The opening for the future home of the Rams and Chargers in Inglewood, Calif. has been delayed from 2019 to 2020, the developers announced on Thursday.
Rams and Chargers’ new stadium opening delayed until 2020 due to record-setting rain
Los Angeles’ new football teams will have to wait until 2020 for their new home.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
“Our focus is always on the fan experience,” said A.G. Spanos, Chargers President of Business Operations. “Our future home will be the best stadium in the NFL and deliver a transformational experience for Chargers fans. If getting it right means pushing back the completion date, then I think the extra year is well worth it.”
In a release by the Chargers, developers for the new L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District noted that progress had been made on the project, but several factors pushed the date back. The main reason was that Southern California saw record-setting rain during the winter.
The greatest concern with the delay may not involve either the Rams or Chargers. The Super Bowl is supposed to be played at the new stadium in 2021. NFL rules say that a stadium cannot host a Super Bowl in its inaugural season, and would need a waiver from the league to get around that.
For the Chargers, this means the team will remain at the StubHub Center through the 2019 season. Despite the delay, the team doesn’t sound too discouraged to be playing in a smaller environment like the StubHub Center.
“I’m looking forward to it because it takes you back,” head coach Anthony Lynn said. “It’s a really intimate environment, like college or high school if you’re from Texas! I’ve been there a few times, and every time I go I can’t wait to get there and play. I think it’s going to be fun.”
The StubHub Center has a capacity of just 27,000. The Chargers have already sold out their tickets for the 2017 season.
The Rams, on the other hand, will continue to play their games at the Coliseum through 2019. The team’s statement said that despite renovations that are already underway at the Coliseum, the team will make efforts to make the fan experience at games better before they’re finished.
The delay is unfortunate for everybody involved, but it doesn’t sound like there will be much trouble in working around it.
See More:
