Design Highlights
- Stan Kroenke, the billionaire NFL owner, is at the center of a lawsuit over billboard contracts in Inglewood, California.
- The city awarded contracts for up to 60 digital billboards to WOW Media, aiming to enhance public revenue.
- Steve Ballmer’s companies are suing, claiming the billboard deal violates a 2015 development agreement prohibiting billboards.
- The conflict raises concerns about ambush marketing during major events like the Super Bowl and Olympics.
- Ongoing litigation threatens local business operations and could impact the future of Kroenke’s Rams in Inglewood.
Inglewood, California, is turning into quite the battleground, with billionaire NFL owner Stan Kroenke at the center of a legal mess over billboards. Yes, billboards. The city is embroiled in a lawsuit over a recently approved contract for up to 60 digital billboards, awarded to WOW Media, right next to Kroenke’s shiny $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium. You’d think a billionaire would have bigger fish to fry, but here we are.
The drama began when the city of Inglewood gave a big thumbs up to WOW Media for this billboard deal. But hold on, because Steve Ballmer‘s companies, yes, the Microsoft guy, are also suing over these billboards. They claim this whole situation violates a 2015 development agreement that supposedly prohibits billboards. According to them, these flashy signs will just suck money away from local venues and give rise to ambush marketing during major events. And let’s be real—those billboards aren’t even up yet!
Inglewood’s billboard battle heats up as Steve Ballmer’s companies sue, claiming violations of a 2015 agreement against flashy signs.
The city, not one to back down easily, has fired back, arguing that billionaires aren’t above the law. They allege Kroenke is being greedy, robbing the community of public revenue, and that the development agreement is just a piece of paper with no teeth. They approved a contract in April that would let WOW Media share ad revenue, which the city views as a chance to cash in. Kroenke’s complex will host the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic events, further intensifying the stakes of the billboard battle. This legal showdown arises as Kroenke claims that the digital billboards threaten his exclusive sponsorships and consumer spending. With such high-profile events on the horizon, both sides would be wise to consider how business interruptions from ongoing litigation could affect their bottom lines.
But wait, there’s more! New claims have surfaced, suggesting the city owes nearly $400 million for infrastructure upgrades, including roads and sewers. That’s one hefty bill. The city insists this is retaliation following their billboard ruling loss.
In court, the judge ruled that the 2015 agreement wasn’t enacted properly, making it unenforceable. So, Kroenke lost the initial fight to keep those billboards at bay. Now, the battle has shifted to broader reimbursement claims. The city maintains that no contract mandates such payments.
Inglewood, dubbed the City of Champions, is home to more than just SoFi Stadium. It boasts the Intuit Dome, the new $2 billion arena for the Clippers, and the iconic Kia Forum. But with Kroenke’s history of settling big lawsuits, like the $790 million Rams relocation case, there’s chatter about whether the Rams will stick around if this billboard standoff escalates. Who wouldn’t want to fight over advertising rights near their own venues? Welcome to Inglewood, folks.
