Features
Inglewood Stadium Faces Delay
AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes – Rams Stadium Site Inglewood
Preliminary work is under way at the future site of the NFL’s Rams stadium complex near The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Feb. 3.
“Record-setting” rain in Southern California has pushed back the opening date of the new stadium in Inglewood to 2020, nearly a year after the original target.
The future home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers was in the midst of a massive excavation when waters, 12 to 15 feet deep at some points, slowed progress and forced workers to drain the area, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Despite bringing drought relief to the region, the rain fell during the mass excavation period of construction when no other work could proceed in wet conditions,” a statement from the Rams said. “As a result, we experienced significant delays and lost the better part of two months from early January into the beginning of March.”’
“The development team felt it best to make the decision now, early in the process, to cause the least amount of disruption to our fans, partners and the community later on.”
The new opening date for the 70,000-plus stadium is summer of 2020, a ways away from the first goal, the start of the 2019 NFL season. Until then the Chargers will continue to play in Carson’s
It was not clear at press time how the delay would affect the stadium’s status as the host of Super Bowl LV in 2021.