The Super Bowl Stadium’s Remarkable Design: Uncovering the Reason Behind its Three-Quarters Underground Structure

The upcoming Super Bowl in Los Angeles is not only set to showcase football prowess but also to unveil the grandeur of the event’s venue—SoFi Stadium. Serving as the NFL’s latest architectural marvel, SoFi Stadium has brought the Super Bowl back to greater Los Angeles after nearly three decades, and it is replete with superlatives.

Spanning an expansive 3.1 million square feet, SoFi Stadium claims the title of the largest “indoor-outdoor” stadium in the NFL. Nestled on the site of the former Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, the stadium, valued at $5 billion, opened its doors in 2020 as the home for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. With a seating capacity of up to 100,000 people, it stands as a symbol of architectural excellence and innovation.

SoFi Stadium’s Managing Director, Jason Gannon, describes the overwhelming sense of excitement and awe that visitors experience when witnessing the stadium for the first time. He emphasizes the architectural uniqueness, especially the curvature of the roof and its sheer size, making it an unforgettable experience.

Here are six distinctive features that set SoFi Stadium apart:

1. Three-Quarters Underground: Situated just three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and restricted by FAA regulations, SoFi Stadium ingeniously circumvented height restrictions by burying three-quarters of its structure underground. The football field itself lies 100 feet below ground level, twice the depth of any other NFL venue. This design required excavating over 7 million cubic yards of dirt from the stadium bowl. Fans, instead of ascending to their seats, predominantly descend through terraced pathways, offering a unique experience inspired by cliffside architecture.
2. LED Screen on the Roof: The stadium’s vast roof comprises hundreds of semi-translucent panels that diffuse sunlight during the day, reducing glare and aiding in cooling. At night, the roof transforms into a massive LED screen, illuminated by a network of LED lights capable of projecting images and videos. Notably, the roof even airs live TV, demonstrated when the Rams broadcasted a Monday Night Football game on it, providing a spectacular aerial show to airplane passengers approaching LAX.
3. Indoor-Outdoor Design: Despite having a canopy covering the field and stands, SoFi Stadium is open to the elements on its sides beyond the end zones. The aerodynamic design leverages Southern California’s temperate climate, earning the stadium its “indoor-outdoor” label. The facility is carved to allow ocean breezes to pass through, providing visitors with connectivity to the scenic surroundings. However, the open-air design also makes certain areas susceptible to wind, rain, and lightning, as experienced in a game delayed due to a thunderstorm.
4. Hanging Video Screen: Suspended above the field like a futuristic spaceship, SoFi Stadium boasts the Infinity Screen by Samsung, the largest video screen in sports. Covering 70,000 square feet with about 80 million pixels, it surpasses the dimensions of the football field. Being dual-sided, it displays messages and videos on both its inner and outer surfaces, immersing fans in content during the game.
5. Field-Level Suites: For those seeking a premium experience, SoFi Stadium offers field-level suites known as bungalows, located just a few yards from the back of the end zone. These suites provide an unparalleled proximity to the action, offering a unique atmosphere where fans can relax and enjoy the game up close.
6. Interactive Tours: Visitors can embark on stadium tours that grant access to private luxury suites, teams’ locker rooms, and even the field itself. The tour includes engaging activities such as running a 40-yard dash, throwing a football, and kicking a field goal, allowing participants to compare their performance to NFL athletes. The interactive tour aims to provide an immersive experience, replicating the adrenaline of charging onto the turf before a game.

As SoFi Stadium prepares to host the Super Bowl and captivate a global audience, its groundbreaking design and features position it as a testament to architectural ingenuity and a hub for world-class events. Whether for sports enthusiasts, music aficionados, or curious travelers, SoFi Stadium stands as a must-visit destination, inviting all to witness its grandeur and innovation firsthand.