Stan Kroenke Files Lawsuit Against Inglewood Over Billboard Lease

By: Eye On Inglewood Staff Writer

www.eyeoninglewood.com

July 21, 2025

Real estate mogul Stan Kroenke has filed a lawsuit against the City of Inglewood concerning a 40-year billboard lease agreement between Inglewood and WOW Media, Inc., approved on April 15, 2025. Kroenke's companies allege the city violated a prior Development Agreement that enabled the return of the NFL to Southern California.

The lawsuit, filed as a result of mandate in Los Angeles Superior Court on July 11, claims the billboard agreement is "procedurally defective and substantively improper" because it was adopted without a public bidding process or public hearing and purportedly grants WOW Media, Inc. exclusive authority over the signs for up to 40 years.

While Kroenke's lawsuit focuses on the billboard agreement's alleged procedural and substantive flaws, some sources suggest a broader context, viewing it as a challenge to Inglewood's economic self-determination, especially concerning the revenue generated by the city from events at SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Park project.

Background

Development Agreement: The original Development Agreement facilitated the relocation of the Los Angeles Rams to Inglewood and the construction of SoFi Stadium.

Billboard Lease Agreement: The agreement grants WOW Media, Inc. rights to install and manage billboards, potentially for up to 40 years.

Legal Challenge: Kroenke's lawsuit challenges the validity of the billboard agreement, alleging violations of the original Development Agreement and potential procedural irregularities.

Points of contention

Public Process: The lawsuit highlights the absence of a public bidding process or hearing in approving the billboard agreement.

Exclusivity: The agreement also grants WOW Media, Inc. exclusive authority over the signs for an extended period, which is a point of contention.

Economic Self-Determination: Some suggest the lawsuit aims to limit Inglewood's ability to leverage its economic resources independently, particularly those generated by the stadium and related projects.

The lawsuit is currently unfolding, and the court's decision will have implications for the city's future economic strategies and development projects.