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Video: Hollywood Park Grandstand Imploded To Make Way For NFL Stadium
video via NBC 4
Inglewood residents received a loud wake-up call this morning as the grandstand of Hollywood Park was imploded to make way for an NFL stadium.
A demolition crew imploded the historic structure at 6 a.m., Sunday morning, and among those that were in attendance to watch the spectacle was Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and a gathering of St. Louis Rams fans, who are hoping this event brings the Rams closer to return to Los Angeles. "It's a good first step. The Rams will be here," Javier Quinones told NBC 4 .
On the site of the Hollywood Park racetrack will be a $2 billion development project that will include an 80,000-seat stadium, hotel, concert venue, retail space, and residential units. Among the backers of the project is Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who announced the project back in January.
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"We just witnessed 75 years of history come tumbling down," Mayor Butts told KTLA . Butts said the grandstand, which could hold 65,000 people at capacity, was part of "the fabric of Inglewood."
"This was its last moment."
The early Sunday morning schedule for the implosion was chosen as it was deemed the least intrusive on the community and for flights at LAX, just a few miles away.
Although the Inglewood stadium project is seemingly moving forward, it has a bit of competition from another proposed stadium in Carson , which could potentially host both the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. So far, the NFL has not officially announced whether the Rams, Raiders, or Chargers would be moving to Los Angeles.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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