Inglewood's Mayor and Kroenke's Billionaire Beef

0:00It's April 23rd. This is California News Today, local news powered by AI. A once-tight bond between Inglewood Mayor James Butts and billionaire Stan Kroenke is cracking wide open. In July 2025, Kroenke's company behind the 300-acre Hollywood Park, home to Sofie Stadium, sued the city to block over one, 100 digital billboards popping up nearby. Steve Balmer's crew with the Intuit Dome jumped in with their own suit, all over who controls ads for massive crowds. This beef stems from years of teamwork that landed the NFL in LA, built killer venues, and lined up the World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. Butts and cranky were like partners in crime, turning Inglewood around post-recession, pumping in developments that drew millions of fans and 10 million visitors to Sofie alone since opening. Fans are feeling the squeeze though, with traffic nightmares, jacked up water rates, and a business trip still struggling despite the boom.

1:02The city kicked off its billboard plan in April 2025 for a quick cash grab from event traffic pitching it a safety alerts too. Now it's sparking fears that these fights could scare off investors and tank long-term deals. Butts hit back hard, writing Kroenke that their original Sofie contract from 2015 is straight up void based on a court ruling about how it got approved. He wants $20 million back that the city just paid and says no more reimbursements for infrastructure work, even warning officials could, face jail time. These lawsuits are piling up, with Kroenke countersuing to lock in their 25-year deal and keep payments flowing. As Butts eyes a fifth term, the real stakes hit Inglewood's jobs, growth, and that champion vibe they built. Seeing everyone watching, if they can. Patch this up before the big events roll in.