Los Angeles has hosted some of the most epic Super Bowls over the years. From the first-ever Big Game played at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to the 2022 installment of the event, which saw the Los Angeles Rams triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals on home turf at the brand-new SoFi Stadium, the City of Angels has been the perfect destination for football fanatics and celebrities alike.
The second Sunday in February spectacular is something every American eagerly anticipates year-on-year. The biggest sports event stateside brings people together, and the whole country is glued to both their TV sets watching the game and the blockbuster commercials.
Though it might seem like the event goes on for only two weeks, a lot of hard work goes into its preparation. The host city has to be prepared to welcome thousands of visitors, manage security, and control the traffic flow, something that LA has thrived with over the years.
The Rose Bowl
Pasadena’s 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl has hosted the most of Los Angeles’ Super Bowls, amassing five Big Games over the years. In fact, only New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome and Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium have hosted more over the years, coming in with seven and six respectively.
Super Bowl XI was the first of them back in 1977, which featured the Oakland Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings. The showdown shattered attendance records, with over 100,000 fans packing the stadium. The California-natives, led by quarterback Ken Stabler, dominated the game and secured a decisive 32-14 victory.
The Big Game was played there three years later as well, as the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Los Angeles Rams in a classic showdown. Both teams boasted impressive defenses, but it was the Steelers who would ultimately come out on top thanks to their incredible offence led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
They won the game with a score of 31-19, taking home their fourth victory. The Rams were aiming to become the first team in history to lift the Lombardi on home turf, but they wouldn’t quite complete that feat. They would become the second team in history to do that mind you, but their success in 2022 came one year on from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers becoming the first franchise to lift the Lombardi on home turf when they soundly defeated Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium in 2021.
Super Bowl XVII was played there in 1983, with the Washington Redskins defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17. Four years later, the New York Giants won against the Denver Broncos in the Rose Bowl by 39 points to 20. Their victory came courtesy of a blistering performance by quarterback Phil Simms, who set a Super Bowl record with a completion percentage of 88%.
The final Big Game to be played at the Rose Bowl was Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. That particular matchup saw the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills face off in front of a crowd of over 98,000. The Lone Star state side, led by MVP quarterback Troy Aikman, was unstoppable scoring 52 points and defeating the Bills by a margin of 35 points. The game was historic as it marked the first time that a team – in this case, the Bills – had reached and lost three consecutive Super Bowls. The following year, they would go one better as they reached the Big Game for the fourth consecutive time, however inexplicably lost that as well.
This year, they have catapulted themselves into Lombardi contention. Led by majestic quarterback Josh Allen, the New York state outfit knocked off the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs on week 14 of the 2023 season by 20 points to 17. Despite not looking like a frontrunner for the trophy all year long, the victory has seen Super Bowl lines shorten odds on the Bills ending their Lombardi hoodoo down to +2500.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the site for the first-ever Super Bowl matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The venue, which opened in 1923 and still serves as the home for the USC Trojans of the Pac-12 over a century later, hosted over 61,000 fans for the big game. The Packers emerged victorious, winning 35-10 and cementing their legacy as the very first Super Bowl champions.
Super Bowl VII was also held at the same stadium back in 1973. The game had plenty of star power, with legendary Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer taking on the unstoppable Miami defense, led by linebacker Nick Buoniconti. In the end, the Dolphins won in a nail-biting 14-7 victory to complete their perfect season. The ground has seen significant upgrades over the years, including renovations in 2019. It is also the only stadium in the world to have hosted two Summer Olympics and two Super Bowls.
SoFi Stadium
The newest stadium to play host to the Super Bowl is none other than the ultra-modern and ultra-luxurious SoFi Stadium. Located in Inglewood, this stunning venue is home to both the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. It can hold up to 70,000 fans and features some of the most advanced technology in the world. It saw the Rams defeat the Bengals at Super Bowl LVI in 2022, before hosting WrestleMania 39 the following year. The stadium is set to host further marquee matchups and will be featured front and center at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
