Netflix’s Running Point, the Kate Hudson-led sports comedy that stormed the streamer’s Top 10 in 2025, isn’t just a slam dunk for laughs—it’s a masterclass in location sleight-of-hand. Dropped on February 27, 2025, the show follows Isla Gordon as she takes the helm of the fictional Los Angeles Waves basketball team, a tale loosely inspired by Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. With its glitzy LA premise—think Crypto.com Arena vibes and sun-soaked courts—you’d assume it was shot entirely in the City of Angels. Think again. While the bulk of Season 1 was indeed filmed in Los Angeles, a cheeky detour to Glasgow, Scotland, for the Waves’ stadium exterior has fans and critics buzzing. Published on March 8, 2025, by ScreenRant, this reveal peels back the curtain on a production that’s as much about basketball as it is about bending geography. So, where was Running Point really filmed—and does its Scottish twist enhance the show or cheapen its LA soul?

Let’s start with the obvious: Los Angeles is the beating heart of Running Point. The show’s rooted in a fictional NBA team, the Waves, and its creators—comedy heavyweights Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, Elaine Ko, and David Stassen—knew LA had to feel real. Showrunner Stassen told The Hollywood Reporter that filming in LA was “always the plan,” a nod to both authenticity and a post-wildfire push to keep production local. They delivered. The UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, home to the South Bay Lakers, became the Waves’ practice hub, its sleek courts and training facilities lending grit to scenes of players grinding it out. The Crypto.com Arena, LA’s iconic downtown multipurpose venue, doubled as the Waves’ home stadium for interior shots—its 25-year stint hosting the Clippers made it a natural fit. Even the Los Angeles Athletic Club, a historic health club with a business center flair, stood in for the team’s swanky offices. It’s LA through and through, a love letter to the city’s basketball legacy.

But here’s the curveball: that gleaming exterior of the Waves’ stadium? It’s not LA—it’s the OVO Hydro arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Yep, a multi-purpose venue opened in 2013, known for hosting concerts and sports across the pond, got a Hollywood makeover. No cast or crew trekked to Scotland—full scenes weren’t shot there—but stock footage or clever exterior shots of the Hydro were spliced in to represent the Waves’ home turf. X posts from Glasgow Live crowed about it: “Kate Hudson’s Netflix show features Glasgow landmark despite LA setting!” It’s a minor role, sure—no sprawling Scottish subplots—but it’s enough to raise eyebrows. Why detour 5,000 miles from LA for a facade when the city’s got staples like the Forum or Staples Center history to lean on? The answer’s murky—budget, aesthetics, or maybe a sly nod to global flair—but it’s got fans debating authenticity versus artistry.

Los Angeles

Running Point Is Shot Almost Entirely In L.A.

The LA choice makes sense on paper. Running Point isn’t just a comedy; it’s a loose riff on Jeanie Buss’ Lakers reign, and Buss herself is an exec producer. Filming in LA—where the Lakers live and breathe—grounds the show in a tangible hoops culture. The UCLA center’s real-deal training vibe, the Crypto.com’s electric game-night buzz, the Athletic Club’s polished exec suites—they scream LA basketball. Hudson, an LA native who’s been courtside at Lakers games since childhood, told Kaling (per Moviedelic) she’s “iconically L.A.,” a perfect bridge between fiction and reality. Principal photography kicked off in February 2024 and wrapped by May, soaking up LA’s sprawl to sell the Waves as a believable NBA outfit. Posts on X—like one from @swiftysl spotting a familiar “Chenford parking lot”—nod to how LA’s nooks and crannies became the show’s playground. It’s a deliberate flex: this is LA’s story, told on its turf.

Glasgow, Scotland

One Location In Glasgow Was Very Briefly Shown

So why Glasgow? The OVO Hydro’s modern curves and waterfront perch on the River Clyde make it a striking stand-in—less boxy than some LA arenas, more cinematic. It’s not the first time the Hydro’s played Hollywood—it popped up in 2020’s Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. But for Running Point, it’s a head-scratcher. LA’s got no shortage of iconic venues—why not lean harder into local flavor? Some X users speculate cost: “Stock footage is cheaper than LA permits,” one quipped. Others see it as a creative flex: “Glasgow’s got a vibe LA can’t touch,” another mused. ScreenRant notes it’s the “one exception” to an otherwise LA-centric shoot, suggesting it’s more garnish than guts. Still, it’s a jolt—imagine Ted Lasso filming Richmond’s stadium in Texas. Does it undermine the show’s LA cred, or just add a quirky footnote?

The authenticity debate’s heating up. Running Point isn’t a gritty doc—it’s a comedy, loose with facts but big on vibes. The Lakers inspiration doesn’t demand a frame-for-frame LA shoot; Isla’s world is heightened, not historical. The UCLA and Crypto.com locations nail the sports side—real players train there, real games electrify crowds. The Athletic Club ties in the corporate chaos of Isla’s reign. Glasgow’s cameo? It’s a visual shortcut, not a betrayal. “It’s a comedy, not a travelogue,” one X defender argued, while a skeptic shot back, “LA deserves better than a Scottish stunt double.” Critics like ScreenRant’s Rachel Labonte (7/10 review) praise the “family hijinks” over setting purity—locations serve the story, not the other way around. Yet for purists, that Hydro shot stings—a reminder this isn’t quite the LA they know.

Season 2, confirmed March 6, 2025, might double down on LA—or not. With 9.3 million views in its debut week and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Running Point’s got legs, and its LA roots fueled that fire. Stassen’s comments hint at sticking local, supporting a city battered by wildfires and Hollywood strikes. But if Glasgow’s Hydro worked once, why not again? X fans are split: “Keep it LA—Waves are West Coast!” vs. “Scotland’s cool, lean into it!” The show’s blend of Hudson’s star wattage—her Lakers fandom’s no act—and Kaling’s glossy wit doesn’t need geographic purity to score. Still, that Scottish blip’s a talking point—proof Netflix can stretch a budget without breaking the vibe.

Does it matter? For most, probably not. Running Point’s a breezy 10-episode romp—30 minutes each, packed with laughs and Gordon family mess. The LA shots deliver: UCLA’s sweat, Crypto.com’s roar, the Athletic Club’s polish. Glasgow’s a blink-and-miss-it Easter egg, not a plot pivot. “It’s about Isla, not the map,” one X user shrugged. But for hoops nerds and LA loyalists, it’s a foul—why fake a skyline when the real one’s right there? Season 2 could settle the score—more LA, less trickery—or keep playing fast and loose. Either way, Running Point’s locations aren’t just backdrop; they’re a conversation. From Hollywood’s heart to Scotland’s shores, it’s a wild pass—and Netflix caught it.