Our First Stadium: SoFi and the LA Experience#

Getting to Know LA#

We flew in a few days early to explore the city before game day. LA is massive, sprawling, and impossible to truly know in just a few days, but we tried.

Getty Villa was our first stop, tucked into the Pacific Palisades with views of the ocean. Walking through the recreated Roman villa filled with ancient art felt surreal, like stepping into another world. The gardens alone were worth the visit.

Santa Monica Pier gave us the classic California experience: The Ferris wheel, the arcade, street performers, and that endless stretch of beach. The weather was perfect, exactly what you’d expect from LA. Sunny, warm, not too hot. We grabbed fish tacos and watched the sunset over the Pacific, already feeling like this trip was going to be something special.

I even found someone living their best #vanlife and talked to them for a while to get some inspiration. My goal is to get a van and road trip to some along each of the coasts.

Game Day: Our First Tailgate#

Game day arrived, and we learned quickly that tailgating is an art form.

Driving up to SoFi Stadium for the first time was surreal. The building is massive, modern, and sits there like a spaceship that landed in Inglewood. We couldn’t go inside yet, but just seeing it from the outside got us excited for what was coming.

We rolled into the parking lot not really knowing what to expect. Within minutes, we were welcomed by Chargers fans setting up elaborate spreads of grills smoking, canopies up, music playing, corn hole games in full swing. The energy was infectious.

But here’s what surprised us: the Seahawks fans. Gene’s people. There weren’t a ton of them, but there were enough that we didn’t feel alone. We found a small group decked out in blue and green, and they welcomed us in like we were family. That’s when we learned that fanbases travel, even in the preseason.

One of the coolest conversations we had was with a couple living the van life. They had a converted Sprinter van that was basically a tiny home on wheels, and they were following the Seahawks up and down the West Coast. They showed us their solar panels, compact kitchen, the works. It was inspiring and made us think about all the different ways people experience this game and this country.

Even though it was preseason, the tailgate atmosphere was real. People showed up. People cared. That was our first lesson: it’s not always about the stakes of the game. It’s about the ritual, the community, the excuse to gather.

SoFi Stadium: A Monument to Modern Sports#

Walking into SoFi Stadium for the first time is an experience I won’t forget.

The place is immense. It holds 70,000 people and somehow still feels intimate once you’re inside. The landscaping around the stadium has beautiful palms, native plants, and modern architecture blending with the Southern California environment.

Inside, we saw Seahawks fans who’d gone all out. I’m talking full body paint, green and blue from head to toe. One guy had dyed his hair green and had a green pimp outfit. The dedication was unreal, especially for a preseason game.

But the real showstopper? The infinity screen.

This thing is unlike anything else in sports. It’s a 120-yard double-sided video board that hangs from the roof over the field. You can see it from anywhere in the stadium, and the replays, graphics, and visuals are stunning. It gives you a perspective on the game you don’t get anywhere else. Even when you’re watching the action live on the field, your eyes keep drifting up to that screen.

The Game Itself#

The Seahawks won. That made Gene happy, even if most of the stars weren’t playing.

That’s the thing about preseason. You’re watching backup quarterbacks, rookies trying to make the roster, veterans getting their legs under them. We didn’t see Geno Smith or any of the big names take more than a handful of snaps. But it didn’t matter.

We were there. We were in an NFL stadium, watching live football, soaking in the atmosphere. The crowd still cheered. The band still played. The energy was still real.

For a first stadium experience, it taught us an important lesson: it’s not always about seeing the superstars or watching a playoff-caliber game. Sometimes it’s just about being there, about the experience, about sharing it with your friend and the strangers sitting around you.

What We Learned#

This first trip taught us a lot:

Tailgating is real. It’s not just something you see on TV. It’s a culture, a community, and a way of life for a lot of fans.

Fanbases travel. Even in preseason, Seahawks fans showed up in LA. We weren’t alone.

Preseason still counts. Sure, the starters barely played, but the experience was authentic. The stadium was beautiful. The atmosphere was electric. It mattered.

People are welcoming. Strangers invited us to their tailgates. Fans shared their stories. Van lifers showed us their homes. Everyone we met was generous with their time and their passion.

This journey is going to be incredible. If this was just stadium #1, and it already gave us great conversations, sights, food, and experience.

The Road Ahead#

As we left SoFi Stadium and drove back through the LA sprawl, Gene and I were already talking about the next trip. Where would we go? What would we discover? Who would we meet?

One stadium down. Twenty-nine to go.

The Great American Tailgate had officially begun.

Stadiums Visited: 1/30
Tailgates Experienced: 1
Van Life Conversations: 1
Lessons Learned: Too many to count
Next Stop: AT&T Stadium

Follow along as Gene and I continue our journey across America, one stadium at a time.