BUKIMANIA: Marco Antonio Solís, frontman for legendary Mexican band Los Bukis, was the third act to perform at Intuit Dome behind Bruno Mars and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. (Eduardo Cardoza)
LA’s New Arena Overcomes First-Night Tech Issues
INGLEWOOD, California – The fictional character John Hammond in the 1993 film “Jurassic Park” famously said, “All major theme parks have delays,” and there is truth to that claim as evidenced by the opening of Intuit Dome, which feels like a mini theme park with its many offerings. After a decade of planning and construction, southern California’s new state-of-the-art arena opened on Aug. 15 with some technical snags, delaying Bruno Mars’ performance by two hours and slowing the entry of thousands of fans.
Opening night for the $2 billion home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers was riddled with issues, mainly with the arena’s facial recognition system. Ticket holders were asked to download the Intuit Dome app and create a profile to enter the frictionless building. They could also opt in for the “Game Face ID” feature that allowed them to enter without having to scan a virtual ticket and to purchase food and beverage without pausing to make a payment.
The technology is in place at other venues across the country, but connectivity issues created heavy traffic outside the gates of Intuit Dome, and fans took to social media to voice their displeasure and document the scene.
It’s obviously not the kind of press Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wanted for his venue’s first big event, but the ensuing days were closer to what the billionaire owner envisioned 10 years ago. The fan experience improved dramatically, and the first-night mishaps and delays quickly became a thing of the past as the arena prepped to host its third major act in Mexican legend Marco Antonio Solís. (Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco preceded the Latin music star after Mars’ two nights.)
MUY AGRADECIDO: Marco Antonio Solís said he was honored to be the first Spanish-language act to perform at the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. (Getty Images)
I attended the venue’s first Latin music show on Aug. 18 and sat in the club section near the stage. While the experience wasn’t perfect, I couldn’t help but come away excited about the potential of the building.
The venue is as advertised with incredible sightlines, besting what I’ve seen from other arenas in southern California, and one of the best features is without a doubt the comfortable seating with extended legroom. Ballmer has adamantly stated that he wanted fans to remain in their seats and doesn’t want them standing in lines for concessions and the restroom. I’d say he achieved that because I only noticed a few lines at beverage stands and at women’s restrooms as I walked to the club section.
On the topic of food and beverage, 310 Provisions — a joint venture between the L.A. Clippers and hospitality company Levy — offered a diverse menu that included the usual fare (pizza, burgers and hot dogs) and catered to the Spanish-speaking crowd by offering items such as mini tortas, tacos and tostadas. I was pleasantly surprised with the cheese pizza, which not only had good flavor but was cooked to perfection, well done with a crispy bottom and soft center, making it one of the best slices of pie I’ve had at a sports venue.
The live production was top-notch with over a dozen band members and dancers, LED screens and pyrotechnics, but Solís unfortunately didn’t use the massive 4K halo board for his concert as Mars did. The Mexican singer did encounter some microphone issues while telling the audience a story midway through his 2.5 hour set, but it was quickly resolved as he transitioned into the next song.
Another positive experience of note was the park-and-ride shuttle offered by the venue.
Signing up for the free service was a breeze in the app, and there was an abundance of buses and staff to assist ticket holders at the El Monte Transit Station. Not many, however, took advantage of the shuttle because there were only four passengers in the bus I rode in. (Fans may not have known about the free service because it was only announced days before the venue opened.)
It was about a 40-minute ride to the western side of Los Angeles County, but our journey was extended because the driver’s GPS sent him to the wrong location, and it took him a while to circle back to the drop-off location in the eastern garage. The minor detour was a small price to pay to avoid parking fees and driving in traffic.
One of the few issues I came across was before the event started. I downloaded the Intuit Dome mobile app the day before and, as a Clippers fan, created a profile using my personal email and took a selfie for the facial recognition feature without a hitch. There was only one issue: the tickets were sent to my work email and the only way they could be retrieved was through a profile matching that email. So, I created another profile and followed the same steps. Only this time the facial recognition software didn’t accept any of my photos, and when I called the venue, I was told that it could be because my face was tied to another profile in the system.
I was able to retrieve my tickets, but I wasn’t able to take advantage of the facial recognition feature entering the venue, and I wasn’t the only one having problems with the app, because many people were holding their phones and seeking guidance. Thankfully, Intuit Dome staff members wearing red jackets were everywhere to assist ticket holders and help them (and me) get into the arena quickly. Hopefully, the app designers can find a way to allow for a profile to include multiple email addresses, so I don’t have to switch between accounts.
Any of the problems encountered on Sunday was a far cry from what reportedly happened on opening night. Intuit Dome is the real deal, and my experience watching Solís only left me wanting to attend more events to see what else the place could do. Entertainers are only scratching the surface of the new arena’s many toys (especially the halo board), and it’s going to be interesting to see how visionary artists play with them.
