1 of 3 | Stan Kroenke watches the Nuggets host the Golden State Warriors from a near midcourt front row seat. UPI/Gary C. Caskey |
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INGLEWOOD, Calif., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Although Roger Goodell issued a preemptive veto against any National Football League team attempting to relocate to the Los Angeles area, St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke announced plans to build an 80,000-seat NFL stadium in nearby Inglewood.
Set to be built less than 30 minutes from downtown LA.\, the planned stadium will be located next to Hollywood Park, Stockbridge Capital Group's 238-acre mixed entertainment venue which already features retail, office, hotel and residential space.
"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 Capital Group, said in a press release.
"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."
The Inglewood Forum used to be home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings before the Staples Center opened in in 1999. It has since been converted to serve exclusively as a live music venue.
"This will hasten the time for the citizens of Inglewood to get the project they deserve," praised Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts to the Los Angeles Times.
"This is something they have waited for for a long time."
The Rams can opt out of their current deal with the city of St. Louis later this month, but because Goodell won't allow a team to relocate to Los Angeles in 2015, Kroenke -- who also owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and is the largest shareholder of Arsenal Football Club -- is limited to reducing his commitment to the Rams' current home to year-to-year.
Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders, the NFL's other former Los Angeles team with an eye on returning, is also heavily considering a move to San Antonio. According the San Antonio Express News, former Mayor Henry Cinseros believes there is a "50-50" chance the Raiders move to south central Texas. Such a move seems unlikely however, as Raiders owner Mark Davis would be choosing the country's 36th-largest media market over a pair of top five markets.
