Downtown Football Field Nearly Ready For Construction

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In six years south of downtown, LA Live's developers have unveiled restaurants, clubs, stages and walking space. 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.

Tim Romani is the President and CEO of ICON, the project’s development manager:

"Special energy" or "lighter than air/take flight"

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.

"Beyond an NFL stadium"

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 fans want”

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.