Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA’s $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night – before he stops show due to medical emergency

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

As a lifelong sports enthusiast and tech-savvy individual, I must admit that the Intuit Dome is nothing short of a marvel. Having attended countless games in various stadiums across the globe, I can confidently say that this new home for the LA Clippers is truly something special.


Fans of Bruno Mars were enraged on Thursday night when they couldn’t gain entry to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, despite having valid tickets, due to an issue with the ticket scanners, as DailyMail.com has learned exclusively.

The initial performance at Mars’ show, being the first of a pair scheduled consecutively, signified the grand inauguration of the newly constructed indoor venue in Inglewood, California, which was independently funded by tech mogul Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft.

Initially, the evening was marred by a significant problem when an issue with the ticketing system at the Intuit Dome, which uses advanced facial recognition technology, caused delays in admitting visitors.

A video from DailyMail.com depicted a multitude of anxious spectators gathered closely around an 18,000-capacity stadium.

Several individuals with tickets reported difficulties moving their tickets from Ticketmaster to the Intuit app, a necessity for gaining access.

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

In about 40 minutes, the employees successfully managed to restore the scanners, allowing ticket sales to continue.

The concert started an hour late because Mars didn’t take the stage until approximately 9:40 PM PST, which was an hour later than the planned 9 PM PST start time.

The team managed to restore the system, but attendees encountered another inconvenience as Mars had to temporarily halt the performance because of a medical emergency.

A DailyMail.com-acquired video shows Mars on stage, playing with his band, until he spots a troubled fan among the audience.

1. He gestures toward a part of the floor close to the stage. Calmly, he communicated the location to security through the microphone.

Afterwards, Mars signaled his musicians to decrease the tempo as he persisted in requesting assistance from the security team.

In a somewhat agitated state, Mars observed guards from the stadium’s security team lounging in the front row and urged them to intervene instead.

In an enthusiastic tone, I, the die-hard fan, exclaimed, “Are you the security team? Please move towards the center of the room, if you don’t mind. Come on, hop over the barrier and lend a hand where it’s needed!”

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

The video from DailyMail.com depicted multiple security personnel, identifiable by their blue Intuit Dome uniforms, moving towards the fifth row center. Additionally, there seemed to be a medical staff member carrying a backpack nearby.

In an instant, I quickly vacated the row to give way to a fellow fan in distress, seemingly experiencing a health issue. The security team promptly attended to them.

Mars did not resume the show until the fan was helped. 

Based on an insider report from DailyMail.com, it appears that technical problems persisted within the arena, with some elevators reportedly malfunctioning and coming to a halt.

Mars will play a second show at the impressive new LA arena on Friday, August 16.

The new LA Clippers stadium, as described by its owner and ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, is often referred to as a ‘basketball haven’ or ‘grand basketball palace’. This exceptional venue showcases unique attributes such as a power outlet at every seat and double the number of restrooms compared to any other NBA arena.

There are five basketball courts between the main arena and the practice facility, as well as an 80,000-square foot outdoor plaza, two bars, a restaurant and a massive new team store. 

Each element – ranging from the colossal double-sided $100 million halo video display suspended above the court, to the expansive triple-tier escalators, to restrooms strategically designed for swift fan reentry – serves a specific function.

The halo includes 44,000 square feet of 4K LED lighting, slightly more than one full acre and roughly six times the average size of other ‘big’ screens in NBA buildings. 

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

The roof of the dome was designed to accommodate the halo, not the other way around. 

Of course, modern technology streamlines the process for parking, access, and ticket purchases, ensuring a smooth and stress-free journey straight to your seat for the audience’s convenience.

It was made with both music concerts and basketball games in mind. 

The Clippers first broke ground on their new $2billion home back in September 2021.

Ideas generated from observations at German soccer arenas, other NBA venues, NFL stadiums, and Amazon Go storeless checkout locations have inspired potential implementations within Intuit Dome.

2021 saw Ballmer telling The Associated Press that everyone played a role in guiding us to this empty plot, which will soon become the top destination for both spectators and athletes globally.

To facilitate the deal, Ballmer paid $400 million for The Forum — the former home of the Lakers — to New York Knicks owner James Dolan, who was concerned that the Clippers’ new arena would hurt the 55-year-old stadium’s concert business. Dolan’s Madison Square Garden acquired the Forum in 2012 for $23.5 million.  

Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency
Bruno Mars fans fuming after being locked out of LA's $2billion Intuit Dome on opening night - before he stops show due to medical emergency

Prior to the Intuit Dome, the Clippers used to play their games at the Staples Center, which is also where the Los Angeles Lakers and the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings call home.

Initially reluctant about constructing an arena when he acquired the team, Ballmer eventually started planning for a stadium exclusively for the Clippers many years ago. He officially presented this project in 2019, stating that the groundbreaking would occur in 2021 and the stadium would open its doors in 2024.

‘We don’t want to play in anybody’s shadow,’ Ballmer said.

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2024-08-16 10:34

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