Get your game face on, football fans: Super Bowl LVI is coming to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Feb. 13, and the world will be watching. The latest California Now Podcast showcases three "fan-tastic" ways to get in on the action—with or without tickets for the Big Game.
Attend the Official Fan Fest
NFL Director of Events Nicki Ewell invites listeners to attend the Super Bowl Experience, an "interactive football theme park" opening Feb. 5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Meeting and securing autographs from star players is a huge draw at these fan fests, but that’s only the beginning. Attendees can also snap selfies with genuine NFL booty, Ewell says. "Things to see include the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which is the actual Super Bowl trophy that the AFC or NFC champion will receive on Feb. 13, and our full collection of 55 Super Bowl rings. They're beautiful, gaudy, amazing things to see up close."
She says fans can also "cop some cool gear" at the NFL shop or virtually race against an NFL player. "We have our digital 40-yard dash that you can run against Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans and Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants."
Kids ages 12 and under can attend the fan fest free. "Boys and girls can learn football skills and drills on our clinic field, which will have USA football coaches teaching these little future NFL stars," she says.
L.A. County will administer COVID vaccines at the event—if you get a shot, you get in free—and the NFL plans to distribute 60,000 test kits to attendees. In another nice gesture, fans who take public transportation to the Super Bowl Experience receive half-off tickets.
Host Your Own Party
If you're watching the game at home, Meg van der Kruik of the food blog This Mess Is Ours offers tips for throwing a Super Bowl bash that even guests who aren’t sports fans will enjoy.
"You're really going to have a successful gathering if you create some fun little stations for everybody," she says. "You could have yard games set up outside, or you could have a fire pit with s'mores ingredients set up out there, so people could help themselves."
Van der Kruik contributed a few favorite recipes to Golden State Game Day Eats, an e-book filled with California produce–based party foods. (Get a free copy by signing up for the Visit California newsletter.)
Be sure to make enough for leftovers, van der Kruik says. "I always make sure people take something home for themselves for the next day or later that night. As the hostess, I want empty plates, big full bellies, smiles, laughter. No matter which team wins, I want everyone to have a good time."
See L.A. County’s New Stadium
Jason Gannon, SoFi Stadium’s managing director, talks about the 3.1-million-square-foot Super Bowl venue, home field for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
"It's the largest venue in the NFL," Gannon says. "The building from day one was built with two teams in mind. It has two locker rooms, two owner’s suites, two coaching facilities."
Set on 300-acre Hollywood Park, the sleek, high-tech stadium opened in fall 2020. Among SoFi's many innovations: Its playing fields are six floors below ground. "Because we're located underneath the LAX flight path—that's how close we are to LAX—we actually had to dig down 100 feet," he says.
SoFi's 70,000-seat capacity can expand to 100,000 for major events. To keep the Super Bowl crowd COVID-safe, all ticket holders will receive a KN95 mask to wear during the game.
If you can't score big-game tickets, Gannon suggests signing up for a stadium tour or nabbing seats for upcoming concerts, including Coldplay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
