INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) Before Stan Kroenke became the driving force behind the NFL's return to Los Angeles, Jerry Jones had a leading role in the years of political maneuvering, hard work and massive construction that led to the inaugural game at SoFi Stadium.
So it's only fitting that when Kroenke's Los Angeles Rams open their $5 billion West Coast NFL showpiece on Sunday night, their opponents will be Jones' Dallas Cowboys.
Kroenke and Jones are long-standing allies on a mission to return pro football to the nation's second-largest city, which also happens to be Jones' birthplace. Although the absence of fans because of the coronavirus pandemic puts a massive asterisk on what should have been a triumphant occasion for the league and two of its most important owners, the Rams and Cowboys will still enjoy a memorable evening at the start of new eras for both franchises.