SoFi Stadium: HKS sets global benchmark for tech-integrated sports architecture

HKS-designed SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, opened in September 2020 as the most expensive stadium ever built at $5.5 billion. The 300-acre sports and entertainment district includes the 3.1 million-square-foot stadium, Hollywood Park development, and YouTube Theater. Home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, it has hosted Super Bowl LVI, the 2023 College Football National Championship, and 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, and is slated for the 2028 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies. The indoor-outdoor venue seats approximately 70,000, expandable to 100,000, with 260 luxury suites and 13,000 premium seats. Its cresting wave-like roof canopy uses a structural steel shell, cable-net system, and ETFE panels—the largest wire frame cable system globally and first in the US. The roof features 46 operable panels and 14 asymmetrical picture frame panels that lower ambient temperature by 4°F. The stadium houses the Infinity Screen by Samsung, a 70,000-square-foot dual-sided 4K LED videoboards—the largest in sports—weighing 998 tonnes with 80 million pixels. AI-based security screening by Evolv Technology was integrated in 2022. HKS partner Mark A Williams emphasized creating a global stage that immerses visitors in technology, from mobile app integration to contactless concessions. The firm is also designing stadiums for the Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, and All Blacks in Auckland.