INGLEWOOD – The city of Inglewood continued its tremendous expansion to transform the old Hollywood Park into an emerging entertainment plaza. Right across from the new SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers and site of Super Bowl LVI, was the unveiling of YouTube Theater.
The new 6,000-seat music venue has a state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and screening system that will make each concert experience unique for all viewers.
YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl spoke about combining technology and music to enhance the viewing experience throughout this complex.
“We will also be able to showcase YouTube creators and artists on screens throughout the stadium, the theater, and the complex,” Kyncl said. “It’s an incredible opportunity with unbelievable and endless possibilities. The YouTube icon is a powerful reminder of the undeniable importance of digital video in our lives. Video engages, entertains, and inspires and it brings people from all walks of life together.”
The YouTube Theater was the latest example of the city of Inglewood creating partnerships with Rams owner Stan Kroenke and YouTube to enhance the vision that originally started between Kroenke and Inglewood mayor James Butts.
Butts reflects on that first meeting and how far this vision has come for him and his blossoming city.
“When we had that first meeting his discussion was about a stadium, my discussion was about a complete entitlement a small city within a city,” Butts said. “We came together on that, there was an initiative that started that laid the groundwork for that and we were able to get the entitlements together.”
“This is the culmination of destiny for the city,” Butts continued. “When COVID came, people thought our destiny was going to be denied. No, it was destiny delayed but it will never be destiny denied. This day is another culmination of all those good things that have come to the city of Inglewood.”
Kroenke also spoke highly of what has turned out to be a successful relationship with Mayor Butts and the city of Inglewood.
“We kind of knew we could work together to go down the road and that level of confidence is worth everything,” Kroenke said. “Inglewood City Council, we want to thank them, the city staff, all of the citizens of Inglewood who were involved. We talked about (Commissioner) Roger (Goodell) and the National Football League, we wouldn’t be here without 24 of 32 votes. They all backed us as well.”
Other prominent people present at this ceremony was Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California State Senator Steve Bradford, Angela Courtin, YouTube VP of Brand Marketing, and Jason Gannon, Managing Partner of Hollywood Park.
“It’s been many years in the making and to be here today to actually see the theater open is phenomenal,” Courtin said. “I’m so proud of the work the city has done, Stan and his team have done, and our team here at YouTube. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Gannon also spoke about how special this is for the city of Inglewood.
“This is such a unique venue: the content, the technology, the entertainment, and the partnership itself is very unique here at Hollywood Park,” Gannon said. “Hollywood Park has always been a gathering space within Inglewood and the greater Los Angeles area. Whenever Stan Kroenke and his vision to create this incredible entertainment destination come to life, it also includes a gathering place for the community.”
Part of this partnership also includes Live Nation, who will have several artists performing at the YouTube Theater in the next few months. They include Pitbull with Iggy Azalea, TLC with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Alejandro Sanz, and Keith Sweat with En Vogue & Silk.
This new venue is another example of an entertainment expansion to combine sports, music, entertainment, and technology which will have a positive effect on the city of Inglewood.
