FAA Study Presents Challenge for Inglewood’s Proposed NFL Stadium
Carson’s proposed NFL stadium got a boost Monday, when the FAA released a preliminary report that poses challenges for Inglewood’s proposed $1.8B NFL stadium project.
The report stated that the stadium’s location is "presumed to be a hazard to air navigation" and warned that the stadium could interfere with radar that tracks inbound planes to LAX. The report stated that the configuration of the stadium between two runways, coupled with the uncertainty of its reflective properties, is the FAA’s main objection to the stadium.
The findings offer the developer, St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke, solutions for overcoming this issue, including reducing the stadium’s height by more than 100 feet and reshaping the exterior or covering some surfaces with material that absorbs radar or isn’t reflective. But this would add additional costs and time to the 290-acre mixed-use project, which has already been designed and entitled, and site work to prepare for construction is nearing completion.
This week Carson’s stadium developer, Carson Holdings LLC, a JV of the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, announced that The Walt Disney Co CEO Bob Iger had been tapped to lead the proposed Carson NFL stadium effort. This was a coup for the Carson stadium backers, since Disney owns ESPN, and Iger already has a working relationship with many NFL owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell.
