The innovative design of Sophie Stadium in Los Angeles reflects the relaxed Southern California lifestyle while introducing new architectural elements that elevate the area into a world-class entertainment hub. Covering 288,000 square meters, the stadium features groundbreaking design aspects—from its open-air concourse to the 360-degree double-sided display screen that crowns the venue. These distinctive features have quickly garnered global anticipation.
Designed by HKS, Sophie Stadium serves as the home field for the Los Angeles Rams and the Lightning teams in the National Football League. In the Super Bowl championship held here in February, the Rams triumphed over the Cincinnati Tigers, becoming only the second team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl on home turf, following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For HKS, the design of Sophie Stadium represents more than just a sports venue; it is an opportunity to transform Los Angeles into the world’s premier entertainment destination and to advance innovations in the construction industry. As part of the Inglewood Hollywood Park integrated development, the project includes three distinct venues beneath a single expansive roof: the 70,000-seat Sophie Stadium (expandable to 100,000 with mobile seating), the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater, and the 10,000-square-meter American Airlines Plaza. These interconnected spaces can host separate events simultaneously without interference or combine for large-scale occasions, making Hollywood Park a versatile entertainment complex.
The massive exterior shell and roof of Hollywood Park evoke the crashing waves of the nearby Pacific coast, just eight kilometers away. The perforated canopy consists of over 35,000 anodized aluminum panels, each shaped with unique geometry. To handle this complexity, HKS’s Intrinsic Exploration Research Laboratory (LINE) developed specialized computational software to generate the panels’ intricate forms and build large-scale digital models. Inglewood city approved the use of these digitally signed and encrypted models in lieu of traditional blueprints, marking the first U.S. building project to do so. This approach not only guarantees construction precision but also streamlines project execution.
One early design challenge was complying with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) height restrictions on the stadium’s fifth façade, which is embedded underground. This partial sunken design places the venue’s base 30 meters below ground—two to three times deeper than typical multipurpose arenas. This subterranean approach makes the stadium an integrated structure, drawing inspiration from Southern California’s unique architecture and geography. The roof, stadium, and lobby blend an outdoor atmosphere with the flexibility of a traditional domed stadium.
The region’s mild climate inspired the striking porous canopy, made of over 300 single-layer tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) panels. ETFE reduces heat absorption while allowing natural light to fill the stadium and American Airlines Plaza, creating bright, transparent indoor-outdoor environments. Another innovative feature is the rooftop LED system, which displays images and videos visible to air travelers arriving or departing Los Angeles International Airport. This makes Sophie Stadium’s roof the world’s largest display screen—a memorable landmark and a proud symbol for the city, as described by lead architect Lance Evans.
The design of the stadium and its surrounding landscape responds to Southern California’s unique climate and geography. Hollywood Park features climate-adaptive architecture, including expansive lakes and well-connected green spaces. The outdoor stadium design takes full advantage of the temperate climate, providing an experience that feels simultaneously indoors and outdoors. The design ensures ample airflow, maintaining views of the sky and surrounding nature while offering shade and shelter from sun and rain.
Whether strolling through the spacious concourse or watching a game from the stands, visitors can enjoy the cool ocean breeze even on hot days. The stadium and landscape architecture result from collaboration between HKS and Studio MLA. Passive ventilation and natural lighting leverage the sun’s position and constant sea breeze to regulate the stadium’s microclimate effectively. The landscaping extends beyond the stadium, showcasing five distinct Southern California plant communities on each side: mountainous evergreens and broadleaf trees to the east; dense coastal shrubs to the west; desert flora to the north; hanging trees and lush riverbank grasses at the lakeside park. To counter potential future environmental challenges, additional Mediterranean plant species resilient to climate change help maintain the ecosystem.
Southern California’s seismic activity posed a significant design consideration. The region offers stunning landscapes—from beaches and forests to vibrant urban centers—but lies within an earthquake zone. To address this, the stadium’s roof is an independent structure supported by 37 massive seismic columns. The roof remains open on three sides to allow sea breeze circulation.
Notably, the roof is structurally separated from the stadium, YouTube Theater, American Airlines Plaza, and other ancillary buildings, allowing independent movement during seismic events. Surrounding the stadium is a massive “seismic moat” measuring 3.65 meters wide and 30.5 meters deep, designed to protect occupants by allowing the roof and stadium to move separately and safely during earthquakes.
Sophie Stadium pushes the boundaries of the digital era with cutting-edge technology. Samsung Infinity Screen 360-degree double-sided displays deliver immersive, dynamic visuals for fans inside the stadium. The completion of Sophie Stadium and Hollywood Park has boosted tourism revenue in Inglewood and surrounding areas. Retail, commercial, and residential developments centered on the stadium site—the former Hollywood Racecourse—are expected to generate significant local economic benefits.
The stadium will also host major upcoming events, including the 2023 National College Football Championship and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Project Drawings
△ Analysis Chart
△ General Layout Plan
△ Plan View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Hand-drawn Sketch
△ Generated Graph
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architectural Design: HKS
Area: 288,000 square meters
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Nic Lehoux
Lead Architect: Lance Evans
Design Team: Mark A. Williams, Lance Evans, Kevin Taylor, Scott Hunter, Jay Caddell, Greg Walston, Heath May, Mike Rogers, Anice Stephens, Bryan Mounger, Michelle Stevenson, Niel Prunier, Morgan Newman, Manzer Mirkar, Karl Sonnier, Mark Timm, Katy Cagle, Amanda Trimble, Patrick McMahon, James Warton, Chad Scheckel, Steve Bayne, Sean Huynh, LaKendra Clark
Principal: StadCo LA, LLC
Landscape Design: Studio MLA
Structural Design: Walter P. Moore
MEP Design: Henderson Engineers
Location: Inglewood, USA
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