General Contractor Announced for LA Rams Stadium

A joint venture between Turner and Aecom landed the construction contract for what is expected to become the world's most expensive sports arena.

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

L.A. Rams Stadium rendering

L.A. Rams Stadium rendering

Los Angeles—Turner Construction Co. and Aecom have landed a highly coveted contract: the construction of the $2.6 billion stadium for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams at the mixed-use City of Champions Revitalization Project in Inglewood, Calif. Hollywood Park Land Co., the force behind the Champions development at the site of the former Hollywood Park Racetrack, tapped Turner and Aecom for the stadium job following a competitive bidding process.

“We have hired the best team to build the largest and most technologically advanced sports stadium in the world for the Los Angeles Rams,” Terry Fancher, president of HPLC, said in a prepared statement. HPLC is a joint venture between Stockbridge Capital Group and The Kroenke Group, which is headed up by Stan Kroenke, the owner of the Rams.

Turner and Aecom have not yet disclosed the value of the contract with HPLC; however, as the Rams’ stadium will be, according to a CNN.com article, the most expensive NFL stadium development ever, the partners’ fee is likely to be proportionally substantial. And given the elements of the project, they’ll earn every penny of it.

Turner is touting the HKS Architects-designed, state-of-the-art sports venue as a facility that will “set the gold standard for stadiums.” And aside from that designation, it will be huge. Current plans call for more than 80,000 seats, including 16,000 premium seats, 275 luxury suites and the requisite accompanying stadium features, all wrapped in a 3 million-square-foot space that will also be used for a bevy of different events.

L.A. Rams Stadium rendering

L.A. Rams Stadium rendering

All signs indicate that the Turner/Aecom joint venture is up to the task. The companies hold the distinction of being two of the largest construction and engineering management firms in the world. Additionally, as the largest sports venue builders anywhere, they have the requisite experience to boot. Between them, the companies have built 17 arenas for NFL teams, and that doesn’t include the 10 they have renovated.

“This has given us the experience necessary to deliver a stadium for the L.A. Rams that will be unrivaled among professional sports venues,” a spokesperson with Turner Construction Co. told Commercial Property Executive.

But exceptional credentials isn’t all that Turner/Aecom brings to the table. Fancher added, “These firms also offered a well-developed plan for meeting Hollywood Park’s commitment to provide substantial employment opportunities for local Inglewood residents and meaningful economic participation in the stadium construction process for minority-owned business enterprises.” And it probably didn’t hurt that Turner has had separate contracts with HPLC for demolition, infrastructure and construction services at the former racetrack.

With Turner/Aecom in place to spearhead construction activity, and Legends Project Development onboard as project manager, the Rams’ new home is on track to welcome the first fans in 2019.