The big game is almost here – on February 13, tens of thousands of people will gather at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood to celebrate the 56th Super Bowl and the first time in Los Angeles since 1993.
But attending the Super Bowl itself, for the average football fanatic, is an almost Herculean task.
On Ticketmaster, the highest seats start at around $5,400 per ticket. The National Football League’s official ticketing website is bidding for similar seats at $5,950.
And even worse, to get closer to the field on game day, you’ll need to deposit at least $20,000 per person.
The good news for future Super Bowl attendees, however, is that there are plenty of affordable (and some free) fan experiences, events, and concerts throughout Los Angeles County leading up to the game.
The first and most obvious event that football fans can attend instead of the actual game is the Super Bowl experience.
The event will take place the two weekends before the match, starting on Saturday February 5. During Super Bowl week, the experience will be open February 10-12.
Attend February 5 or 6 and tickets are $20. However, as match day approaches, the price increases. Participate from February 10 to 12 and you will pay $40.
The exhibit offers the chance to get autographs from past and present NFL legends (calendar will be available Feb. 1), a series of football-related mini-games, and an exclusive on-site NFL merchandise store .
Several trophies, including the Vince Lombardi Trophy, will be on display, along with a replica NFL gameday locker room, a Draft Day set and oversized replicas of each NFL team’s helmets. For a complete list of attractions, exhibits and dining options, visit the Super Bowl Experience website.
If you want to stay downtown Los Angeles, Crypto.com Arena is hosting the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Festival from February 10-12. While not exactly a football-centric event, it’s still a more affordable way to get in the party spirit for the big game.
Tickets can cost between $87 and $645, depending on how far you want to be from the stage.
Headliners include Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Miley Cyrus and Green Day are set to wrap up the festivities on Saturday before the Super Bowl. More details are available here.
On music festivals: Shaq’s Fun House – a carnival-themed, Super Bowl-specific music festival – will make its LA appearance at the Shrine Auditorium and Exposition Hall in downtown LA on February 11.
“Get ready for the most exceptional event of Big Game Weekend,” reads the event’s website. “I’m tired of the same old Big Game Weekend parties and we’re ready to change the game!”
Featuring artists such as Lil Wayne, Zedd, and Diplo, Shaq’s Fun House tickets include access to a six-hour open bar, unlimited food, and a full carnival experience.
Tickets are staggered, and the more expensive ones come with additional perks. Generally, they range from $250 to $600 per person.
Bloomingdale’s is hosting a three-day “beauty tailgate” in honor of this year’s Super Bowl. The event, taking place at the Westfield Mall in Century City from February 10-12, is open to the public and free.
“The interactive space will feature visual displays inspired by hatchback essentials but with a glamorous twist, including a hatchback vehicle and coolers showcasing beauty must-haves,” Bloomindale spokesperson Sebastian Masmela wrote. , in a press release. “The fun continues with games like cornhole and ping pong where guests can win beauty samples, as well as culinary bites inspired by favorite game day snacks.”
The Bloomingdale’s tailgate will also provide free beauty touch-ups.
There are plenty of options for Super Bowl parties and events on Super Bowl Day.
Angel City Market, an Inglewood-based outdoor market experience that, according to its website, “focuses on community, positivity and helping small businesses grow,” is hosting an open Super Bowl party day at the public for free – if you RSVP.
On game day, the Angel City Market outdoor viewing area will host over 60 food and retail vendors, live music and plenty of seating.
Without RSVP, admission is $1. Residents of Inglewood and Lennox, with proof of residency, also enter for free. Visit Angel City’s Eventbrite page to learn more.
On the more expensive side of game day events is The Players Tailgate, hosted by the Bullseye Event Group at Hollywood Park Casino.
The Players Tailgate, according to its website, has “earned a reputation as the best Super Bowl pre-game experience,” which explains the $875 per person price.
The tailgate is near Sofi Stadium and features an open-air venue, outfitted with a red carpet for former NFL players, celebrities and top chefs to attend.
Tailgate guests are free to enjoy an open bar and all-you-can-eat meals from a host of celebrity chefs, including Guy Fieri and Aaron May. Tickets available here.
Across LA County, restaurants and bars offer Super Bowl-themed food, drink and fan favorites.
Some include: SALT at the Marina del Rey Hotel, the Beachside Restaurant & Bar at the Jamaica Bay Inn, Red Car Brewery & Restaurant in Torrance, and ShoresLAX, a penthouse restaurant and bar at the Hyatt Place Hotel.
And if you’re the fit friend who likes to burn a few calories before indulging in traditional Super Bowl treats, Redondo Beach hosts its annual 5k/10k run on Super Bowl Sunday in partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
But even after the Super Bowl is over, Sofi Stadium still has plenty to offer.
Kinsey’s collection of African American art and history will be on display Thursday through Monday at the stadium, beginning Feb. 23.
Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, who met at Florida A&M University and later moved to Inglewood, have amassed a significant collection of art and artifacts through their shared passion for travel and art collecting since the 1970s.
Their collection—developed over decades—includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, rare books, postcards, and more that document the African-American experience from the 16th century to the present day. Each piece highlights the untold stories of African Americans throughout US history – exploring slavery, emancipation, the civil rights movement as well as the work of artists, inventors, thinkers and more – and the collection was created to “educate, motivate and inspire”. Shirley said.
Some of the standout items in the exhibit include a painting and sculpture by May Howard Jackson, who was born in 1877 and became the first African-American woman to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. There is a large abstract landscape painting by Richard Mayhew, an activist and artist, still living and working in Santa Cruz at the age of 97.
Tickets are $15 for ages 16 and older, $12 for ages 5-15, and $12 for students, seniors, active military, and residents of Inglewood with proof of residency. More ticketing information is available at sofistadium.com/kinsey/.
Writer Kelli Skye Fadroski contributed to this report.