INGLEWOOD – Los Angeles Clippers Steve Ballmer and his companies – Murphy’s Bowl LLC and Forum Entertainment LLC – have filed a 447-page writ of mandate in Los Angeles Superior Court on Aug. 5 seeking injunctive relief from the city of Inglewood and WOW Media Inc. over a billboard lease agreement the City Council approved on April 15.

The latest legal filing mirrors the 337-page writ of mandate filed by companies held by Stan Kroenke last month.

“Petitioners and Plaintiffs Forum Entertainment LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Forum”), and Murphy’s Bowl LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Intuit Dome”), bring this Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 1085 and 1094.5 and Complaint for Breach of Contract and Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, against Respondents and Defendants City of Inglewood and Inglewood City Council (collectively, “City”) and Real Party in Interest WOW Media, Inc. (“WOW”), and by this Petition and Complaint represent and allege as follows:

On April 15, 2025, the City approved a document styled as a “Lease and Development Agreement with WOW” (the “Billboard Agreement”) that authorizes WOW to erect at least 18 fullmotion billboards, each as high as 22 feet, in the public sidewalk and medians directly surrounding the Forum and Intuit Dome projects (“Forum Project”, “Intuit Dome Project”, and collectively, “Projects”) and other sports and entertainment venues in the City (including SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park Casino, YouTube Theater, and other ancillary uses at Hollywood Park (collectively, “Hollywood Park”)), in violation of its own City Charter, and despite City Municipal Code provisions prohibiting such billboards and other types of off-site advertising in the public right-of-way. A total of 60 digital
signs and 108 digital screens have been approved. Forty percent of the gross revenue generated by the illegal billboards is to be paid to the City as “percentage rent.” The only indication of the pending approval of the Billboard Agreement was contained in an agenda posted on the City’s website Thursday
night before a Tuesday afternoon hearing. Intuit Dome and the Forum received no advance notice, and did not learn of the Billboard Agreement until late May, 2025.

WOW Media billboard in the median in the 3800 block of Manchester Blvd. (Photo: 2 Urban Girls)

WOW digital billboard on the sidewalk in the 3100 block of Manchester Blvd. (Photo: 2 Urban Girls)

WOW digital billboard in the 3400 block of Century Blvd. (Photo: 2 Urban Girls)

“Although the Billboard Agreement misleadingly identifies the illegal billboards as “kiosks,” the language of the Billboard Agreement plainly grants WOW broad rights with respect to “Billboards,” a term that the Billboard Agreement expressly defines to include each of the advertising displays authorized by the Billboard Agreement and “all manner of display, signage and other advertising assets of any size and character,” including static, digital, and multi-faceted displays, including any future “technology and display and presentation mechanisms.”

Both Ballmer and Kroenke have retained the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to bring the filing against the City.

This is particularly embarrassing for Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., considering two of his council colleagues, Dionne Faulk and Eloy Morales Jr., possess law degrees.

Both Ballmer and Kroenke are seeking to invalidate WOW Media’s lease agreement to bring an additional 18 digital kiosks (billboards) that would compete against the billboards surrounding Hollywood Park and the Intuit Dome.

“Basically, Ballmer and Kroenke are arguing the WOW Media Inc. lease agreement would impact future billboard revenue despite that revenue not materializing yet,” said a legal analyst who has reviewed both legal filings.

This is of concern to Inglewood residents, as we are footing the bill for the legal fees attached to the filings, as we were when MSG sued the City, alleging Mayor Butts pulled a switcheroo on them.

Simultaneously, Hollywood Park Casino is seeking to expand its digital footprint as they are facing a consequential public hearing on August 12 related to a pending application to replace their existing billboards located near Home Depot on La Cienega Blvd. and near the 105 Freeway at Imperial Hwy and Prairie Ave., and make them 10 feet taller.

The City Council has given Mayor Butts the ultimate authority in being the SOLE NEGOTIATOR of all of these agreements, which has pitted him against two of the biggest billionaires in the sports world.

This also paints a clearer picture as to why Ballmer and Kroenke came out publicly against the City and Mayor Butts, by writing opposition letters to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, alongside Congresswoman Maxine Waters, as Butts sought $500 million in funding to construct the Inglewood Transit Connector that was due to relieve parking and traffic congestion by connecting the Metro K Line to the Sports and Entertainment District, which houses their venues.

Mayor Butts’ house of cards is falling, and unfortunately, he’s taking Inglewood taxpayers down with him.

Will Mayor Butts survive these legal challenges and the added public scrutiny as he prepares for reelection next year?

Will WOW Media Inc. move forward with the construction of the new 18 digital kiosks (billboards) while they litigate against Ballmer and Kroenke?

How much will this cost taxpayers in addition to the lawsuits from Dr. Wanda Brown and Melanie McDade that are still winding their way through the courts because the city council won’t stand up to the mayor?

Forum-and-Intuit-Dome-Petition-for-Writ-of-Mandate-re-Wow-Billbo109226094.14.docx

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