Los Angeles Stadium Inches Closer to Completion, Draws More Attention from Job and Venue Seekers

The entire sports and entertainment landscape in Los Angeles is set to change soon. The expected cause of that change is none other than the currently in-progress Los Angeles Stadium.

Work on the lavish sports complex reached a new landmark recently. The outer shell of the stadium’s canopy was put into place earlier this week, ESPN reported.

A ceremony was held to commemorate the addition of the canopy’s final piece and it was attended by the development group led by Los Angeles Rams owner and CEO Stan Kroenke.

Present for the ceremony were Rams chief of football operations Kevin Demoff and Los Angeles Chargers president of business operations A.G. Spanos.

During the event, Demoff predicted that the stadium will soon become the “epicenter of Los Angeles, certainly from an entertainment perspective.”

Demoff added that the stadium is what the NFL “envisioned” when the league finally decided that it was time to return to Los Angeles.

Spanos was similarly effusive while talking about the Los Angeles Stadium. The Chargers executive said that the new stadium will include features that are “incredibly unique.” He added that the stadium will be “first class” and that it will provide fans with a “really great experience.”

Also on hand for the ceremony was Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. and he likened the experience of seeing the final piece of the canopy being put in place to previous monumental moments in California construction such as the creations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Dodgers Stadium, and the Rose Bowl, the Chargers’ official website reported.

Witnessing the construction of the Los Angeles Stadium is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said the Inglewood Mayor.

The ceremony was also attended by other members of the Chargers and Rams organizations.

A Timeline of the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District Construction Project

The completion of the canopy is the latest in a long line of construction milestones the stadium has hit since the groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place back in November of 2016. Kroenke and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were present for the ceremony.

Originally, the Los Angeles Stadium was expected to open its doors to the Chargers, Rams, and the fans this year. Plans were made for the stadium to start hosting games as early as this coming fall.

Unfortunately, an unexpected amount of rainfall drenching the construction site and surrounding neighborhoods in 2017 forced both franchises to push back their plans for the stadium opening, according to this earlier report published on NFL.com.

The opening of the stadium was pushed back a year from initial plans.

More than a year after it was announced that the opening of the stadium was delayed, it was revealed that the project had managed to reach a significant milestone in its construction.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the stadium was “topped out” during a ceremony attended by team executives, businessmen, and numerous construction workers. A stadium is “topped out” when the highest beam used in its construction is finally put into position.

The beam used in the “topping out” ceremony bears the logos of both the Chargers and the Rams. It also features signatures from the people who have played a role in the continued construction of the Los Angeles Stadium.

The “topping out” ceremony was also important because it signified that the project had reached 40 percent completion.

Prior to the completion of the canopy this week, the project hit a different construction milestone earlier this year. Back in January, USA Today Sports reported had reached 60 percent completion. The announcement coincided with the Rams earning a trip to Super Bowl LIII after winning the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints just a few days earlier.

The Rams would ultimately fall short against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, losing by a score of 13–3.

More Workers Looking to Aid in Stadium’s Construction

With the Los Angeles Stadium’s canopy now completed, the construction project has entered a new phase.

Per a report from ABC 7, contractors involved in the creation of the Los Angeles Stadium are now looking to bring on more people to finish the stadium interior.

The contractors held a job fair to look for new applicants who could work on the stadium. Job fair coordinator Jason Witt said that the jobs they are offering are of the entry level variety, but he did add that they could lead to other opportunities in the industry.

Events Lined Up for the Los Angeles Stadium

Though the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District is still more than a year away from being fully completed, there are already numerous events set to take place at the location.

With the stadium set to open its doors to the Chargers, the Rams, and the fans in the summer of 2020, it is expected that the first major event to take place there will be a contest involving one of the two home teams.

Once the calendar turns to 2022, the Los Angeles Stadium is expected to serve as the host venue for Super Bowl LVI. Previously, the stadium was scheduled to host Super Bowl LV. The issues that hit the stadium’s construction in 2017 that forced the delays also impacted Super Bowl scheduling.

A year after the Los Angeles Stadium welcomes Super Bowl LVI, it will then serve as the host venue to the National Championship Game of the College Football Playoff.

The stadium could also be the home for football of a different kind in the second half of the coming decade. The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States was selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup last year.

Los Angeles is among the 23 Candidate Host Cities included in the United Bid, according to this article from Discover Los Angeles. The city’s bid to become a Host City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup features the involvement of the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park.

The Los Angeles Stadium will be re-evaluated as a possible main option stadium for the World Cup sometime next year.

After the World Cup, the Los Angeles Stadium may then be designated as one of the venues for football matches once the Summer Olympics heads to the city in 2028.

Even before the Summer Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and Super Bowl LVI, Los Angeles Stadium could be the venue for another major event in the form of WrestleMania 37, according to a recent report from the Los Angeles Times.

The WWE has yet to announce a host city for WrestleMania 37, but the company is scheduled to hold its next pro wrestling showcase at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida next year.

Numerous other NFL-related events are expected to take place in the Los Angeles Stadium after it opens.

An Overview of the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District

Upon completion, the Los Angeles Stadium is expected to seat up to 70,000. The number of seats available can be increased up to 100,000, per the stadium’s official website.

The entire district will also feature a 6,000-seat performing arts venue, 2,500 modern residences, 300 hotel rooms, 890,000 square feet of retail space, 780,000 square feet of office space, around 25 acres of public parks, bicycle paths, walkways, and open space, a state-of-the-art conference space, as well as numerous dining options.