SoFi Stadium Guide: What to Know Before You Go
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, has become one of Southern California’s premier destinations for football, concerts, and major sporting events. Home to both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, the stadium is impressive before you even find your seat.
I first visited SoFi Stadium in 2021, when fans were finally getting their first look inside the new venue. Some things have changed considerably since that first season, but the massive video board, open-air design and sheer scale of the stadium still make an impression.
If you’re heading to SoFi Stadium for a football game, concert or stadium tour, here’s what stood out during my visit—along with what you’ll want to know before you go today.
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About and Around SoFi Stadium
One of the first surprises about SoFi Stadium is how little of the building you see as you approach. The playing field sits approximately 100 feet below ground level beneath the stadium’s enormous canopy, allowing the venue to feel open to Southern California’s natural light and air while still providing protection overhead.
Inside, the centerpiece is impossible to miss. The double-sided Samsung Infinity Screen hangs over the field and gives fans a view from virtually anywhere in the stadium. Even from our seats in Section 212, the combination of the field, screen and stadium architecture made the game feel larger than life.
That was one of my biggest impressions during our first visit in 2021, and it’s one of the reasons I’d recommend spending a little time walking around before heading directly to your seat.
SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park
SoFi Stadium was built as much more than a football stadium. The venue anchors Hollywood Park, a growing sports, entertainment, residential and commercial district in Inglewood.
Since our first visit, SoFi Stadium has already hosted events that were still on the horizon when I originally wrote this article—including Super Bowl LVI and the College Football Playoff National Championship. In 2026, Los Angeles also welcomed FIFA World Cup matches to the stadium. Next up is another enormous international event: the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It’s quite a transformation from our first visit, when much of the surrounding development was still under construction.
Football, Concerts and Major Events at SoFi Stadium
Today, SoFi Stadium is a major Southern California entertainment venue hosting NFL football, concerts and some of the world’s largest sporting events. The Rams and Chargers still make football season a huge part of the stadium’s identity, but you don’t have to be an NFL fan to have a reason to visit.
Because event configurations and policies can vary, I recommend checking the official SoFi Stadium event information before heading out rather than assuming your concert experience will operate exactly like an NFL game.
What It’s Like Inside SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is big, but it doesn’t feel like a traditional enclosed stadium. Natural light, open-air concourses, bars and gathering areas make it surprisingly comfortable to explore before the event begins.
There are multiple levels connected by elevators, escalators, and stairs. During our first visit, we found a few areas that felt like dead ends. Signage helped us find our sections quickly, though. Give yourself some extra time on your first visit rather than expecting to walk straight from the entrance to your seat.
Our view was from Section 212, and one thing that impressed me was how much the Infinity Screen adds to the experience. Even when you’re farther from the field, you’re never very far from the action.
Things to Know Before Visiting SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium Bag Policy
This is one rule you don’t want to discover at the entrance.
SoFi Stadium currently allows clear bags measuring no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 12″. Small non-clear bags are also permitted up to 4.5″ × 6.5″. Because policies can vary by event, check the official stadium policy before leaving home.
SoFi also offers bag-valet locations during selected events for items that don’t meet stadium requirements, but checking your bag before you leave is considerably easier than dealing with it when you arrive.
Parking and Transportation at SoFi Stadium
Parking was easily one of the roughest parts of our first SoFi Stadium visit.
At the 2021 preseason game we attended, parking ranged from about $80 to $160. We chose an $80 garage, and after the game it took us roughly an hour just to get moving. That experience taught me one thing: have your transportation plan figured out before you arrive.
Today, SoFi Stadium recommends purchasing parking in advance, but onsite NFL parking can be extremely limited. Depending on your event, alternatives include Inglewood Park & Go and public transportation options connecting to the stadium.
If I were planning my first visit today, I’d compare parking and transit options before buying anything rather than simply driving toward the stadium and figuring it out when I got there.
Food and Drinks at SoFi Stadium
The food was probably the biggest disappointment during our first visit.
Remember, this was 2021 and SoFi Stadium had barely opened to fans. Concession stands looked nearly identical even though they offered different food, which made finding specific items surprisingly confusing. We weren’t the only visitors underwhelmed by the early choices; food at the brand-new stadium attracted plenty of attention on social media at the time.
I’m keeping that observation here because it was genuinely part of our first SoFi experience, but I wouldn’t use our 2021 concession experience as a guide to what you’ll find today. Food vendors and menus have evolved since the stadium’s opening.
One thing that remains important to know: SoFi Stadium operates as a cashless venue. Check the current dining options for your event before you arrive if food is an important part of your game-day plan.
Take a SoFi Stadium Tour
You don’t actually need Rams, Chargers or concert tickets to get inside SoFi Stadium.
SoFi Stadium now offers behind-the-scenes tours. These can include areas such as premium suites, team locker rooms, and the player tunnel. It’s an interesting option if you’re visiting Los Angeles when there isn’t a game or if you’re the kind of sports fan who wants to see the stadium without 70,000 other people arriving at the same time.
Tour availability varies, so check the official SoFi Stadium tour schedule before planning your visit.
Would I Visit SoFi Stadium Again?
Absolutely.
We visited at an unusual moment in SoFi Stadium’s history. It was brand new, fans were returning to major sporting events, employees were still learning the building and some of the game-day logistics definitely needed work.
But even then, the stadium itself was spectacular.
Years later, SoFi Stadium has become the major Southern California sports and entertainment destination everyone expected it to be. My advice is still pretty simple: arrive early, plan your transportation before you leave home, check the current stadium policies and give yourself enough time to actually explore the place.
The Infinity Screen alone is worth seeing in person.
SoFi Stadium Details
SoFi Stadium
1001 Stadium Drive
Inglewood, California 90301
Check the official SoFi Stadium website for current events, stadium tours, parking, transportation and visitor policies. For football tickets, you can also purchase directly through the Los Angeles Rams or the Los Angeles Chargers.
More Southern California Sports
If you’re a sports fan exploring Southern California, SoFi Stadium isn’t the only venue worth visiting. Down in San Diego, Petco Park offers a completely different game-day experience in the heart of downtown. You can check out our Petco Park experience here.
