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Over the last six, LA Live’s developers have unveiled restaurants, clubs, stages and walking space south of downtown. In six more, they hope to add another draw: the National Football League.
Icon Venue Group and Gensler Architects presented their newest renderings of Farmers Field.
“This is a building that clearly called out to be something that felt lighter than air,” said Tim Romani, president and CEO of ICON, the project’s development manager. “That a strong breeze would almost lift it off the ground. And the ‘take flight’ notion was something we really took seriously.”
The rendering plops the new stadium just south of the Staples Center, in the current West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. A full-size football field sits about 40 feet below street level, enveloped by 72 thousand seats. A deployable roof opens like massive glassy wings over each side of the stadium.
Gensler Architects created the field’s concept design. Ron Turner heads the firm’s sports practice,and he wants the stadium to host everything from NCAA tournaments to trade conventions.
“Our goal was to create the most dynamic complex for hosting the worlds the most important events, many of which today bypass our great city,” said Turner.
The project is moving into schematic design now, seeking materials and preparing its environmental impact report. Icon is even working with the city to make it carbon-neutral, or close to it.
But ultimately, Romani said, they’re in it for the fans.
“What would you want if you were coming to that game on Sunday and you were bringing your family, what would make it the optimal experience for you?” Said Romani. “Thats the lens through which i look at these projects.”
They hope to break ground in 2013 and open Farmers Field in time for the 2016 NFL season, though they haven’t yet secured a team for the city.
Icon confirmed that talks with the NFL are ongoing.
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