The new home for the L.A. Rams and L.A. Chargers will not be opening as soon as was originally intended. The 70,000-seat stadium was initially scheduled to be ready in time for the 2019 NFL season, but thanks to a surfeit of rain the opening will be delayed until the start of the 2020 season, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The rainfall in the area didn’t just reach record amounts, but it also occurred at the worst possible time during the HKS-design stadium’s construction: the excavation phase.
At times, the stadium’s excavation site was filled with as much as 10 to 12 feet of standing water, which needed to be drained before work could resume. This caused the project, which is being built by Turner Construction and AECOM, to screech to a halt for two months.
The two months can’t be made up over the next two years, thus getting the project back on schedule, due to an already ambitious construction timetable and the increased workload associated with creating a stadium that will house two separate teams, according to the LA Times.
Due to the delay, the Rams will continue to play in the Coliseum for the 2019 season while the Chargers will have to play their home games at the StubHub Center for an extra season. While the Coliseum has a seating capacity of around 93,000, the StubHub center only offers 27,000 seats, but this will be expanded to 30,000 for Chargers games.
The stadium will be the focal point of a mixed-use entertainment district that will include a 300-room hotel, retail and office space, and a 6,000-seat performance venue.
Related Stories
Building Team Awards | May 23, 2016
'Greenest ballpark' proves a winner for St. Paul Saints
Solar arrays, a public art courtyard, and a picnic-friendly “park within a park" make the 7,210-seat CHS Field the first ballpark to meet Minnesota sustainable building standards.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 20, 2016
Texas Rangers announce plans for $1 billion retractable roof ballpark
The new stadium will replace Globe Life Park, which is only 22 years old.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2016
Audacy brings wireless lighting controls to Wrigley Field’s new clubhouse
The Audacy system uses a combination of motion sensors, luminaire controllers, light sensors, and switches that are all connected and coordinated by Gateways.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 6, 2016
NBA’s Atlanta Hawks to build new practice center with attached medical facilities
The team will have easy access to an MRI machine, 3D motion capture equipment, and in-ground hydrotherapy.
BIM and Information Technology | May 2, 2016
How HDR used computational design tools to create Omaha's UNO Baxter Arena
Three years after writing a white paper about designing an arena for the University of Nebraska Omaha, HDR's Matt Goldsberry says it's time to cherry-pick the best problem-solving workflows.
Mixed-Use | May 1, 2016
A man-made lagoon with a Bellagio-like fountain will be the highlight of a mixed-use project outside Dallas
Construction will soon begin on housing, retail, and office spaces.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 17, 2016
An expanded and renovated complex brings together U. of Colorado’s sports programs
This two-year project enhances the experiences of athletes and fans alike.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 13, 2016
Cubs take a measured approach when planning HD video boards
Along with the mammoth and super-sharp video boards, Wrigley Field's 1060 Project includes renovated bleachers, upgraded player amenities, and more concourses, decks, and concessions.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 13, 2016
More than a game: 4 ways sports teams are adapting to changing fan preferences
As the cost of tickets, parking, and concessions skyrockets, while home theater technology becomes more affordable, fans wonder: Why even bother going to the game? Here’s how progressive sports owners and Building Teams are packing stadium seats.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 11, 2016
Chicago Cubs continue Wrigley Field renovations with new clubhouse
The team found 30,000 sf of space underneath an old parking lot, nearly tripling the size of the old clubhouse.