A new stadium that could house an NFL team inched a step closer to reality Thursday when election officials in Inglewood, Calif., said the required number of signatures had been received to potentially put the proposal on the ballot.

The Inglewood City Council also has the ability to approve the plan, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

The proposed 80,000-seat stadium, which would be built at the site of a former racetrack, needed the signatures in support of the required zoning changes.

The Los Angeles County Registar’s Office verified 11,000 signatures, which was 2,000 more than needed to move ahead, Inglewood City Clerk Yvonne Horton told the Times on Thursday. A group backed by Hollywood Park Land Co. turned in more than 20,000 signatures.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts expected the public support.

“It has been clear to me from the beginning that the community support for this modification is popular by an overwhelming number of the populace,” he said.

Studies outlining the economic and environmental effects of the stadium are expected to be presented at the next city council meeting. At that time, the council could approve the plan or decided to put it on a ballot this spring.

Los Angeles officials hope a new stadium would lure an NFL franchise back to the area.