Article 039.
My kids and I have planned about this since the NFL schedule came out I think around April— watching our Green Bay Packers go to LA to play the Rams. But a few months passed and the excitement fizzled down. Offspring 2 pulled out actually just a month into it but Offspring 1 is for sure down to watch. The ticket prices were crazy and I’m already crunching my budget as it is, let alone spend another extravagant whim I need to satisfy. We could easily go cheap and find us some nosebleeds and try to enjoy the game— nauseating (going to certified Packers bar 33 Taps is a way better idea). But we’re in Hollywood and the Pack doesn’t visit SoCal that often so going big should be the goal. Offspring 1 was setting the ceiling of how high on the price scale we should go. His budget wasn’t impressive and $300 max wasn’t getting us anything in the First and Second Level sections. We were still iffy on the Third Level seats and going Fourth was never an option (c’mon now, might as well go nosebleeds and pay lesser or 33 Taps as previously stated). So basically we’re in ticket purgatory. A few more weeks passed and Offspring 1 asked me about it again. This time we gonna make it final. And after going back and forth with him about the tickets, he said that if we can’t find good seats, then we could just maybe tailgate for a bit outside Sofi Stadium and head out to watch the game at his friend’s place, who’s a true Green-and-Gold Packer fan, in DTLA. I can’t believe I was hearing this. From the get-go, not watching them live was never an option, and even if my wallet wasn't into this decision, my heart was all in. But alas, about a month before the game, Offspring 1 said that he can't make it after all since he forgot about a previous commitment on game day that he can't back out of. I knew he wanted to watch but there goes that.
So my mind was set. Watch the game in a sports bar and save myself from crunching more numbers. Good call. I was already scouting which Packers bar I'd like to watch the game at, if I'd go all the way to Silver Lake or stay local in Anaheim. But as the month turned into weeks, people would keep asking me if I am watching my beloved team live in Sofi Stadium. And repeatedly I said no, tickets are ridiculously expensive, though I can't deny it was getting into my head. Whatever little urge was left in me to watch my team in person was slowly crawling out of the ashes. But my will was strong and my wallet was even firmer. And so I thought. The night of felt like an addiction I couldn't shake. The anxiety was building and I find myself constantly updating ticket availability in my GameTime app. But nothing overtly enticing so I went to sleep with thoughts of missing out causing me nightmares. It was D-Day Sunday and kick-off at Inglewood was at 1:25. I had a basketball league season opener game at 11 and the plan was to go home after, take a quick shower, grab Anna and off we go to a Packers bar in Seal Beach. But no, the moment I woke up, I was back into checking my GameTime app more aggressively than ever, like a Gen-Z on TikTok watch. Tickets come and go by the minute and for the next 3 hours after having my first coffee sip at 7, I wasn’t budging an inch. I keep asking my girl if we should go or not but honestly just wanted to hear what I really wanted to hear from her-- "Let's go and watch!" But instead she said, "If we do this, just don't look back, don't ever talk about the purchase after you make it. And if you're gonna do it, you better do it now or we won't make it in time." That's all it took. As soon as she said what she said, I made one final refresh on the app and boom, the seats I was eyeing was reduced to about $60 each and I finally took the dive. Forget my season opener game and I suppose the new couch can wait too. Sofi Stadium here we come.
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| At the lobby of Sofi Stadium… |
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| Awesome seats!!! |
Anna has not ridden the train and not just in LA but at ALL. So our trip to Sofi Stadium was a treat. It was the same train I use to go to work so I played host for a moment and gave her the rundown of the trip and the scenario to expect. Fans from both teams flock inside the train and it was adding up for every passing station. As always, the Packer faithful travels well. You won't be able to tell by the crowd in the train/bus if you were in SoCal or in Wisconsin (you can though by the number of loonies we saw LOL.. still love you LA!). That excitement you feel walking towards the arena entrance was unexplainable. The silhouette of green is almost as prominent as the blue if not more and those Cheesehead hats are but a standout (forgot to bring mine, sob). We came into the west wing and there was my first glimpse inside one of the newest football stadiums in the country. Wow, just wow! I was stunned. WE were stunned. Sofi was gorgeous, clean and obviously way better than the LA Coliseum where I last watched the Packers in SoCal back in 2015. It was amazing being inside such a gigantic enclosure filled with the same amped up people like us, plus the first level seats were really great. I swear I could smell the Green Bay scent from the players where we're seated. The game hasn't even started and whatever I spent for those tickets were already worth it. Anna couldn't agree more, and she's not even a sports fan (although I got her wearing a Packers tee and cap).
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| The iconic Cheesehead hat behind us! |
It was a great game and halfway through I could tell that I'm gonna lose my voice when it was all set and done. Like a fan on steroids, there I was shouting at the top of my lungs the ever famous three-word chant "GO PACK GO" and giving out high-fives to anyone who has a shed of green in their attire like it's my business. I even took a selfie with this shirtless dude who painted a big G on his belly and had one of those oversized Packers cap. Can't help it. Literally felt like a kid in a candy store who OD’d on sugar. I wasn't even critical of the food and beer prices at the concessions (okay maybe a little bit) because of my inability to seize the moment. I totally lost it when we knew it was already a Packers victory a few minutes left in the 4th quarter. And as the Rams fans march out leaving just a sea of Green and Gold in sight, the chants of Go Pack Go could be heard uncontested. This continues out to the lobby as the thousands of Cheeseheads yodel their way out to the exit to the sweet tune of triumph. Funny as I was inside the restroom, a Rams fan just shouted, "A lot of Dodgers fans here in Green!" Everyone was chuckling. Nobody was opposing that. In fact a rally of "Let's Go Dodgers" broke out and for a moment all the Angeleños were in unison. The Dodgers play the Padres that night in a win-or-go-home game and there is no way SoCal will be divided when it comes to the Boys in Blue.
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| This guy is a legend!!! |
Although the bus ride to the train station took awhile than expected, my spirit never wavered. But the exhaustion was kicking in. Glad we won or it would’ve been a tough commute home. Sofi Stadium was legit and watching my Packers live was simply blissful. I even teased my girl that she managed to be inside the Dodgers Stadium, Sofi Stadium and the newly-built Intuit Dome in less than six months... that's impressive! No article about the Usher concert we went to at Intuit Dome, unfortunately (and that was another phenomenal experience on its own).
Got home safely, happy but wondering if my basketball team won the inaugural game this morning as I tell my couch, "It's you and me for another year buddy! You and me!”
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