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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
INGLEWOOD, California — The massive superstructure cloaks the stadium and the roof gives you the illusion that you’re watching an NFL game inside a stadium.
But the architects of SoFi Stadium pride themselves on the indoor-outdoor design, which includes open air at the roof edges including a section of Level 6 where the concourse leads to a plaza and another theater venue.
The stadium built privately by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke for $5 billion is the heart of the Hollywood Park redevelopment project in Inglewood, not too far from LAX.
It’s a 180-degree architectural opposite of the Raiders’ domed Allegiant Stadium, which has the feel of a giant arena that holds about 63,000 fans for football. Both stadiums opened in the COVID pandemic year of 2020.
Not too far from the stadium is the NBA Los Angeles Clippers arena, the Intuit Dome at Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue across from the Hollywood Park Casino and the Rams/Chargers NFL stadium.
Here’s a look at the arena. One of the designers is AECOM, which was picked by Las Vegas developer LVXP to create the arena at a mixed-use proposed project at the old Wet ‘N’ Wild site near Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.
Here’s a closer look:
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The Raiders did not impress on offense until quarterback Gardner Minshew II completed two passes to star receiver Davante Adams before backup running back Alexander Mattison took a short pass from Minshew and made a terrific hurdle move to complete the 31-yard touchdown reception.
It gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead after the first quarter of the season-opener as Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane roamed sideline to sideline, making tackles. Before the start of the regular season, Spillane was singled out Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, a former NFL linebacker and LB position coach, as the guts to the defense.
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Both of these teams lost more games than they won in 2023.
Under then-interim coach Pierce, the Raiders won five of their final nine games to win eight out of 17 games last season.
The Chargers were last in the AFC West, winning a mere five out of 17 games, including an embarrassing defeat to the Raiders on a Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium where the Silver & Black dropped 63 points on the hapless Chargers.
Both teams sputtered on offense as only 13 points between the two clubs were scored in the first half. The Chargers looked especially anemic under their new coach, Jim Harbaugh. They punted five times on six possessions, scoring their field goal after moving a mere five yards after stopping the Raiders on downs in the first quarter.
Minshew gifted the Chargers a fumble by losing the ball on an attempted pass. But the Chargers could only muster five yards again, ending with a short field goal boot.
Halftime: Raiders 7 Chargers 6
But there’s always the stadium that shines as the star:
The stadium is unique in that the media entered the building at Level 6 of the eight-level venue that soars high to the 400 and 500 seating sections.
Up at the 400/500 section level was quite the Big Ass concession stand.
Take a look:
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The Chargers’ placekicker, Cameron Dicker, booted a short field goal after former Ravens runner J.K. Dobbins ripped off a long 46-yard run.
The Chargers took a 9-7 lead as the defensive struggle limped to the end of the third quarter after normally-reliable Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 49-yard field goal try.
After three quarters: Chargers 9 Raiders 7
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The Intuit Dome has sponged up all the attention.
But the fabulous Kia Forum is still in the neighborhood near SoFi Stadium, too.
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A Dobbins TD run and a Carlson field goal left the Chargers leading, 16-10, midway through the fourth quarter.
Then Dobbins, the Ohio State star, ripped off a 61-yard run and with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter and the Chargers were in control. Chargers QB Justin Herbert pitched a short touchdown toss to Ladd McConkey before a two-point try failed.
The Chargers had a 22-10 lead with only 3:40 left.
A Minshew pass was tipped by a Chargers defender with a familiar name — edge rusher Khalil Mack — and it was intercepted by big ol’ 95, Poona Ford.
And good night from Hollywood Park.
Final: Chargers 22 Raiders 10.