LOS ANGELES—Soccer fans across the world visiting Los Angeles for the World Cup endured a terrible experience at Los Angeles Stadium, according to a new study released on June 27.
A new analysis by ticket marketplace SeatPick, https://seatpick.com/world-cup-tickets, ranked the Inglewood venue last among all 11 U.S. World Cup host stadiums for fan experience, citing high prices, mosquito activity and other factors.
SoFi Stadium (its name once again when the World Cup concludes) is hosting Super Bowl LXI next year, as well as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies and serve as the official venue for all Olympic Swimming competitions.
Los Angeles Stadium received a 5.82 out of 10 score.
According to the report, fans attending matches can expect to pay about $14 for a beer and $7 for bottled water, tying for the highest beer price among U.S. host venues. Nearby hotel rooms averaged $383 per night, the third-highest rate in the study.
“We looked at everything that actually determines whether a World Cup trip is enjoyable or miserable — not just ticket prices,” SeatPick co-founder Gilad Zilberman said in a statement. “The range across these venues is extraordinary.”
Los Angeles Stadium received the study’s highest mosquito risk score, 10 out of 10, based on Orkin’s rankings of U.S. mosquito hotspots. The report cited a violent crime rate of 729 incidents per 100,000 people in the surrounding area.
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was named the best World Cup venue for fans, earning an overall score of 8.08 out of 10 score for relatively low concession prices, lower mosquito activity and more moderate summer temperatures.
Blaming the stadium for mosquitoes and heat is unfair though, argues several accounts I have heard. Fans took into account the heat of southern California, and much higher prices than other parts of the country.
Canyon News interviewed individuals at the stadium, or the extremely popular watch parties, who indicated wonderful experiences and priceless memories.
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara rounded out the top five in the list, scoring a 7.48 in overall fan experiences. It is located in Santa Clara, California, and is typically known as Levi’s Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
Los Angeles Stadium has two more games to turn it around. On July 2, Spain will take on Austria in the Round of 32. A quarterfinal on July 10 wraps it up for Los Angeles. USA will play against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Santa Clara stadium on July 1.
