Construction at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., and Allegiant Stadium outside Las Vegas—two new NFL stadiums scheduled to open in 2020—continue forward despite a worker at each location testing positive for COVID-19.
An ironworker at SoFi Stadium, the new home for the Rams and Chargers, tested positive late in the week, but work continued on the project with the joint venture Turner AECOM Hunt saying in a statement the worker was located in an isolated material pre-assembly area outside the building and never entered the building or its common areas. Those who came into close or casual contact with the infected worker have been notified.
The 70,000-seat venue, scheduled to open in July, continues forward with updated health and safety protocols, part of a plan put in place based on the March 19 order from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Part of the amplified safety effort includes an increase in toilets and wash stations, strict distancing protocols and improved monitoring of cleanliness. Tasks that have required close contact have been suspended or re-sequenced.
The situation near Los Angeles was similar to one around the same time at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, the under-construction home of the Raiders. Last week Mortenson-McCarthy Builders said a worker, who had been offsite for a week, tested positive for COVID-19, but had not been in close contact with any other project workers due to distancing guidelines.
“Mortenson/McCarthy previously implemented stringent cleaning protocols on the project consistent with CDC guidelines,” the joint venture said in a statement. “In accordance with those protocols, the area where the worker had been assigned, and the surrounding vicinity, was immediately shut down and sanitized. Work continues in other areas of the project that remain unaffected.”
The $1.9-billion domed Allegiant Stadium is a 65,000-seat venue neighboring the Las Vegas Strip. Allegiant Stadium is scheduled to open in August.