By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The city is looking forward to a bright 2026 when it will host a multitude of high-profile sporting events and two municipal elections over the next 12 months.
On Feb. 15, the Intuit Dome will hold the NBA All Star Game, which is a worldwide spectacle.
“People in L.A. are familiar with our All-Star festivities,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Sliver. “These games are distributed in more than 200 countries. It’s not just the All-Star Game itself. There are events throughout the week.”
Steve Ballmer, owner of both the Intuit Dome and the Los Angeles Clippers, called it an honor to host the event.
“It is such an honor for us to be able to host an All-Star Game, I can’t even tell you,” Ballmer said. “I was giddy when I heard it was possible, and even giddier when the league told us that we’d have the All-Star Game here.”
Ahead of the game, a new high-end restaurant, bar, and lounge with a private members-only area will open inside the campus of the Intuit Dome.
“Lounge 1888 is a new era of elevated dining and crafted cocktails is coming to Inglewood,” said Marlo Richardson, the lounge’s spokesperson.
“Opening January 2026 inside the iconic Intuit Dome, Lounge 1888 will bring together the spirit of Los Angeles, the energy of game/concert night, and the sophistication of a premium dining and lounge experience,” Richardson said.
The restaurant, lounge and bar will be open to the public and can be accessed from Century Boulevard without the need for event tickets. Lounge 1888 will be situated near the entrance to the Intuit Dome.
In the summer, Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium will host eight matches for the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament with 6.5 million people expected to travel to North America with many expected to seek accommodations in the self-proclaimed city of champions.
“When Stan Kroenke set out to build our transformative stadium, it was with the goal of bringing the biggest global events and all the economic and community benefits that result to Los Angeles, Inglewood and this entire region,” said Kevin Demoff, Los Angeles Rams president. “The release of the match schedule marks another incredible milestone on the road to hosting the largest single-sport event in history. We’re excited to welcome fans from around the world to join Angelenos in showcasing how the power of sports can bring together communities from every neighborhood and background.”
On June 2, the City will hold a special election to allow voters to weigh in on whether they want to continue to allow safe and sane fireworks to be sold within city limits.
A month after the June 2 special election, Inglewood City Clerk Aisha Thompson is expected to open the nomination period for the Nov. 3 municipal election, which will ask voters to elect council members for District 1, currently represented by Gloria Gray, District 2, currently represented by Alex Padilla and mayor which is currently held by James T. Butts Jr.
Mayor Butts will ask voters for an unprecedented fourth term in office given that there are no term limits in Inglewood.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
