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NFL Teams Wait for State-Of-The-Art Stadiums

Proposed Inglewood stadium

There has been a bit of a shuffle when it comes to the status of at least one future NFL stadium. Last week, it was announced that the opening of a new stadium for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers was being pushed back a year, as severe rainfall forced a delay that will bump the facility’s debut back from 2019 to 2020.

Still, with stadium construction moving forward, the venue should add to the NFL stadium landscape when it opens. It is also not the only new facility in the mix. Over the next several years, the NFL will welcome three state-of-the-art facilities, with one opening this year, and two more debuting in 2020. Here is an overview of those facilities:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Falcons. Opening: 2017

Construction is unfolding in downtown Atlanta for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the new home of the Falcons that will come with some unique features. Along with an eight-panel retractable roof, the venue will also include a 360-degree videoboard that, according to Daktronics, measures at 58 feet tall by 1,075 feet in circumference. The stadium will seat about 71,000 for football, but has an adjustable capacity that can be increased or reduced to suit the event it is hosting. Assembled as part of a complex construction process, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has had its opening delayed on a few occasions, but currently remains on track to debut for a Falcons’ pre-season game on August 26.

Inglewood proposed stadium

L.A. Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, Rams and Chargers. Opening: 2020

As previously noted, severe rainfall during the early phase of the construction process ultimately forced a delay in the stadium’s opening. While this means that the Rams and Chargers will have to wait another year before moving in, it does not diminish anticipation for the facility. The fixed-roof stadium is expected to seat around 70,000 for football, and can be expanded for larger events. In addition, it is being constructed as part of a larger entertainment complex development on the former site of the Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood. Initially, the NFL intended to place Super Bowl LV at the stadium in 2021, but the delayed opening means that it is now expected to host Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The stadium is also expected to be an Olympics venue if Los Angeles lands the 2024 games.

New Las Vegas Stadium

Las Vegas Stadium, Las Vegas Raiders. Opening: 2020

Both the Raiders and local officials have some work to do before construction can begin, but the team’s move to Las Vegas has made significant progress this year. In March, NFL owners approved the team’s proposal to relocate and signed off on their lease for the new stadium as part of a vote earlier this week. The Raiders have also closed on the purchase of their preferred stadium site, which is located just west of Interstate 15 and is bordered by Russell Road, Hacienda Avenue, Polaris Avenue, and Dean Martin Drive. A preliminary timeline calls for the stadium’s construction to begin in January 2018, with the facility ready by June 2020. In addition to the Raiders, the stadium is also expected to be the new home of UNLV football.

This article first appeared in the weekly Football Stadium Digest newsletter. Are you a subscriber? It’s free, and you’ll see features like this before they appear on the Web. Go here to subscribe to the Football Stadium Digest newsletter.

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August Publications