Los Angeles will welcome the return of NFL football with the construction of a new 80,000-seat stadium complex, expected to become the world’s most expensive sports arena. With a projected cost of $2.6 billion, the development is more than $1 billion higher than New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, currently the league’s most costly venue. The development’s footprint is about twice the size of Disneyland, and will also include an entertainment district, housing, and offices for the NFL Network.

Currently, more than 6 million cubic yards of dirt have been excavated (enough to fill 600,000 dump trucks) 45,000 cubic yards of concrete poured, and eight cranes brought to the construction site. A massive structural retaining wall, which will support the stadium, is at least 65 percent complete, and the outline of the ovular structure is taking shape. The area covering the playing field will be made of a transparent material that’s strong enough to support the weight of a vehicle.

Work on the project is beginning to ramp up and while nearly 1,000 workers are currently on site, that number is expected to quadruple by this time next year. Officials have set a 30 percent goal of offering subcontracting opportunities to minority and disadvantaged businesses.

Inclement weather last winter brought work on the project to a standstill for nearly two months while the rain fell at a crucial stage of construction. Developers say the rainfall was unforgiving and fell during the excavation phase when work centered on digging the enormous hole. With water standing 12 to 15 feet deep at times, the excavated area had to be drained before work could resume.

The Rams will stay in the LA Coliseum for the 2019 season, while the Chargers will play home games at AEG’s StubHub Center in Carson, CA. Both teams are scheduled to start the 2020 season at the new stadium, which will also be hosting the 2022 Super Bowl.