History of SoFi Stadium in Timeline

SoFi Stadium is a multi-purpose domed stadium located in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. It's built on the former site of the Hollywood Park Racetrack, near the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome. As a modern sports and entertainment venue, SoFi Stadium hosts a variety of events, including NFL games, concerts, and other large-scale gatherings. Its state-of-the-art design and large capacity make it a prominent landmark in the Los Angeles area.

1938: Hollywood Park Opened

In 1938, Hollywood Park first opened as a thoroughbred race course.

1960: Chargers' inaugural season

In 1960, the Chargers played their inaugural season in Los Angeles.

1993: Last Super Bowl in the Los Angeles area prior to Super Bowl LVI

The Super Bowl LVI in 2022 was the first Super Bowl played in the Los Angeles area since 1993.

May 1995: NFL Approves Raiders Stadium Plan

In May 1995, NFL team owners approved a resolution supporting a plan to build a privately funded stadium on Hollywood Park property for the Los Angeles Raiders, but the deal was refused by the then Raiders owner Al Davis.

1995: NFL Approves Raiders Stadium Plan

In 1995, the land purchased by Kroenke was studied by the NFL in the past for a stadium proposal for the Los Angeles Raiders.

October 1999: Lakers and Kings leave The Forum

In October 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings left The Forum for the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Downtown Los Angeles.

2012: Highest grossing concert engagement since 2012

From November 27 to December 2, the K-pop group BTS held four concerts at SoFi Stadium, titled Permission to Dance on Stage—LA. These shows grossed $33.3 million, becoming the highest-grossing concert engagement held in California, the second-largest in North America overall, and the highest-grossing run of concerts at a single venue since 2012.

December 2013: Hollywood Park Closure

In December 2013, Hollywood Park, formerly known as Betfair Hollywood Park, a thoroughbred race course, was shut down for racing and training.

January 31, 2014: Kroenke Purchases Land Near Hollywood Park

On January 31, 2014, Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams, purchased a 60-acre parcel of land just north of the Hollywood Park site, leading to speculation about a possible stadium site for the Rams.

2014: Demolition of Hollywood Park

In 2014, most of the Hollywood Park complex was demolished to make way for new construction.

January 5, 2015: Partnership Announcement

On January 5, 2015, Stockbridge Capital Group partnered with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to build a multi-purpose 70,240-seat stadium designed for the NFL on the Hollywood Park site.

February 2015: Site Preparation

In early February 2015, earth was being moved and the site was being graded in preparation for stadium construction.

February 19, 2015: Raiders and Chargers Announce Stadium Plans

On February 19, 2015, the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers announced plans for a privately financed $1.85 billion stadium in Carson, a rival proposal to the Inglewood project.

February 24, 2015: Inglewood City Council Approves Stadium Plans

On February 24, 2015, the Inglewood City Council unanimously approved plans to combine the 60-acre plot with the larger Hollywood Park development and rezone the area for sports and entertainment, clearing the way for stadium construction.

December 2015: Planned Construction Start

The developers planned to begin construction on the stadium venue in December 2015 after the Inglewood City Council approved plans in February 2015.

2015: Developer seeks tax breaks from Inglewood

As of 2015, the developer of SoFi Stadium was seeking significant tax breaks from Inglewood.

2015: NFL Franchise Relocation Blocked

In 2015, the National Football League announced that it would not be allowing any franchise relocation for the season.

January 12, 2016: NFL Approves Inglewood Proposal

On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Inglewood proposal and the Rams' relocation back to Los Angeles, rejecting the rival proposal.

January 29, 2016: Rams and Chargers agree in principle to share the stadium

On January 29, 2016, the Rams and the Chargers reached an agreement in principle to share SoFi Stadium. Both teams would contribute a $200 million stadium loan from the NFL and personal seat license fees to construction costs and pay $1 per year in rent to StadCo LA, LLC. Chargers announced they would remain in San Diego for the 2016 season, while continuing to work with local government on a new stadium.

May 2016: SoFi Stadium initially awarded Super Bowl LV

In May 2016, SoFi Stadium was initially awarded Super Bowl LV (2021) at an NFL owners' meeting.

July 14, 2016: Construction Oversight Announced

On July 14, 2016, it was announced that Turner Construction and AECOM Hunt would oversee construction of SoFi Stadium, and HKS, Inc. would design the stadium.

October 2016: Hollywood Park Casino Re-opening

In October 2016, the Hollywood Park Casino re-opened in a new building on the property, becoming the first establishment to open in the Hollywood Park development.

October 19, 2016: FAA Approves Equipment

On October 19, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the first piece of heavy equipment, a 110-foot tall LB 44 rotary drill rig, for use during stadium construction.

October 21, 2016: Hollywood Park Casino Opens

On October 21, 2016, the Hollywood Park Casino was the first establishment to open in Hollywood Park.

November 17, 2016: Groundbreaking Ceremony

On November 17, 2016, the Rams held the groundbreaking construction ceremony at the stadium site, featuring NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Rams' owner Stan Kroenke.

December 16, 2016: FAA Delays Crane Permits

On December 16, 2016, it was reported that the FAA declined to issue permits for cranes needed to build the stadium, citing unresolved concerns with the overall project and risks to LAX.

December 23, 2016: FAA Approves Construction Cranes

On December 23, 2016, the FAA approved the use of large construction cranes to build SoFi Stadium.

2016: Final Demolition of Hollywood Park

In late 2016, the rest of the Hollywood Park complex was demolished after the Hollywood Park Casino moved to a new building.

January 12, 2017: Chargers announce relocation to Los Angeles

On January 12, 2017, the Chargers exercised their option and announced their plans to relocate to Los Angeles for the 2017 season, becoming the second tenant at SoFi Stadium. This marked their return to the market where they played their inaugural season.

January 15, 2017: Expiration of Chargers' option to relocate

On January 15, 2017, the San Diego Chargers' option to relocate to Los Angeles and share SoFi Stadium with the Rams was set to expire. After this date, the Oakland Raiders would have acquired the same option.

May 2017: Super Bowl LV re-awarded to Tampa, Super Bowl LVI awarded to Los Angeles

In May 2017, due to the stadium's opening being delayed to 2020, the NFL re-awarded Super Bowl LV (2021) to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and awarded Super Bowl LVI to Los Angeles instead. The NFL does not allow a stadium to host the Super Bowl during its first season of operation.

May 18, 2017: Stadium Completion Postponed

On May 18, 2017, developers announced that record rainfall in the area had postponed the stadium's completion and opening from 2019 to the 2020 NFL season.

August 8, 2017: LA Stadium Premiere Center Opens

On August 8, 2017, the LA Stadium Premiere Center opened in Playa Vista, showcasing the design and features of the new stadium to prospective buyers of premium suites and seats.

November 1, 2017: Stadium to host 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship

On November 1, 2017, it was announced that SoFi Stadium would host the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship.

March 2018: NFL documents indicate need to raise debt ceiling

In March 2018, internal NFL documents indicated a need to raise the debt ceiling for SoFi Stadium to a total of $4.963 billion. Team owners voted to approve the new debt ceiling at a meeting that same month.

March 2018: NFL Media Unit Relocation Announcement

In March 2018, the NFL announced that it would relocate its NFL Media unit from Culver City to a new facility neighboring SoFi Stadium in the Hollywood Park development.

June 13, 2018: American bid to host the World Cup selected by FIFA

On June 13, 2018, FIFA selected the American bid to host the World Cup. SoFi Stadium will host multiple matches during the tournament and is one of sixteen venues set to host matches. It is also one of eleven US venues being used and one of two venues in California which will host matches.

June 26, 2018: Stadium Topped Out

On June 26, 2018, SoFi Stadium was ceremonially topped out.

August 6, 2019: Champions Plaza named American Airlines Plaza

On August 6, 2019, the covered open space formerly known as Champions Plaza was officially named American Airlines Plaza. American Airlines, which has a hub at nearby LAX, was named the first founding partner.

August 2019: Construction Update

As of August 2019, one year before the planned opening, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff stated that SoFi Stadium was 75 percent complete.

September 15, 2019: SoFi acquires naming rights to the new stadium

On September 15, 2019, SoFi, a financial services company, acquired the naming rights to the new stadium for 20 years at over $30 million per year. The company became an official partner of the Rams, the Chargers, and the performance venue and surrounding entertainment district.

2019: Original Completion Target

SoFi Stadium's completion and opening was originally planned for 2019, but got postponed due to record rainfall in the area.

January 2020: Construction Update

In January 2020, Kevin Demoff announced that construction of SoFi Stadium was 85 percent complete.

February 2020: Crane Collapse

In February 2020, a large crane collapsed at the SoFi Stadium construction site, but no one was injured.

March 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, construction on SoFi Stadium continued with social distancing and heightened health and safety standards, as it was considered a critical infrastructure project.

May 2020: Additional loans approved for stadium construction

In May 2020, another $500 million in loans was approved by the NFL and team owners for the construction of SoFi Stadium.

June 5, 2020: Construction Halt After Worker Death

On June 5, 2020, construction on SoFi Stadium was temporarily halted after an ironworker fell to his death through a hole in the roof.

June 9, 2020: Construction Resumes

On June 9, 2020, construction on SoFi Stadium resumed everywhere but the roof, following a temporary halt due to a worker's death.

August 22, 2020: First Practice at SoFi Stadium

On August 22, 2020, the Los Angeles Rams held their first practice at SoFi Stadium.

September 2020: Stadium Opening

In September 2020, SoFi Stadium officially opened with a capacity of 70,240 expandable to over 100,000 for major events. It became home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL and the annual LA Bowl in college football.

2020: Revised Completion Target

Due to record rainfall in the area, SoFi Stadium's completion and opening was postponed to the 2020 NFL season.

2020: Summer concerts cancelled or postponed

In 2020, all originally announced summer concerts at SoFi Stadium were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including Taylor Swift's Lover Fest, Guns N' Roses' 2020 Tour (who instead performed at BMO Stadium), Kenny Chesney's Chillaxification Tour, Tim McGraw's Here on Earth Tour, and The Stadium Tour featuring Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard.

2020: Raiders begin play at Allegiant Stadium

In 2020, following the Chargers' decision to relocate to Los Angeles, the Raiders moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and began playing at Allegiant Stadium.

2020: Delay of stadium opening

In May 2017, SoFi Stadium's opening was delayed to 2020 which caused Super Bowl LV to be re-awarded to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and Super Bowl LVI to be awarded to Los Angeles instead.

May 2, 2021: Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World filming

On May 2, 2021, SoFi Stadium hosted its first major event with spectators: the filming of the Global Citizen-organized concert special Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World, hosted by Selena Gomez, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, the Foo Fighters, H.E.R., J Balvin, and the Duke of Sussex, to promote COVID-19 vaccination.

May 15, 2021: First Athletic Contest with Spectators

On May 15, 2021, SoFi Stadium hosted its first athletic contest with spectators present, a Major League Rugby match between LA Giltinis and Utah Warriors.

June 28, 2021: Performance venue named YouTube Theater

On June 28, 2021, the performance venue at SoFi Stadium was officially named YouTube Theater. YouTube is based in San Bruno.

September 8, 2021: NFL Opens West Coast Campus at Hollywood Park

On September 8, 2021, the NFL opened a new west coast campus in a seven-story office tower at Hollywood Park. The campus includes office space, a studio, conference rooms, soundstages, and an outdoor studio. NFL Media operates NFL Films, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and the league's digital properties from the building. It is also used as a secondary hub for replay reviews.

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September 12, 2021: First NFL Regular-Season Game with Fans

On September 12, 2021, the Los Angeles Rams hosted the Chicago Bears for the first NFL regular-season game at SoFi Stadium with fans in attendance, a 34-14 Rams victory.

October 4, 2021: First Lightning Delay

On October 4, 2021, the first lightning delay occurred during an NFL game at SoFi Stadium between the Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders, despite the stadium having a roof.

2021: Possible Completion Date

Demoff acknowledged the possibility that stadium completion could be delayed, though the stadium will be ready in the near future, possibly in 2021.

2021: Inaugural Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk

In 2021, SoFi Stadium hosted the inaugural edition of the LA Bowl (officially known as the Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk), featuring Utah State defeating Oregon State 24–13. The conference tie-ins for the game moved from the Las Vegas Bowl.

2021: Rams win the 2021 NFC Championship Game

In 2022, the Rams won the 2021 NFC Championship Game. This allowed the stadium to become the first stadium to host a conference championship game and the Super Bowl in the same year.

2021: Original year SoFi stadium was to host Super Bowl

In May 2016, SoFi Stadium was initially awarded Super Bowl LV to be held in 2021, but the event was re-awarded to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa due to the stadium opening being delayed.

2021: SoFi Stadium's hosting of WrestleMania 37 deferred

SoFi Stadium was originally slated to host WrestleMania 37 in 2021, but its hosting was deferred to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Completion of NFL Media Unit Facility

The new NFL Media unit facility neighboring SoFi Stadium in the Hollywood Park development was completed in 2021.

February 13, 2022: SoFi Stadium hosts Super Bowl LVI

On February 13, 2022, SoFi Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI. It was the first Super Bowl played in the Los Angeles area since 1993.

August 3, 2022: Club friendly doubleheader hosted at SoFi Stadium

On August 3, 2022, SoFi Stadium hosted a sold out club friendly doubleheader between two Major League Soccer clubs based in Los Angeles and two Liga MX clubs from Mexico: the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Chivas Guadalajara 2–0, and Los Angeles FC lost in a penalty shootout against Club America. The event was part of the Leagues Cup Showcase.

2022: Kenny Chesney performs at SoFi Stadium

In 2022, Kenny Chesney performed at SoFi Stadium as part of his Chillaxification Tour.

2022: SoFi Stadium hosts championship game and Super Bowl in same year

In 2022, SoFi Stadium became the first stadium to host a conference championship game and the Super Bowl in the same year. The Rams won the 2021 NFC Championship Game and became the second team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium, behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following the Rams' 23–20 victory against the Bengals, SoFi also became the second stadium to see its main tenant win the Super Bowl after Raymond James Stadium.

2022: Hosting Super Bowl LVI

In 2022, SoFi Stadium hosted Super Bowl LVI.

January 9, 2023: 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship

On January 9, 2023, SoFi Stadium hosted the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the TCU Horned Frogs. Georgia won 65–7, which at the time, was the largest margin of victory in a national championship game and any bowl game at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level until later that year.

April 29, 2023: First ever Monster Jam event hosted at SoFi Stadium

On April 29, 2023, SoFi Stadium hosted its first Monster Jam event, with Grave Digger winning the overall championship.

July 16, 2023: 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final

SoFi Stadium hosted the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final on July 16, 2023. Mexico won 1–0 against Panama. This was the seventh final held in the Los Angeles area.

September 2023: Revenue sharing dispute with FIFA

In September 2023, Stan Kroenke threatened to pull hosting from SoFi Stadium until a dispute regarding revenue sharing between him and FIFA could be resolved.

October 13, 2023: SoFi Stadium hosts its first high school football game

On October 13, 2023, SoFi Stadium hosted its first high school football game between Downey rivals Warren High School and Downey High School. Warren defeated Downey 28–21 in front of 18,000 people.

2023: Hosting Major Events

In 2023, SoFi Stadium hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship and WrestleMania 39, as well as the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

2023: Taylor Swift concludes The Eras Tour U.S. leg

In 2023, Taylor Swift concluded the U.S. leg of her "The Eras Tour" at SoFi Stadium.

2023: WrestleMania 39

On April 1 and 2, 2023, SoFi Stadium hosted WrestleMania 39, the 2023 edition of WWE's flagship professional wrestling event WrestleMania. It was the highest-grossing event in WWE history, with a reported gate of $21.6 million and a combined attendance of 161,892 fans over both nights.

January 2024: Confirmation that SoFi Stadium would host matches

In January 2024, it was confirmed that SoFi Stadium would still be hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

February 4, 2024: SoFi Stadium to host opening match for the United States

On February 4, 2024, it was announced that SoFi Stadium would host the opening match for the United States on June 12, 2026, as well as their third group match on June 25, 2026. SoFi Stadium will host eight matches: five group stage matches, two Round of 32 matches and a quarterfinals match.

May 4, 2024: City Year Los Angeles Spring Break Fundraiser

On May 4, 2024, SoFi Stadium hosted the City Year Los Angeles Spring Break Fundraiser, featuring a performance by John Legend.

May 18, 2024: SoFi Stadium to host Monster Jam World Finals 23

Two months after the first Monster Jam event, it was announced that SoFi Stadium would host Monster Jam World Finals 23 on May 18, 2024.

October 18, 2024: Servite faces St. John Bosco at SoFi Stadium

On October 18, 2024, Servite faced St. John Bosco at SoFi Stadium. St. John Bosco defeated Servite 27–17 in front of 6,900 spectators.

October 25, 2024: Garfield High School and Roosevelt High School play at SoFi Stadium

On October 25, 2024, SoFi Stadium hosted another high school game between East Los Angeles rivals Garfield High School and Roosevelt High School. 15,000 people watched Garfield defeat Roosevelt 38–28.

2024: SoFi Stadium to host swimming events at the Olympics

In 2024, SoFi Stadium is set to host swimming events during the Olympics, accommodating 38,000 spectators and becoming the largest swimming venue in Olympic history. Swimming will occur in the second week of the Games to facilitate reconfiguration after the opening ceremony. The stadium team reviewed Lucas Oil Stadium's pool installation for the 2024 US Olympic swimming trials as part of their planning.

2024: Inglewood Transit Connector Project Cancelled

In 2024, the proposed Inglewood Transit Connector, a 1.6-mile automated people mover intended to link Downtown Inglewood station with Hollywood Park, was cancelled.

2024: SoFi Stadium to host two matches during 2024 Copa América

SoFi Stadium is set to host two matches during the 2024 Copa América.

February 1, 2025: Honda Battle of the Bands

On February 1, 2025, SoFi Stadium hosted the Honda Battle of the Bands, the first on the West Coast.

May 17, 2025: Monster Jam returns to SoFi Stadium

Monster Jam returned to SoFi Stadium on May 17, 2025.

2025: SoFi Stadium to host the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League Finals

SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.

June 12, 2026: SoFi Stadium to host the opening match for the United States

SoFi Stadium will host the opening match for the United States on June 12, 2026.

June 25, 2026: SoFi Stadium to host the United States' third group match

SoFi Stadium will host the United States' third group match on June 25, 2026.

2026: Stadium to be temporarily renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, SoFi Stadium will be temporarily renamed to "Los Angeles Stadium" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate-sponsored names.

2026: SoFi Stadium to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup

SoFi Stadium is one of sixteen venues set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2026: Future FIFA World Cup Host

SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host eight matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

February 14, 2027: SoFi Stadium to host Super Bowl LXI

SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, marking its second Super Bowl.

2027: Future Super Bowl Host

SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl LXI in 2027.

2027: SoFi Stadium to host the 2027 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

SoFi Stadium will host the 2027 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.

2028: Stadium to be temporarily renamed for the 2028 Summer Olympics

For the 2028 Summer Olympics, SoFi Stadium will be temporarily renamed for the duration of the Games, following the policy on corporate-sponsored names.

2028: SoFi Stadium to host 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics ceremonies

In 2028, SoFi Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Organizers are proposing a split format for the Olympics that would also incorporate the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The under-construction Hollywood Park Studios will host the IBC during the games.