Rams owner announces plans to build NFL stadium in Los Angeles
The NFL won't be returning to Los Angeles next season, but that hasn't deterred St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke from moving ahead with his plans to build a stadium there.
Kroenke, who purchased a 60-acre plot of land near the Los Angeles Forum in 2013, has joined forces with the owners of the nearby 238-acre Hollywood Park site, Stockbridge Capital Group. Together, they plan to build an 80,000-seat NFL stadium and 6,000-seat performance venue, Stockbridge and the Kroenke Group told the Los Angeles Times.
"We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Terry Fancher, founder of Stockbridge, said in a statement. "We are committed to working with (the Kroenke Group) to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues."
(Courtesy: Los Angeles Times)
The NFL has long been rumored of making the move back to L.A. and the city currently has two sites that possess the legal, political and environmental clearances for NFL venues: the downtown Farmers Field plan and businessman Ed Roski's proposal in City of Industry.
However, as The Times notes, this move marks the first time an existing team owner has controlled a site big enough for a stadium and parking.
(Courtesy: Los Angeles Times)
Kroenke also has the ability to move quickly, as the Rams have set a deadline of Jan. 28 by which they will decide whether to convert their lease on the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis to a year-to-year deal.
The Rams declined to comment to The Times on any plans to relocate.
Developers said they will begin gathering signatures soon in an effort to place the project on the Inglewood municipal ballot in 2015.
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said he is extremely supportive of the ballot initiative.
"This will hasten the time for the citizens of Inglewood to get the project they deserve," Butts said. "This is something they have waited for for a long time."
UPDATE (10:10 a.m. ET):
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy provided the following statement to Pro Football Talk regarding Kroenke's plans:
No team has applied for relocation and there will be no team relocations for the 2015 season. We are committed to working towards having franchises that are strong and successful in their existing markets. Any decision on relocation in 2016 or later is subject to approval by the 32 clubs. An affirmative vote by 24 of 32 clubs (three-fourths) is required.
UPDATE (4:44 p.m. ET):
Former Anheuser-Busch president Dave Peacock and local attorney Bob Blitz, two people leading the charge to keep the Rams in St. Louis, announced they're still dedicated to keeping the team right where it is.
The news today is another reminder of how much competition there can be for National Football League franchises and projects that include NFL stadiums, but it does not change our timeline or approach. It is important to remember this will be a long-term process, but one that the State of Missouri and the St. Louis region are fully pledged to seeing through. We are ready to demonstrate our commitment to keeping the NFL here, and to continue to illustrate why St. Louis has been and will always be a strong NFL market. We will present a plan to Governor Nixon this Friday as scheduled, and we expect that it will meet his criteria, thereby allowing us to share our vision with the public shortly thereafter. In the meantime, we will continue to have discussions with the NFL, as well as Rams leadership.