Clippers Draft Party Shows Nokia as a Large Living Room

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — On Thursday afternoon roughly 700 Clipper fans made their way over to LA Live, but their destination wasn’t the Staples Center. The Clippers held their 2008 Draft Party at the next door Nokia Theatre, and for a day the 7,100 seat venue turned into Downtown’s biggest living room.

Inside the theatre, massive screens on both sides of the stage were tuned to ESPN’s coverage of the draft. The lobby held video games and raffles, while a court set up on the plaza offered a chance to play and compete for prizes. Downstairs in the Nokia Lounge, Clipper “M.V.Ps” got to enjoy free drinks, a buffet and, of all things, a clown making animals out of balloons.

Entertainment wasn’t all the team’s doing. As soon as the Clippers were “on the clock” for their first pick, Clipper Darrell took to the aisles, leading fans in his familiar cheers.

While draft coverage kicked off at 4pm, and the draft itself got underway a little after 4:30, Clippers fans seemed to have a good sense for showing up when their team was going to pick. Attendance peaked right around the Clippers first round selection of Indiana’s Eric Gordon. Fans in the theatre applauded the selection.

The Nokia was likely not built with use as a living room or sports bar in mind, but for an afternoon it served the role quite well.