About SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is the most expensive sports venue ever built. At $5.5 billion, it’s not just a stadium — it’s a statement about what Los Angeles demands from its architecture. Opened in 2020 in Inglewood, just 3 miles from LAX, it’s a sweeping marvel of glass, steel, and translucent ETFE roofing that looks like it was designed for a science fiction film.
The stadium is the shared home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, making it one of just two NFL stadiums with dual tenancy (the other being MetLife). It sits at the center of the 298-acre Hollywood Park development, which includes retail, residential, hotels, a casino, a 6,000-seat performance venue, a park, and a lake. The ambition of the complex is unmatched in American sports.
SoFi’s signature feature is the Infinity Screen — a dual-sided, 70,000-square-foot 4K video board that wraps the interior in an oval shape. It is the largest video display in a sports venue, period. During games, it creates an immersive experience that makes every seat feel premium.
For the 2026 World Cup, SoFi Stadium will host quarterfinal matches and earlier rounds. FIFA will install natural grass over the synthetic turf, and the stadium’s advanced infrastructure — including the ETFE canopy that provides shade while allowing natural airflow — makes it ideally suited for summer soccer in Southern California.
Getting to SoFi Stadium
Public Transit
Los Angeles is notoriously car-dependent, but transit options to SoFi Stadium are improving significantly ahead of the World Cup.
LA Metro C Line (Green Line): The Inglewood Transit Connector, a new automated people mover, is under construction to connect the Metro C Line directly to SoFi Stadium. Check construction progress as 2026 approaches — if complete, this will be the best option.
Current options: The Hawthorne/Lennox station on the C Line is the nearest rail stop, about 2 miles from the stadium. On event days, free shuttle buses run from this station to the stadium. The ride takes 10-15 minutes.
From downtown LA: Take the Metro E Line (Expo Line) to Crenshaw, transfer to the C Line, and ride south to Hawthorne/Lennox. Total journey approximately 50-60 minutes.
Driving + Parking
SoFi Stadium is accessible from the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. GPS: “1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, CA 90301.”
→ From downtown LA: I-110 South to I-105 West to Prairie Avenue exit. Approximately 12 miles, 20-45 minutes depending on traffic.
→ From LAX: Just 3 miles away — one of the closest major airport-to-stadium distances in the World Cup. However, the surrounding streets get congested on event days. Allow 20-40 minutes for what is normally a 7-minute drive.
→ From Santa Monica/Westside: I-405 South to Century Boulevard or Manchester Boulevard exit. Approximately 15 miles, 30-60 minutes.
The Hollywood Park complex has over 9,000 parking spaces in structured garages. Parking costs $40-80 for NFL games and must be pre-purchased through the SoFi Stadium app or website. There is no cash parking. Arriving early (2+ hours before kickoff) is strongly recommended.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft have a designated pickup/drop-off area at the Pink Garage on the east side of the stadium. Post-event wait times can exceed 30 minutes. A ride from downtown LA costs approximately $25-45; from Santa Monica, $30-50.
From the Airport
→ LAX (Los Angeles International): Just 3 miles — the closest airport to any World Cup 2026 venue. By car, 7-15 minutes without event traffic, 20-40 minutes on match days. No direct transit link yet, but shuttles and rideshare are quick options.
→ John Wayne Airport (SNA): 40 miles south in Orange County. 45-75 minutes by car.
→ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 25 miles north. 35-60 minutes by car, or Metro B Line to downtown then transfer south.
FIFA World Cup 2026 at SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium brings Hollywood production value to the World Cup. It’s the newest and most technologically advanced venue in the tournament, and its quarterfinal assignment reflects its prestige.
Expected matches: 6 total — group stage and quarterfinal matches.
Climate advantage: Inglewood’s summer weather is near-perfect for outdoor soccer. June and July average 75-80°F (24-27°C) with almost no rain. The ETFE canopy provides shade while the natural ocean breeze from nearby coast keeps the bowl comfortable. No air conditioning needed — nature handles it.
Pitch conversion: The synthetic turf will be replaced with natural grass on a modular tray system. SoFi Stadium has experience with temporary grass — it hosted soccer matches during the 2028 Olympics venue preparation process and concert conversions.
The Infinity Screen: The 70,000-square-foot wraparound video board will showcase replays, stats, and match atmosphere in a way no other World Cup venue can match. For the broadcast audience, the interior shots of SoFi Stadium will look spectacular.
Hollywood factor: Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. World Cup matches at SoFi will draw celebrity attendance, massive media coverage, and the kind of glamour that only LA can deliver. The surrounding Hollywood Park development offers dining, entertainment, and hotel options steps from the stadium.
History of SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium’s story begins with Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams, who relocated the franchise from St. Louis back to LA in 2016 with the promise of building a world-class stadium. Breaking ground in 2016 on the site of the former Hollywood Park racetrack, the project was initially budgeted at $2.6 billion — a figure that nearly doubled during construction.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the opening from its original 2020 NFL season target to September 2020, with the first game played without fans. The stadium didn’t host fans until 2021.
Super Bowl LVI (2022): The Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in their home stadium, with Matthew Stafford engineering a late comeback. The halftime show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar was the most-watched halftime performance in Super Bowl history and a love letter to LA hip-hop culture.
2028 Olympics: SoFi Stadium will serve as a primary venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and soccer matches. The World Cup in 2026 serves as a dress rehearsal.
Concerts and events: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, BTS, and numerous other acts have sold out the venue. WrestleMania 39 in 2023 drew over 161,000 fans across two nights.
The $5.5 billion price tag makes SoFi Stadium by far the most expensive stadium ever constructed — more than double the cost of any other sports venue in history. Whether that investment was justified depends on your perspective, but the result is undeniably impressive. SoFi Stadium is what happens when you give Los Angeles unlimited ambition and a blank check.
Photo Gallery
Fun Facts
At $5.5 billion, SoFi Stadium is the most expensive stadium ever built in the world — more than twice the cost of the next most expensive venue.
The ETFE roof canopy weighs 32 million pounds and features a 70,000-square-foot double-sided video board called the 'Infinity Screen' — visible from inside and outside the bowl.
SoFi sits 100 feet below street level. The entire stadium was dug into the ground to comply with FAA height restrictions from nearby LAX airport.
Stadium Location
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the seating capacity of SoFi Stadium?
- SoFi Stadium has a seating capacity of 70,240 for standard NFL configuration, expandable to approximately 100,000 for special events. For FIFA World Cup 2026, the soccer configuration capacity will be determined by FIFA's pitch and seating requirements.
- Where is SoFi Stadium located?
- SoFi Stadium is located at 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, California 90301, approximately 3 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
- Does SoFi Stadium have a roof?
- SoFi Stadium has a fixed ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) canopy that covers the seating bowl but is not fully enclosed. The translucent roof allows natural airflow while providing shade and weather protection. It is not air-conditioned — the Southern California climate doesn't require it.
- How much did SoFi Stadium cost to build?
- SoFi Stadium cost approximately $5.5 billion, making it the most expensive stadium ever built in the world. The entire Hollywood Park development surrounding the stadium represents over $6 billion in investment.
- How do I get to SoFi Stadium by public transit?
- Take the LA Metro C Line (Green Line) to the Inglewood station (under construction for 2026, check status). Currently, the nearest station is Hawthorne/Lennox. On event days, shuttle buses run from this station to the stadium. LA Metro is extending service specifically to improve World Cup access.
- Is there parking at SoFi Stadium?
- Yes, the Hollywood Park complex offers over 9,000 parking spaces in structured garages and surface lots. Parking typically costs $40-80 for NFL games. Pre-purchasing through the SoFi Stadium app or website is required for most events — cash parking is generally not available.
Last updated: 2026-02-06
