Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 29, 2000 the Los Angeles Times reported the purchase of the Great Western Forum, a 17,500-seat arena in Inglewood, California, by the Faithful Central Bible Church of Inglewood, for $22.5 million. Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, head of the mostly African-American 10,000-member church, plans to "make this one of the premier family gathering places in Southern California" through a schedule of Sunday services, sporting events, concerts, and ice shows during the week, and religious revival conferences. By bringing business and jobs to the community, the plan "is a natural extension of," in Ulmer's words, "feeding the hungry and housing the homeless." L.A. Arena, the previous owners of the property, decided to sell to the church because of "the unique opportunity to do something that involved the community, their vision for the building and the support of the city."