The Rams are "hopeful of announcing a naming rights partner" for the new Inglewood stadium the team is sharing with the Chargers prior to its expected opening in the summer of '20, according to Arash Markazi of the L.A. TIMES. Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said, "We want to make sure we find the right partner for this unbelievable building. We want it to be the right match for the stadium project and for Inglewood." The venue's working moniker is L.A. Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, and Demoff said, "Hopefully it will be shorter than the official name right now." Demoff indicated that he hopes to host "concerts and international soccer matches as 'dry runs'" before any NFL preseason games are played there (L.A. TIMES, 4/16).
MAKING PROGRESS: The AP's Joe Reedy noted stadium officials and reps from both the Rams and Chargers on Monday celebrated the completion of the "outer shell for the canopy that sits above the stadium's seating bowl, Champions Plaza and performance venue." The steel roof shell is "one of three parts of the canopy." L.A. Sports & Entertainment District Managing Dir Jason Gannon said that the stadium is "two-thirds complete" (AP, 4/15). Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said, "There's so many things about this stadium that are incredibly unique -- the design, the technology -- and it's all going to be first class." Demoff indicated that ensuring the facility is "top-notch is important as the NFL looks to grow the league's fan base globally." He said, "This is going to be part of the Los Angeles landscape. So I think from our vantage point, it's about making sure for decades to come this is a great NFL experience -- not just for Rams and Chargers fans, but for fans of all 32 teams" (ESPN.com, 4/16).
