Inglewood Mayor To Tout NFL Stadium Plans In 'State Of The City' Address
INGLEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Two competing plans for a new stadium to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles will likely be a hot topic when the mayor of Inglewood gives his annual State of the City address Thursday.
Mayor James Butts is scheduled to speak from the newly re-opened "Fabulous" Forum, where he will update Inglewood residents on the NFL relocation process and the 80,000-seat stadium that is set to break ground in December of this year.
A "graphical presentation" of the new stadium is also expected to be unveiled, officials said.
The speech comes just days after the Carson City Council voted to approve the construction of an NFL stadium without putting up the plan for a public vote.
The stadium would be part of a massive complex, which would include a 350-room hotel and at least 10,000 parking spaces. About 850,000 square feet would ultimately be used for commercial space.
A report released earlier this week suggested that any stadium built in Los Angeles would need to host to two teams to be profitable.
Butts told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO Carson's plan for a stadium that could host two teams has a lot of shortcomings.
"The land is still not owned by either of the teams, it has environmental issues, there's a certain amount of dirt that has to be taken away, a plastic tarp has to be laid, and a methane pumping system has to be erected that will operate in perpetuity," said Butts.
By contrast, Inglewood already has title to the land for a stadium, Butts added.
CBS2 Sports Director Jim Hill will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the State Of The City address, which is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.