One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Super Bowl LVI: The Sights And Scene On The Way To The Big Game
Fans hang out together in Inglewood waiting to get into the concierge area for tailgating.
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
We're heading to SoFi Stadium to take in the sights and sounds of the fanfare around the game. Because we sure don't have tickets!
Julia Paskin and Robert Garrova are out this hot and sunny Super Bowl Sunday to bring us the story.
Julia ran into Molly Hampton and Kyle Hampton, married couple from Cincinnati living in Los Angeles for 7 years. They say "Its been a long road. We're happy to be here today!" #SBinLA #Bengals #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/cLD3doBQwT
— LAist (@LAist) February 13, 2022
The Journey
Julia Paskin reports her long 90-plus-minute public transit commute from the San Gabriel Valley left her cranky. But once she got close the excitement has been infectious.
Along the way she spoke to two Irish exchange students who were heading from UC Riverside to Inglewood for the tailgating experience.
Sponsored message
"We were at the Rams-Cardinals game already and it's just tailgating is crazy to us. We don't see that kind of stuff at home," said Ronan McGuinness of Galway, Ireland. "It's like a festival."
Overall, L.A. gets high marks so far.
"Oh it's mad. We've seen nothing like it before in Ireland so different," McGuinness said.
But what about our public transportation?
"Public transport isn't great over here," said Oisin Nolan of Kildare. "It's kind of poor."
These Fans Are Ready
At Woody's Bar-B-Que in Inglewood fans are getting ready to watch.
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
Sponsored message
Outside Woody's Bar-B-Q in Inglewood, the smoke is billowing and making everyone in the neighborhood hungry. The vibes are just good on the street, people saying hello to strangers and having a good time.
Andre and Robert Reyes (pictured above) are from Inglewood and season ticket holders. They made the point that they're not just Rams fans today, they're Rams fans all the time.
And they're also happy about the business coming into the city.
The Parking Costs Are Real
Johnny Banda said he was hoping to sell the spot and get out of the sun.
(
Robert Garrova
/
LAist
)
We knew it would be expensive to park near the stadium so we stopped to chat with Johnny Banda in Inglewood. He's a short distance from SoFi and said once he noticed his neighbors were offering spots, he decided to get into the action.
Prices at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday as reported on SpotHero
(
Screenshot courtesy SpotHero
)
Sponsored message
"I'm charging $300," he told Robert Garrova. "The only reason that, I see further down the street someone is charging 5 (hundred) and another place was charging 4 (hundred)."
"I just want to sell this parking place and go inside they house," Banda said, noting "it's kinda hot out here."
The Traffic
With 90 minutes to kickoff the side streets near Manchester are starting to look...
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
This rickshaw driver (who when asked his named responded that his Instagram handle is "Michael Helix") told Julia he's "charging whatever he can."
Rickshaw driver near SoFi Stadium said he was charging "whatever he can.
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
Sponsored message
Quenching Thirst And Buying Merch
A vendor is set up near SoFi Stadium
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
A food truck near SoFi Stadium
(
Julia Paskin
/
LAist
)
Yers, Julia did partake of Antojitos Martin's refreshing and startling colored drink. She didn't have a bacon-wrapped dog since, well, she's a vegetarian.
Leading up to the game we had Gab Chabran give us a tour of classic L.A. street food.
You haven't been to L.A. until you've been to L.A. street vendors.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
