Thursday’s guest-heavy PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio included a visit from Inglewood Mayor James Butts, who provided some more details about the status of the NFL stadium project in the town over which he presides.
Butts explained that, with enough verified signatures of registered voters in hand, City Council will now decide whether to commission a ballot initiative or to apply a green light to the project in other ways. He anticipates minimal opposition to the plan.
Butts has maximum optimism about the ability of the venue to attract one or two NFL teams, and other major events like the NCAA Final Four. The structure will resemble a giant car port, with a transparent lid but openings around the edges of the seating area, promoting natural ventilation.
He said that Ingelwood has had no discussions with any NFL teams, but Rams owner Stan Kroenke has already made clear his plan to be involved in the project. Which implies that his team will try to move there. Butts was careful to point out that Inglewood will respect whatever processes and procedures the league requires for approving any relocation.
Still, Butts nevertheless intends for Inglewood to build a state-of-the-art stadium that naturally will attract one or two NFL franchises to it, simply by its existence. Butts hopes that construction will begin in December 2015, and that the venue will open in 2018.
For the entire interview with Mayor Butts, click here at select Hour Two from today’s show.