INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KGTV) - Perhaps it's karma, or perhaps it's what developers in Inglewood say it is -- record-setting rainfall -- but the opening of the new $2.6 billion stadium the Los Angeles Chargers will play in will be delayed a year, forcing the team to play in Carson until the 2020 NFL season.
"Our focus is always on the fan experience," said Chargers president of business operations A.G. Spanos. "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."
The rainfall, which pushed many parts of California out of the drought, caused significant delays from January through March, officials said.
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The rain fell to the bottom of a 70-foot deep hole.
So, the Chargers will play at the StubHub Center in Carson through the 2019 season.
"Construction is our family business, so we understand the challenges that come with a project of this magnitude," Spanos said. "At StubHub Center, we are creating an unparalleled environment for watching NFL football, and considering that no other venue in the league brings you closer to the action, we think Chargers fans will enjoy our three years in Carson."
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Full statement on the delay from developers of the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park:
We want to provide an update on the 70,000-seat stadium and 300-acre entertainment district being built on the site of the legendary Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, CA. The stadium will be the home of both the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams as well as feature sporting events, major concerts, and other entertainment year-round.
The development team broke ground last November and since then hundreds of people every day have been working tirelessly on the construction. To date, the stadium bowl is 90-feet deep and fully excavated, with six million cubic yards of dirt removed across the site.
Unfortunately, Southern California experienced record-setting rain this winter. Despite bringing drought relief to the region, the rain fell during the mass excavation period of construction when no other work could proceed in wet conditions. As a result, we experienced significant delays and lost the better part of two months from early January into the beginning of March.
In the best interest of the project, we have decided to move the opening date to summer of 2020. This new target gives us flexibility to accommodate any additional delays that may arise while still delivering an unparalleled experience upon opening. This is a stadium that Angelenos, visitors and world-class athletes will celebrate for years to come, and we are committed to making sure this venue is exceptional from the day it opens.
The development team felt it best to make the decision now, early in the process, to cause the least amount of disruption to our fans, partners and the community later on. We will open the stadium with entertainment and sporting events leading into a full slate of home games for both the Rams and Chargers.
Our promise is to deliver a transformational district that represents a merger of sports, entertainment and real estate that is unparalleled. We owe it to NFL fans, partners of the project, the cities of Inglewood and Los Angeles, and the NFL to get this right. For more information about the L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, visit LASED.com.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
