Los Angeles and Las Vegas Forge Faced with Stadium Construction Regardless of COVID-19
The future of a major stadium project has also been in doubt ever since the US was rocked by the coronavirus outbreak in mid-March. In the United States, stay-at-home restrictions differ amongst states, counties, and towns; some don't even adopt any, while others become quite rigorous in their application.
This means that certain stadium projects, like the one for Austin FC, have been put on hold since they were assessed to be unnecessary. On the other hand, there is continuing building in Nashville, Columbus, or Cincinnati.
It's business as usual for the two most costly stadiums in the world, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles ($3.4 billion) and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas ($1.9 billion), since both California and Nevada have approved the continuation of construction.
Although local media outlets like the LA Times and LV Review Journal have written on the uncertainty and added stress faced by many workers, many are still seen as among the fortunate to still have jobs to perform as the unemployment rate rose in just a few weeks.
Work was not hampered despite the first confirmed COVID-19 cases on both building sites occurring just days apart (Las Vegas, March 25, and Los Angeles, March 28, respectively). Naturally, specific protocols were implemented; the number of restrooms and sanitary units increased, but staff members' personal interactions were drastically limited (work time diversified, switching to teleconferences instead of meetings, etc.).
Each of the construction sites has reported additional COVID-19 incidents within the previous 24 hours. Due to this, the Turner, AECOM, and Hunt joint venture at SoFi Stadium included additional procedures, such as the requirement to take a temperature at the beginning of each shift. This implies that each employee at Mortenson + McCarthy in Las Vegas will be questioned about any symptoms before to starting work. The guys are quarantined while the locations where it has been established that sick personnel have worked have been sanitized.
Can they stay open later?
Although the situation is fluid and subject to change, both projects are progressing nicely as of this writing. There are no anticipated delays, and the present schedule is maintained, as owner of the Las Vegas Raiders Mark Davis stated a few days ago. Opening at the start of the NFL season would involve doing so, provided that the season actually starts as scheduled.
The optimism in California appears to be more circumspect. The COO of the LA Rams, Kevin Demoff, prioritizes safety and quality work over fulfilling deadlines. "Our stadium, and I think the Raiders' stadium as well, will both be great when they're built and when they start playing, which will undoubtedly happen soon, whether that's in July, August, September, [or] in 2021," said the owner of the Raiders.
On July 25, when Taylor Swift is anticipated to perform, the official opening is scheduled for Los Angeles. But, as the debate over postponing summer concerts continues, this event could also undergo changes.
How far along are they?
Due to the concurrent construction of both stadiums and the near proximity to their deadlines, there are parallels in their current states. Every day that goes by, the translucent paneling atop both stadiums becomes bigger, and when the weather is nice, all other construction under the future domes may continue as well.
Although though it has only illuminated a portion of the stadium thus far, the future illumination was first tested in Las Vegas last night. You can see why the stadium is referred to be "the death star" just by taking a quick glance at it. It is almost totally enclosed now that the facade cladding is substantially in place and has been decorated with Allegiant Stadium emblems.
Before it is brought into position, the enormous screen known as the "oculus" at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is finishing up its construction where the field will be. The installation of the 70,000+ seats surrounding it is almost finished.
