SoFi Gameday Experience... (Rant)

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LARams_1963

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I wanted to take a few days to reflect on what we've experienced the last 2 weeks. I will preface my rant by saying I HOPE these are just growing pains and will be rectified in the future. Unfortunately for us because of our retirement move to our new Florida home coming in December we only have 4 or so games left.

Where to start? Well, last week against the Chargers gameday experience was not fun. We arrived 45 mins after the lots opened (Lots are open 4 hours prior to kickoff compared to 5 hours at the Coliseum). It took us 45 mins to get from Crenshaw/Century into the pink lot. Against the Raiders it took 2 hr and 25 mins. The longest I have EVER waited to get into a lot by FAR. Mind you, these are preseason games with smaller crowds (Probably) than reg. season games. At the coliseum if you arrived 45-1hr after they opened you pretty much drove right in.

The Pink Lot. We have season tickets and Pink lot season passes. The powers that be decided in their infinite stupidity to place the ONLY tailgating lot farthest from the stadium, and more specifically the farthest from our section, 301 on the NE side (Home side) of the stadium. First game against the Bolts. They let peeps park where they wanted in the lot, leaving lots of empty spots. Second week against the Raiders by the time we got done with our 2.5 hr wait the Pink lot was FULL!! How the fuck is a lot you have a pass for full? So, they threw us in an over flow lot up the hill making our long ass walk even longer. Again... Preseason game not sold out. They did say we could tailgate there, but it was smaller and no one put up a canopy because cars were constantly driving down our lane. We barely had room for our 2 chairs as cars went by. So, we arrive just shy of 4 hours before kickoff and were able to tailgate for 25 mins before the 30 minute walk to our gate.

The Walk. Look, I get that we're older than a lot of folks, and the walk may not bother others. That being said after this week my wife informed me that she was done with that walk because of back stiffness. The walk is probably very close to a mile each way and we are 58/60.

The concessions. We have yet to order food because quite frankly when I look around at what folks have it isn't very good looking. While I understand that concession and menu items are taking a hit due to Covid and lack of employees you would think the item they ARE serving would be top notch for the most sophisticated venue on the planet. Beer's and wine. My wife went to 2 stands and stood in lines that advertised Wine. Both times when she got to the front they told her they didn't serve wine there. When she asked why the sign said they did the response was basically a shrug of the shoulders from the concessionaires.

Trying to get a canned beer is extremely difficult in our area. I'm talking Modelo, Corona, Pacifico. These were super abundant and easy to get at the Coliseum. Last game I couldn't find any and the guy who walks around vending Modelo's was nowhere to be found. So the only canned beer I could find was some IPA's, which I'm not a huge fan of, and the one I got was a cross between beer and lemonade.

So for now, my wife might be done and I might not be far behind her. While I know some folks might think we're nit picking, this experience was NOT what we were promised. Over the last 5 years we've heard how the gameday experience was gonna be fantabulous! A cut above the rest! Well.... for us this has fell EXTREMELY flat compared to the hype. Don't get us wrong... the venue is absolutely gorgeous! Oh! and on a side note, because we're moving I was gonna sell our SSL's to my old coworkers who sit with us. But as of right now the Rams aren't allowing SSL transfers.... WTAF!!!!!!! Our seats are 100% paid for. We've made our thoughts known via both weeks gameday surveys, and I'm gonna shoot a letter to my Rams rep and Kevin Demoff.

/Rant off

If you read my whole rant you are a bad ass! Or masochist.... :lol2:

Thanks for listening though and GO RAMS!!!!!!

Greg
 
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Rams8821

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Man Im sorry to hear this. Im planning to go to the AZ game, no car, will just UBER, which Im sure will be a S show in and of itself.

I HOPE they improve upon the gameday experience....
 

Psycho_X

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While I know some folks might think we're nit picking,
Nope, that sounds pretty awful to me too. I wouldn't want to deal with that either and would find solace in my very large tv at home where I can get shit faced, yell all I want, and not have to punch out Ursula the sea witch's inbred family for throwing a Coke at me.
 

LARams_1963

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Man Im sorry to hear this. Im planning to go to the AZ game, no car, will just UBER, which Im sure will be a S show in and of itself.

I HOPE they improve upon the gameday experience....
I hope so too for you all! I will probably be at that game. I didn't hear about the Raiders game but I know for the chargers game leaving the stadium was a nightmare for UBER/LYFT from the designated rideshare zone. I did hear someone say to just walk out of the complex to certain streets (sorry can't remember which one) and then call for your ride. I'm thinking for the next game we're gonna hire a guy we used to use at the Coliseum. Pricey, but direct in and out and will just have to deal with the traffic.

**EDIT - So I guess Demoff isn't reachable via email anymore by us peasants. I was able to email him in the past but now it's restricted.
 
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Selassie I

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Damn Greg... that sucks.

Kevin is normally very responsive. Make sure to send this to him.

Wish I could buy your wife's ticket and watch the last few games with you before you move down here... but I can't make those trips right now.

Hopefully they get things worked out better for those last games you have left.
 

Mister Sin

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I always prefer the game on the TV. The atmosphere is always cool. But, for me.....I'm good at home.
 

GoodBadUgly

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I know some folks might think we're nit picking
Not at all. And I read the whole thing since I have season tickets but now live in Seattle and will only be able to attend a few games a year.

This is exactly what I feared. I thought for sure with the $$$ poured into this they'd have parking mess covered. It pains me greatly to know it is even WORSE than Coliseum which I thought was not possible.
 

Tano

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The Walk. Look, I get that we're older than a lot of folks, and the walk may not bother others. That being said after this week my wife informed me that she was done with that walk because of back stiffness. The walk is probably very close to a mile each way and we are 58/60.
Buy your wife a scooter. One that folds by itself. The one we have only weighs 40 lbs and it lasts for about 10 miles.

Those things are awesome.

My wife has MS and uses hers to get around and most people are very pleasant to her.

When I went to Vegas, I had over 10 people ask where she got her scooter.

And everyone who saw it fold said that was one of the coolest things that they have ever seen.
 

Liberator

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Yeah it sounds like a list of inconveniences that, on their own, probably not a big deal but when there's that many you have to wonder sometimes if it's worth going out there. Sorry it went that way and hope it's just them ironing out some stuff.
 

LARams_1963

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Not at all. And I read the whole thing since I have season tickets but now live in Seattle and will only be able to attend a few games a year.

This is exactly what I feared. I thought for sure with the $$$ poured into this they'd have parking mess covered. It pains me greatly to know it is even WORSE than Coliseum which I thought was not possible.
Yeah, it's crazy that the Coliseum parking situation as of now was much better and the walk was a HELLUVA lot shorter.
Buy your wife a scooter. One that folds by itself. The one we have only weighs 40 lbs and it lasts for about 10 miles.

Those things are awesome.

My wife has MS and uses hers to get around and most people are very pleasant to her.

When I went to Vegas, I had over 10 people ask where she got her scooter.

And everyone who saw it fold said that was one of the coolest things that they have ever seen.
That's a great idea actually. My only question is what do you do with it at your seats? Are you talking a medical sit down scooter? If not, I'm guessing the stadium wouldn't allow it in? Like they don't allow skateboards or retractable skates?
Yeah it sounds like a list of inconveniences that, on their own, probably not a big deal but when there's that many you have to wonder sometimes if it's worth going out there. Sorry it went that way and hope it's just them ironing out some stuff.
Damn Greg... that sucks.

Kevin is normally very responsive. Make sure to send this to him.

Wish I could buy your wife's ticket and watch the last few games with you before you move down here... but I can't make those trips right now.

Hopefully they get things worked out better for those last games you have
Thanks Brotha. I wish you could make it too! We'll hit Tampa next year fo sho! Not sure if you saw my above about Demoff, I got a message that said...

Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups:

Kevin Demoff (KevinDemoff@email.therams.info)
Unable to relay due to relay restriction



@Liberator That's where I'm at too. One issue is surmountable (probably). But a few big ones? Just gonna have to try real hard to figure it out.
 
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Tano

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That's a great idea actually. My only question is what do you do with it at your seats? Are you talking a medical sit down scooter? If not, I'm guessing the stadium wouldn't allow it in? Like they don't allow skateboards or retractable skates?
We have never had one person question the scooter when going places. They will probably treat you like a handicapped person. Stadiums usually have spots for you to park the scooter. And it is just a regular scooter. No medical designation on it.

When we went to see Elton John at the Washington Capital stadium, they took us to a designated handicapped location.

And if your wife gets a stiff back from walking too long, I consider that a handicap.
 

LARams_1963

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We have never had one person question the scooter when going places. They will probably treat you like a handicapped person. Stadiums usually have spots for you to park the scooter. And it is just a regular scooter. No medical designation on it.

When we went to see Elton John at the Washington Capital stadium, they took us to a designated handicapped location.

And if your wife gets a stiff back from walking too long, I consider that a handicap.
Thank you. I will hit my Rams Rep up about it.
 

RamsFan'67

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I agree 100% with these posts. My parking pass is also in the pink lot and it has been a time consuming nightmare to get in and out. They need to get many more police officers involved at all the main intersections to smooth out the issue.

The food in the stadium has been a huge disappointment. What happened to the world class chefs that we were promised? Heck, I would be satisfied with a serviceable burrito. Tried the $14.00 chicken burrito at the Charges game and I could have gotten a better one out of a hospital vending machine.

Never thought I would miss the Coliseum...
 

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Is the Metro an option?

coming in for the Titans game
 

Merlin

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Yeah a couple of my friends have been bitching about the same thing. They're season ticket holders and really pissed about the Pink lot. I mean you can see the team doesn't want people pre-gaming. They want all your money.

They were supposed to set up the mass transit hop there next to the stadium did they ever do that? I ask because if I do attend a game I would want to stay in Long Beach (for nostalgia) and hop over that way instead of dealing with the traffic. Which tbh is simply insane.
 

XXXIVwin

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I hope so too for you all! I will probably be at that game. I didn't hear about the Raiders game but I know for the chargers game leaving the stadium was a nightmare for UBER/LYFT from the designated rideshare zone. I did hear someone say to just walk out of the complex to certain streets (sorry can't remember which one) and then call for your ride. I'm thinking for the next game we're gonna hire a guy we used to use at the Coliseum. Pricey, but direct in and out and will just have to deal with the traffic.

**EDIT - So I guess Demoff isn't reachable via email anymore by us peasants. I was able to email him in the past but now it's restricted.
I attend two games per year. My strategy at the Coliseum was to park on the street a few miles away, then have an Uber drop us off a few blocks from the Stadium, then walk the rest.

I'm thinking I'll try the same strategy at SoFi, but man, it sounds challenging. Guess I'll have to budget in even more time to deal with traffic...
 

LA_Rams_#29

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It sucks you had to go through that man.

A couple of things...

The tailigating being far away from the stadium is kind of strategic in that they want fans to use the lounges inside the stadium...and eventually the multiple places inside the overall development that's being built for pre-game entertainment... fans who have traditionally tailgated aren't happy.... Although we don't tailgate per se, but I always enjoyed hanging out in the areas where there was tailgating going on at the Coliseum. But after touring the lounges...and hanging out in them these first 2 preseason games...I'm cool with hanging out there......it's comfortable...not in the sun...and a nice social vibe...

I will tell you this..and I hope it helps...I would HIGHLY recommend going on Google maps, and strategize an alternate route to get into your parking lot. Our parking is in the Orange lot.....and I don't know if you can get to your lot entering from the route we enter..... and I don't want to publicize our route because the traffic is minimal... I mean the street from which we enter the stadium..we were the only car on the street 3 hours before the game...... But i'd highly recommend finding an alternate route..... I'm big on side streets....and avoiding the freeway as much as possible... I will just say this.... I exit the 110 on Imperial....go west...and take a street North that has very little traffic. .... Seriously...strategize a route to access the stadium where you can avoid that traffic.... I know it's only a matter of time before more people start taking the route we take...but trust me....embrace the surface streets ...the backstreets and you'll find a better way to access the stadium.
 

Faceplant

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This sucks muchly to hear. They had an extra YEAR to figure this shit out (2 if you count the "rain delay" year). What a shit show....
 

CGI_Ram

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From what you've described, that needs to get fixed or attendance will suffer once the honeymoon of the new stadium wears off.

I cannot imagine committing that much time to driving and parking, to see the game in person. Time. Cost. Etc. There is a value equation and everyone has one.

I got to believe a lot of this could have been projected in modeling, but in the Rams defense... maybe not. Maybe they needed to fill up the stadium and see how the surrounding area handles the congestion. Then address those spots in priority order. I dunno.
 

Psycho_X

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Maybe they needed to fill up the stadium and see how the surrounding area handles the congestion. Then address those spots in priority order. I dunno.
That hasn't happened either though. Preseason games looked like maybe 50-70% capacity? I could be wrong they didn't show many crowd shots. I don't envy people going to Sunday Night Football week 1 game. That is going to be a cluuuuuuuusterfuck I imagine.

Now I'm imagining going to a Monday or Thursday night game when rush hour traffic is involved at some point too. I'm not an LA guy so I'm just talking out my ass maybe but everything I hear about LA traffic and now this first hand account makes me glad it won't be me no matter how awesome the actual game experience is. But I grew up in rural farm america so our biggest traffic jam was getting around a tractor going 25 mph on the highway so sitting in traffic for an hour plus would probably test my rage.