Great Western Forum to
Great Western Forum to be sold to church
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The Great Western Forum, once home to the Los Angeles Lakers and their brand of Showtime basketball, is about to become one of the country's largest houses of worship.
Faithful Central Bible Church of Inglewood announced plans Thursday to buy the arena, and the $22.5 million deal was to close Friday.
"Jesus said, 'Do business until I return,' and that's our plan," said Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, who heads the 10,000-member church.
The Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings played at the Great Western Forum until moving last year to the new Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The 17,500-seat Forum will become the first and only multipurpose arena owned by blacks, said Craig Walker, a financial adviser to the church.