The new $5 billion home of the Rams and Chargers opens this fall and has been mentioned in other threads, so I figured it deserves its own.

Anyone privy to any interesting details about the place as it nears completion? Seems like it's going to be miles ahead of Levi's and possibly all other existing NFL venues, is this true?

Does anyone know whether it's likely to host college FB games other than the 2023 title game?

Yes, the new Los Angeles Bowl, matching the Pac-12 and the Mountain West, begins this year.




https://pac-12.com/article/2019/07/24/pac-12-announces-addition-los-angeles-bowl-new-la-stadium-lineup-2020-25

New Pac-12 bowl game vs. Mountain West

https://pac-12.com/article/2019/07/24/pac-12-announces-addition-los-angeles-bowl-new-la-stadium-lineup-2020-25

The House of Goff

Well, I'm not one to defend Levi's Stadium, but if if you spend 4 times as much money, your new stadium should be miles ahead of Levi's Stadium.

What does that mean to be "miles ahead" of other stadiums? In what respects? I'm wondering, at what point, a stadium is as good as can be? What's a stadium supposed to do, exactly, besides be a place to watch a game?

As much as I'm inclined to disregard most things LA, from these and some other renderings I've seen, it looks pretty cool, and definitely is unique. On average, NFL and MLB teams have relatively new stadiums, with a construction boom having taken place over the last decade or so. While the lux and amenity factors have definitely been ratcheted up, nearly all the recently completed stadiums are still relatively traditional in their style and configuration. The new Vegas and LA stadiums appear to be ushering in a new generation of design and a completely different feel. I suspect that some of the new top level soccer stadiums in Europe have influenced the new designs, especially since so many US teams, including the Rams (Arsenal) and 49ers (Leeds United) also own or are investors in European soccer teams. Not sure which NFL teams are contemplating new stadiums, however given the egos of the average owner, it'll be interesting to see who sets out to upstage their peers. Next time I'm in LA during football season, I look forward to checking this place out and watching Goff light somebody up.

Big C said:

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What does that mean to be "miles ahead" of other stadiums? In what respects? I'm wondering, at what point, a stadium is as good as can be? What's a stadium supposed to do, exactly, besides be a place to watch a game?

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Sightlines, concessions, comfortable seats, atmosphere, weather contingencies = complete gameday experience. Levi's is a decent stadium but mostly sits in direct sunlight which can make games in warm weather brutal and has a lousy location, and traffic in and out of there is horrid.

Big C said:

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What does that mean to be "miles ahead" of other stadiums? In what respects? I'm wondering, at what point, a stadium is as good as can be? What's a stadium supposed to do, exactly, besides be a place to watch a game?

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Strykur said:

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Big C said:

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What does that mean to be "miles ahead" of other stadiums? In what respects? I'm wondering, at what point, a stadium is as good as can be? What's a stadium supposed to do, exactly, besides be a place to watch a game?

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Sightlines, concessions, comfortable seats, atmosphere, weather contingencies = complete gameday experience. Levi's is a decent stadium but mostly sits in direct sunlight which can make games in warm weather brutal and has a lousy location, and traffic in and out of there is horrid.

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The location of SoFi isn't exactly fantastic. It will be 1.5 miles from the nearest Metro stop (when it actually opens) and about the same distance from both the 405 and the 105. I'm sure Monday and Thursday night games will give new meaning to the words traffic nightmare.

How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

looks like it is very close to the Forum in Inglewood

The number of buses and/or subway trains it takes to get from Hollywood and Vine to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: 2

The number of buses it takes to get from Hollywood and Vine to SoFi Stadium: 1

Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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It's probably closer by car.

Bus-wise. You just take the (2) Sunset Blvd bus to La Brea. Then take the (212) bus south and it'll drop you in front of the stadiium

In the future, you can use metro rail, though as stated above, the nearest Metro rail stop is 1.5 miles away (Downtown Inglewood). Though I'm sure they'll be shuttles.

(You can also, 10 years from now, just take the Purple line from Wilshire and Westwood to Wilshire and La Brea, then take the 212 bus to in front of the stadium, if you don't want to take the long way round.)

Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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Inglewood is closer, but UCLA's lease at the Rose Bowl runs through the 2042 football season.

Do you think Fucla fans will want to travel to Inglewood or Pasadena?

BearSD said:

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Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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Inglewood is closer, but UCLA's lease at the Rose Bowl runs through the 2042 football season.

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Inglewood is a lot closer to UCLA, maybe half the distance. Straight down the 405. It is even closer than the Coliseum.

Of course, the 405 can easily have stop and go traffic on a Saturday.

Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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The Southern Branch is about 17 miles northwest of SoFi. But it is 26 miles southwest of the Rose Bowl. The EXPO Line light rail, south of UCLA, will connect to the new Crenshaw Line light rail, which comes within 1 miles of SoFi.

One unique aspect of SoFi is that because it is directly in the LAX flight path, it is deeply sunken into the ground. IIRC, seven of the eight seating levels are at or below ground level. I expect that it will be acoustically very loud.

This leads to another unique feature. The stadium the first indoor-outdoor facility. While the sides are open to the basin breezes, the stadium is covered by a clear roof, letting the SoCal sun and/or moon shine in.

Finally SiFi has the NFL's First-Ever 360-Degree Dual-Sided Ultra-High-Def 4K Videoboard. Sounds like something we could use in Memorial Stadium. Along with that clear roof.

Fyght4Cal said:

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Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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The Southern Branch is about 17 miles northwest of SoFi. But it is 26 miles southwest of the Rose Bowl. The EXPO Line light rail, south of UCLA, will connect to the new Crenshaw Line light rail, which comes within 1 miles of SoFi.

One unique aspect of SoFi is that because it is directly in the LAX flight path, it is deeply sunken into the ground. IIRC, seven of the eight seating levels are at or below ground level. I expect that it will be acoustically very loud.

This leads to another unique feature. The stadium the first indoor-outdoor facility. While the sides are open to the basin breezes, the stadium is covered by a clear roof, letting the SoCal sun and/or moon shine in.

Finally SiFi has the NFL's First-Ever 360-Degree Dual-Sided Ultra-High-Def 4K Videoboard. Sounds like something we could use in Memorial Stadium. Along with that clear roof.

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11 miles

sonofabear51 said:

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looks like it is very close to the Forum in Inglewood

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So even if it won't be the new home for UCLA football, I'm assuming this place might host some one-off games other than the new bowl? UCLA vs someone? USC vs someone? Or just random teams like the ones that play at Cowboys Stadium?

Also, how does this new space-age roof prevent really hot temperatures? Not to mention keep the stadium eligible for a Final Four? They had to "black out" all the windows at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to make it compliant for that event, not sure how they do that here.

510 Bear said:

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So even if it won't be the new home for UCLA football, I'm assuming this place might host some one-off games other than the new bowl? UCLA vs someone? USC vs someone? Or just random teams like the ones that play at Cowboys Stadium?

Also, how does this new space-age roof prevent really hot temperatures? Not to mention keep the stadium eligible for a Final Four? They had to "black out" all the windows at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to make it compliant for that event, not sure how they do that here.

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https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-10-20/ask-sam-farmer-open-air-nfl-stadiums



https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/the-rams-inglewood-stadium-could-be-a-game-changer-in-planning_o

P. Rivers entering free agency.

"By the numbers: Rivers led the Chargers to the playoffs six times, including an appearance in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. He has the most wins, passing yards and passing TD of any QB to not appear in a Super Bowl.

Wins: 123 (8th all-time)
Passing yards: 59,271 (6th all-time)
Passing TD: 397 (6th all-time)
Looking ahead: Rivers joins a free-agent QB market that could include Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and ... Taysom Hill. Where might Rivers land?

The Buccaneers have "legitimate" interest following another up-and-down season from Winston, and Rivers just moved his family to Florida.
The Colts, who are built to win now, also make a lot of sense. Head coach Frank Reich and OC Nick Sirianni both worked with Rivers for multiple seasons in San Diego." Axios

calumnus said:

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BearSD said:

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Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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Inglewood is closer, but UCLA's lease at the Rose Bowl runs through the 2042 football season.

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Inglewood is a lot closer to UCLA, maybe half the distance. Straight down the 405. It is even closer than the Coliseum.

Of course, the 405 can easily have stop and go traffic on a Saturday.

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Maybe traffic will be better on "the 405" by the year 2043, when UCLA will be able to move its home football games to a different location if they so choose. ;-)

BearSD said:

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calumnus said:

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BearSD said:

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Mikeman said:

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How close is it to UCLA? Closer than the Rose Bowl?

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Inglewood is closer, but UCLA's lease at the Rose Bowl runs through the 2042 football season.

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Inglewood is a lot closer to UCLA, maybe half the distance. Straight down the 405. It is even closer than the Coliseum.

Of course, the 405 can easily have stop and go traffic on a Saturday.

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Maybe traffic will be better on "the 405" by the year 2043, when UCLA will be able to move its home football games to a different location if they so choose. ;-)

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Have you met the 10 to the 110? Or the 405 to the 134? The 405 to SoFi is a comparative walk across campus.

Pac-12 and Big 10 should move the "Rose Bowl game" to Sofi Stadium if it turns out to be a good venue. The Rose Bowl is not a great stadium, and its mystique comes from a time when there was no playoff, few bowl games, and only one game a year there.

CaliforniaEternal said:

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Pac-12 and Big 10 should move the "Rose Bowl game" to Sofi Stadium if it turns out to be a good venue. The Rose Bowl is not a great stadium, and its mystique comes from a time when there was no playoff, few bowl games, and only one game a year there.

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WHAAT??

The whole point of the Rose Bowl game, the whole reason, it has a monopoly on the 2 pm. New Year's Day slot, is not only because it's the Grandaddy of them all but because of the beauty of its sunsets. Because of the beauty of the stadium, etc. When you put it inside an anodyne stadium, it becomes the Alamo Bowl.

How do they expect to keep that clear roof clean?

dimitrig said:

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How do they expect to keep that clear roof clean?

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Go!Bears said:

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BearSD said:

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Maybe traffic will be better on "the 405" by the year 2043, when UCLA will be able to move its home football games to a different location if they so choose. ;-)

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Nobody's going to personally attend a football game in 2043. You'll just send your avatar.

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Assuming that UCLA football then will be about as successful as it is now, putting avatars in the seats will be a great way to solve their attendance issues. Hey, there, Bruin booster, instead of just sending one avatar to the game this week, why not send 10?

okaydo said:

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CaliforniaEternal said:

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Pac-12 and Big 10 should move the "Rose Bowl game" to Sofi Stadium if it turns out to be a good venue. The Rose Bowl is not a great stadium, and its mystique comes from a time when there was no playoff, few bowl games, and only one game a year there.

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WHAAT??

The whole point of the Rose Bowl game, the whole reason, it has a monopoly on the 2 pm. New Year's Day slot, is not only because it's the Grandaddy of them all but because of the beauty of its sunsets. Because of the beauty of the stadium, etc. When you put it inside an anodyne stadium, it becomes the Alamo Bowl.

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Don't forget that parade!

If the CFB playoffs go to 8 teams, the interest in ny6 bowl games that aren't the semi is going to drop precipitously. Players for the losing 4 of the top 8 teams will not care that it's a the Rose Bowl, they will pull a Christian McCaffrey right and left, and that would be a correct choice for anyone with NFL aspirations.

I'd suggest making the Sugar and Rose Bowl permanent semifinal locations in the event of the 8 team playoff.

When the sugar bowl has $6 tickets for resale, I can't really see the system as is going on much longer.

SoFi would be good as a p12 title game location. Maybe give it a few years after Vegas, then do a rotation.

okaydo said:

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CaliforniaEternal said:

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Pac-12 and Big 10 should move the "Rose Bowl game" to Sofi Stadium if it turns out to be a good venue. The Rose Bowl is not a great stadium, and its mystique comes from a time when there was no playoff, few bowl games, and only one game a year there.

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WHAAT??

The whole point of the Rose Bowl game, the whole reason, it has a monopoly on the 2 pm. New Year's Day slot, is not only because it's the Grandaddy of them all but because of the beauty of its sunsets. Because of the beauty of the stadium, etc. When you put it inside an anodyne stadium, it becomes the Alamo Bowl.

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Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Two other major bowls, the Orange and Cotton, left behind their classic old locations (Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl) for NFL stadiums. But if the Rose Bowl does the same thing, they might as well pack up every other college FB tradition and stuff it into the dumpster at that point.

Big C said:

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What does that mean to be "miles ahead" of other stadiums? In what respects? I'm wondering, at what point, a stadium is as good as can be? What's a stadium supposed to do, exactly, besides be a place to watch a game?

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Amen. All one needs to know is that this sterile temple to excess and greed will have artificial turf and a roof - in Southern California! - and a huge distracting scoreboard. These things make me far less interested in ever attending a game there.

Construction seems to be moving along. I hope it's not too late for a loose steel beam to fall and crush Dean Spanos' head in on one of his construction site visits.