INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stan Kroenke had dreamed of turning over this particular ceremonial shovelful of dirt ever since his first pre-dawn glimpse of this corner of Inglewood several years ago.
The real estate tycoon relished the thought of filling the largest block of contiguous unused land in the Los Angeles area with a lavish, career-defining stadium for his Rams. Under a brilliant Southern California sun Thursday, the team owner officially broke ground on the project with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts at his side.
"This was so impressive," Kroenke said, recalling his initial late-night clandestine visit to the site.