Located in LA’s Exposition Park, Banc of California Stadium sets a new benchmark for the premium soccer experience through its dynamic and engaging design, giving way to elevated experiences for fans, guests, and players, from game day to special events. This 22,000-seat venue is the first open-air professional stadium to be built in Los Angeles in over 30 years. The project serves as a catalyst for future improvements to south Los Angeles and Exposition Park as a year-round cultural destination.
Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) creates truly authentic experiences for its fans. The stadium’s contemporary design is open and dynamic, with an ETFE canopy that flies above the bowl like angel wings in the “City of Angels.” Embracing Tinseltown, the stadium cinematically stages moments to engage fans and build memories. Framed views of the downtown Los Angeles skyline create a symbolic connection to the city by drawing on its cultural diversity.
Designers emphasized the game day experience, aiming to capture a more personal relationship between players and fans by creating an intimate European-style character in a state-of-the-art facility. Diverse club offerings are available for every level of fan, embodying the “grit and glamour” of Los Angeles, from supporters to celebrity owners. This affiliated entertainment program creates a 365-day-a-year activation for all park visitors. It includes a restaurant, food hall, merchandise store, lounge and bar areas, as well as a private party terrace, creating social hubs for visitors to celebrate the team and connect with fellow fans on and off game day.
The stadium offers a variety of exterior and interior spaces that take design cues from the California aesthetic, with each level offering a distinct look and feel. As guests make their way up the building, materials, furniture, and light fixtures gradually mirror the gradient of the California sunset, from deep to light hues, while spaces become more open and exposed. The Field Club, inspired by the art deco movement, uses a darker palette and brass accents to create a posh atmosphere. The Sunset Deck provides spacious suites with light, summer-ready colors throughout as well as a water feature, grass lawn, and ping pong tables, suggesting a breezy California retreat.
In addition, ancillary programmatic elements offer entertainment, retail, and dining opportunities to stadium goers and visitors of the neighborhood to reflect on the culture of Los Angeles while providing a more social and layered fan and visitor experience. The collaboration between the design team and LAFC reflects the aesthetic and functional success of Banc of California Stadium, aligning with LAFC values and goals required to create a best-in-class venue for Major League Soccer in Los Angeles.
View additional submissions in the Overall Building Architecture category for ALSD Spotlight 2019.