LOS ANGELES — If you're Jason Gannon, almost every day for the last four years has started and ended with a yellow vest and a hard hat.
As the managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Gannon has had a front row seat to what he says is a construction project suited perfectly to the City of Los Angeles.
What You Need To Know
- SoFi Stadium is part of Hollywood Park's nearly 300 acres, roughly three times the size of Disneyland
- The stadium has already secured Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College National Championship in 2023, and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics
- Sofi is now the NFL's largest and first indoor/outdoor stadium
- The development will also include retail and residential spaces, walking trails, and a lake
“To see it actually in real life is incredible," he said. "I think people are going to be surprised whenever they come and they see the attention to detail. It’s really creating a special place here in Los Angeles.”
Walking the property is an everyday occurrence for Gannon. On Tuesday, at the stadium's official ribbon cutting, he was offered a unique moment to reflect on just how far it's come.
“We’ve had a long construction process," he said. "There are certain milestones in every project where you can pause and reflect on where you’ve been, and also get excited about the future and where we’re all going as a team.”
Not only has it been a long process, but somewhat of a challenging one. Due to the pandemic, players will be surrounded by empty seats on Sunday when the stadium readies for its official kickoff.
Kicking off without fans in attendance is not something Gannon ever imagined, but he believes the completion of this phase is still something to be proud of.
“When the NFL season kicks off, having that, even if it’s enjoying it remotely for the time being, we’re excited about that,” he said.
When fans are allowed inside, their biggest challenge will be creating a strategy of where to look first.
If they look up, they'll see the biggest video screen in the NFL. Looking around the stadium, they'll discover walking trails, plazas, and a lake meant to be shared by the community all year long. Looking down from above, they'll spot a curvature in the roof that is a special tie to visitors touching down at LAX. Inside the building lies the possibility for thousands of new jobs.
"This venue is unlike anything else in Southern California," he said. "I think everyone involved in the project is just extremely proud."
SoFi will host its inaugural event on Sunday night as the L.A. Rams host the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers will usher in their first home game on September 20.