New Football Stadium a Game Changer for Inglewood

Jason Henry reports from Inglewood, California, where the city surrounded by Los Angeles, LAX, and the South Bay cities is expecting a transformation when a new NFL stadium opens nest year.

Mayor James Butts makes a comparison to Star Trek when describing the expected effect of the stadium,, which represents a $5 billion investment at the former site of the race track, Hollywood Park.

First there's the change on the redevelopment site itself:

Although the newly branded SoFi Stadium will open in the summer of 2020 as the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, construction will continue for years after the first kickoff. In phases, the Hollywood Park site — 3 1/2 times the acreage of Disneyland — will gain apartments, four public parks, a 300-room hotel and new retail spaces, including a spot for Inglewood beer maker Three Weavers Brewing.

But Mayor Butts is also hopping for a catalytic effect in the surrounding neighborhood and the rest of the city, too. One major nearby development plan is already on its way toward construction, and another is still in planning stages, according to Henry:

Across the street, developer Izek Shomof is renovating former Airport Park View into a high-end, 180-room hotel with a design that fits in with the nearby casino. If the Los Angeles Clippers build their grand, oval-shaped arena in the lots surrounding the property, the hotel — opening in 2020 — will be perfectly situated for both football and basketball fans.

The article also details some of the changes that will already be apparent to visitors who haven't been to the city since the Lakers and the Kings left for Downtown.