City of Champions Stadium

"Inglewood Stadium" redirects here. For the stadium in Perth, Western Australia, see Inglewood Stadium (Western Australia).
Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park
Location Inglewood, California, U.S.
Coordinates 33°57′0″N 118°20′15″W / 33.95000°N 118.33750°W / 33.95000; -118.33750Coordinates: 33°57′0″N 118°20′15″W / 33.95000°N 118.33750°W / 33.95000; -118.33750,
Owner Hollywood Park Land Company, LLC. (A joint venture of The Kroenke Group & Stockbridge Capital)
Executive suites 275
Capacity 80,000 (expandable to 100,000 for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other events)
Acreage 298 acres
Surface Artificial turf
Construction
Broke ground November 17, 2016
Opened August 2019 (expected)
Construction cost $2.66 billion (estimated)
Architect HKS, Inc.
Project manager Legends Global Planning[1]
Structural engineer Walter P Moore[2]
Services engineer Henderson Engineers, Inc.[3]
General contractor Turner/Hunt JV[4]
Tenants
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) (2019–beyond)

The Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park is the name of a sports and entertainment district currently under construction in Inglewood, California, United States, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to The Forum. The stadium will serve as the home of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) when it opens in 2019.

The stadium is a component of the City of Champions Revitalization Initiative, the working title of the development on the site of the former Hollywood Park Racetrack. On January 5, 2015, it was announced that Stan Kroenke, the owner of the then St. Louis Rams had partnered with Stockbridge Capital (owners of the Hollywood Park Land Company), to build an NFL stadium on the existing Hollywood Park development and on a parcel of land owned by Kroenke.[5][6] After collecting more than 20,000 petition signatures to allow for the rezoning of the proposed stadium site to allow for an NFL venue on the site, the Inglewood City Council approved the stadium with a unanimous 5–0 vote removing any possible legal obstacles.

On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Inglewood proposal and the Rams move to Los Angeles 30-2, with a projected opening in August 2019. When the Rams move into the stadium, it will mark the return of professional sports to Inglewood for the first time since the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings abandoned The Forum for Staples Center in 1999. Hollywood Park Casino opened on the lot on Oct. 21, 2016, becoming the first establishment to open on the property.[7] On May 24, 2016, it was announced as the host of Super Bowl LV in 2021.

History

On January 31, 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams, purchased a 60-acre parcel of land just north of the Hollywood Park site in an area that had been studied by the National Football League in the past and at one point attempted to purchase.[8] This set off immediate speculation as to what Kroenke's selfish intentions were for the site: it was originally planned to be a Walmart Supercenter; however, in 2014, most of the speculation centered around the site as possible stadium site or training facility for the Rams.[9] NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell represented that Mr. Kroenke informed the league of the purchase. As an NFL owner, any purchase of land in which a potential stadium could be built must be disclosed to the league. Speculation about the Rams returning to their home of nearly fifty years had already been discussed when Kroenke was one of the finalists in bidding for ownership in the Los Angeles Dodgers, but speculation reached a fever pitch as soon as the news broke that the Rams owner had a possible stadium site in hand.[10][11]

Nearly a year went by without a word from Kroenke about his intentions for the land, as he failed to ever address the St. Louis media, or the Hollywood Land Company about what the site may be used for. There was, however, ceaseless speculation about the future of the Rams franchise until it was leaked that the National Football League would not be allowing any franchise relocation for the 2015 season.[12] On January 5, 2015, the Hollywood Park Land Company announced that it had partnered with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to add the northern 60-acre parcel to the rest of the development project and build a multi-purpose 80,000-seat stadium designed for the NFL.[13] The project will include the stadium of up to 100,240 seats (including standing room only seats) and a performance entertainment venue of up to 6,000 seats while reconfiguring the previously approved Hollywood Park plan for up to 900,000 square feet of retail, 800,000 square feet of office space, 2,500 new residential and condo units, a luxury 300-room hotel and 25 acres of public parks, playgrounds, open space, a lake and pedestrian, bicycle and transit access. The stadium would be ready by 2019. On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved the stadium plan and the initiative with construction on the stadium planned to begin in December 2015.[8][14]

The stadium is being built privately, but the developer is seeking significant tax breaks from Inglewood.[15]

Current status

On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council approved plans with a 5–0 unanimous vote to combine the 60-acre plot of land with the larger Hollywood Park development and rezone the area to include Sports/Entertainment capabilities. This essentially cleared the way for developers to begin construction on the venue as planned in December 2015.[16][17][18]

It was also reported in early February 2015, that "earth was being moved" and the site was being graded to be prepared for the construction that would begin later in the year.[19]

On July 14, 2016, it was announced that Turner Construction and AECOM will oversee construction of the stadium.[20]

On October 19, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that a 110-foot-tall LB 44 rotary drill rig won’t pose a hazard to air navigation, so approved the first of several pieces of heavy equipment to be used during construction. The stadium design has been under review by the FAA for more than a year because of concerns about how the structure would interact with radar at nearby Los Angeles International Airport.[21]

The Rams held the ground breaking construction ceremony at the future City of Champions Stadium site on November 17, 2016. The ceremony featured NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell and Rams' owner, Stan Kroenke. [22][23]

Tenants and events

The Los Angeles Rams have committed to moving to the stadium, as NFL approval for their relocation was obtained on January 12, 2016. The approval also gave the San Diego Chargers the first option to relocate to Los Angeles and share the stadium with the Rams, conditioned on a negotiated lease agreement between the two teams. The option expires on January 15, 2017, at which time the Oakland Raiders would acquire the same option.[24]

On January 29, 2016, the Rams and Chargers came to an agreement in principle to share the stadium. The Chargers would contribute a $200 million stadium loan from the NFL and personal seat license fees to the construction costs and would pay $1 per year in rent to the Rams.[25] The same day, Chargers chairman/CEO Dean Spanos announced the team would remain in San Diego for the 2016 NFL season, while continuing to work with local government on a new stadium.[26]As Measure C (the Chargers stadium proposal) was voted down, the team is expected to relocate to Los Angeles for the 2017 season.[25]

The stadium and surrounding development around the site includes a new entertainment complex with 8.5 million square feet (790,000 m2) of office tower space, including a 6,000 seat music and theatre venue, ballrooms, indoor and outdoor room, a multiplex movie theatre, a lake, luxury hotels, high scale dining and a NFL Flagship Campus,[27] including the new NFL Network studio and headquarters for the league's digital properties.[28] In addition to Rams (and possibly Chargers or Raiders) games, the stadium will host Super Bowl LV in 2021.[29]

Other Events

Other possible uses for the stadium and entertainment complex site include the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, a venue in any American bid for the FIFA World Cup, the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, WrestleManias, boxing matches, NFL Drafts, Academy Award shows, Primetime Emmy Awards shows, College Football National Championships, LA Auto Shows, League of Legend Championships, Anime Expos, WTA Tours, World Figure Skating Championships, international soccer friendlies, concert tours, Orchestras, community events, movie premieres, film festivals, high school sporting events, Monster Jam rallies, Los Angeles boat shows, flea markets, wedding expos, California political convention and U.S Presidential election debates, LA Comic Cons, Star Trek and Star Wars conventions, a natural disaster shelter, Religious rallies, circuses, the Summer X Games, Pro Bowls, and NFL scouting combine, among others.

Entertaiment Venue

The stadium also allows other potential NFL opportunities on the complex such as an NFL retail store, a NFL Network studio, the NFL Honors ceremony, NFL Films premieres, other NFL-themed events, a West Coast wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and NFL-themed hotels.[28]

Hollywood Park Racetrack

Location of the former Hollywood Park Racetrack

Hollywood Park, later sold and referred to as Betfair Hollywood Park, was a thoroughbred race course until it was shut down for racing and training in December 2013. The casino remained open, containing a poker card room. The racetrack is to be developed by the Hollywood Park Land Company (a subsidiary of Stockbridge Capital) into a mixed-use residential and commercial site while the casino would until replaced. Most of the complex was demolished in 2014 to make way for a new construction.


Photo taken from plane while returning to LA from meetings with contractors for LA Rams Inglewood Stadium

Rival proposals

Main article: Carson Stadium

On February 19, 2015, the Oakland Raiders, and the San Diego Chargers announced plans for a privately financed $1.85 billion stadium that the two teams would build in Carson, California if they were to move to the Los Angeles market. Both teams stated that they would continue to attempt to get stadiums built in their respective cities.[30]

On April 21, 2015, Carson City Council bypassed the option to put the stadium to a public vote and approved the plan 3-0.[31] The NFL approved the Rams relocation on January 12, 2016, with 30 of the 32 owners voting their approval to relocate effectively ending the Carson proposal.[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Muret, Don (April 13, 2016). "Rams Tab Legends Global Planning As Owner's Rep For Stadium". SportsBusiness Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lee Slade". SportsBusiness Journal. April 18, 2016. p. 22. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ Busta, Hallie (August 8, 2016). "LEDs Shed New Light on Sports". Architectural Lighting Reports. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  4. ↑ Muret, Don (July 14, 2016). "Turner, Hunt Construction Win Bid To Build Rams' $2.5B L.A. Stadium". SportsBusiness Daily. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Hollywood Park Land Company announces plan to build world-class sports complex in Inglewood" (Press release). Stockbridge Real Estate. January 5, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Farmer, Sam; Vincent, Roger (January 5, 2015). "Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/20936-hollywood-park-casino-s-grand-opening-oct-21
  8. 1 2 Wagoner, Nick (February 1, 2014). "St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke buys 60 acres of land in Los Angeles". ESPN. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ Reed, Scott M. (November 9, 2014). "Will Stan Kroenke bring the Rams west?". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ Ozanian, Mike (January 26, 2012). "Kroenke's Bid For Dodgers Implies Rams Are Headed To L.A.". Forbes. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. ↑ Farmer, Sam (January 30, 2014). "A return of L.A. Rams? Owner is said to buy possible stadium site". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ Schwab, Frank (December 20, 2014). "No NFL team moving to Los Angeles for 2015, report says". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Robert (2015). "Text of the Measure - City of Champions Revitalization Project". Champions Initiative. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ Piper, Brandie (January 31, 2014). "Report: Rams owner bought 60 acres of land in Calif". KSDK. St. Louis. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  15. ↑ Gross, Benjamin (January 12, 2015). "High Public Cost of the Proposed Inglewood NFL Stadium". Curbed. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  16. ↑ Larkin, Michael; Schwartz, Gadi (February 25, 2015). "Inglewood Council Rams Through NFL Stadium Proposal". KNBC. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ Crabtree, Curtis (February 25, 2015). "Inglewood unanimously approves stadium plan at Hollywood Park". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  18. ↑ Logan, Tim; Jennings, Angel; Fenno, Nathan (February 24, 2015). "Inglewood council approves NFL stadium plan amid big community support". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  19. ↑ Florio, Mike (February 8, 2015). "Inglewood stadium construction begins, sort of". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  20. ↑ Michaud, Stephanie (July 14, 2016). "Stadium Contractors". MyNewsLA. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  21. ↑ Fenno, Nathan (October 19, 2016). "Excavation for the Rams' stadium could begin in just weeks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rams to break ground on Inglewood stadium next week, source says". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ↑ "Rams to break ground on $2.6 billion Inglewood stadium Thursday". ESPN.
  24. ↑ Farmer, Sam; Fenno, Nathan (January 12, 2016). "NFL will return to Los Angeles for 2016 season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  25. 1 2 Acee, Kevin; Garrick, David; Wilkens, John (January 29, 2016). "Chargers here for a year -- then what?". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  26. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (January 29, 2016). "Chargers announce they will stay in San Diego for 2016". National Football League. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ Green, Nick (January 27, 2016). "Could a new light rail line connect Torrance with the NFL stadium in Inglewood?". Daily Breeze. Los Angeles. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Gantt, Darin (January 6, 2016). "Rams' L.A. proposal includes offer to host Pro Bowl, Combine". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  29. ↑ Schrotenboer, Brent (January 14, 2016). "With NFL back in Los Angeles, Super Bowl becomes a hot topic". USA Today. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  30. ↑ Farmer, Sam (February 20, 2015). "Chargers, Raiders will jointly pursue an NFL stadium in Carson". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  31. ↑ Logan, Tim; Fenno, Nathan (April 21, 2016). "Carson City Council gives unanimous approval to NFL stadium". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  32. ↑ Logan, Tim; Fenno, Nathan (January 13, 2016). "NFL will return to Los Angeles for 2016 season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.

External links

Preceded by
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum		 Home of the Los Angeles Rams
2019–future 		Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
Hard Rock Stadium		 Host of
Super Bowl LV
2021 		Succeeded by
TBD
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