halo Board is suspended on the top of the playing area, with its 360-degree build design providing score access to every fan attending the game, and providing a selected few with a souvenir, courtesy of the T-shirt cannon attached to the board. The seats themselves comprise charging amenities, along with buttons on the armrest to be used by fans when participating in live competitions.

Gillian Zucker, the president of business operations for the Clippers, made the food that would be served at the arena a major priority. As a result, she made Steve Ballmer consume 11 different varieties of hot dogs before choosing the right one. The Crypto.com arena had a bad reputation for its popcorn, an alleged fact that was further promoted by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. Being a big popcorn enthusiast, the All-Time Three-Point Leader had ranked the snack served at the Crypto.Com Arena, then known as the Staples Center, dead last in his 2019 list. Therefore, for the Intuit Dome, the management sought the help of the player himself, who was willing to help out.

The ‘Wall’ couldn’t grant the Clippers the win in the season opener. However, with such a strong fan base, it won’t be long before one NBA team succumbs to the pressure and underperforms amidst the jeers and boos whenever they bring the ball near the basket.