Forum, Thy Name Is Kia
• Southern California-based automaker Kia America and the legendary live music and entertainment complex The Forum — formerly The Great Western Forum, and always “The Fabulous Forum” — in Inglewood, CA announced a rebranding to the Kia Forum, as Kia becomes the naming rights and official automotive partner of the only arena-sized venue in the U.S. dedicated to music and entertainment, marking the first U.S. naming rights deal for the automaker.
The newly named Kia Forum been a SoCal destination for 55 years, and was presented with the L.A. Conservancy Preservation Award in 2014 and honored at the 2021 Pollstar Awards as “Arena of the Decade.”
“Kia America is proud of our history in Southern California going back to the establishment of our US headquarters here in 1992, and so we all celebrate now being part of one of the most historic, and emotionally-connected live entertainment and sports venues in California — if not the world,” said Russell Wager, VP of Marketing, Kia America. “We are thrilled to be a part of the entertainment and excitement of live music and events at the Kia Forum moving forward.”
Geni Lincoln, GM & SVP of Live Events for the Kia Forum, commented, “We’re proud to partner with Kia and weave together our history with an innovative future, while continuing our dedication to the SoCal community. We look forward to merging the entertainment and automotive industries, broadening our mutual commitments to diversity, sustainability, and creativity.”
Kia’s partnership with the Kia Forum will include new outdoor and indoor signage, the installation of EV charging stations, and Kia vehicle displays beginning with the EV6. Also coming soon is the establishment of the “Kia Club” (formerly the Forum Club), an exclusive hospitality lounge for the enjoyment of automotive enthusiasts and music fans.
