SoFi Stadium is so fine
by Sandra deDubovay
LW contributor
Perhaps you’ve heard about the $5 billion price tag or seen the new SoFi Stadium in the news. Joe DiDonato and I wanted to check it out, so we recently took a guided, behind-the-scenes tour. Our first view of the NFL stadium’s bold architectural design was quite impressive. It is the largest and most expensive stadium in the league.
With a vision for a new stadium in the LA area, Rams owner Stan Kroenke purchased 60 acres that included the Hollywood Park Racetrack and surrounding areas. After overcoming a lot of issues to get the project approved, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 17, 2016.
It is designed with three independent structures: the roof, canopy and stadium bowl. Because of its proximity to LAX, it has a subterranean stadium bowl 100 feet deep to keep it safe from airplane flights. It seats 70,240, but somehow seating can be increased to 100,000.
The Social Finance Inc. (SoFi), an online personalfinance company, acquired the naming rights in a 20-year deal reportedly valued at $30 million annually. Kroenke’s Rams, which relocated from St. Louis, Missouri, was the first football team to commit as a tenant. The Chargers, which moved from San Diego, followed.
During the two-hour tour, we experienced the facility from the top to the bottom, along the way visiting several luxury private suites and both locker rooms. We also got to walk through the 60-foot tunnel the players use to rush onto the field. All facilities are second to none.
Designed as a global destination for entertainment and other sports., SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host the Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022. It will also be the site of the 2028 Summer Olympics opening and closing events.
As with any tour, we ended in the official team shop, which offers stadium-exclusive merchandise and gear. We found this tour well-paced and extremely informative. It’s highly recommended as the best way to go, especially before attending a regular game and having to fight for space with more than 70,000 people, not to mention the parking.
