Why is the Super Bowl going back to Los Angeles? SoFi Stadium selected to host game for second time

The NFL commonly shows off a new stadium by allowing it to host the biggest event in American sports: the Super Bowl. Levi’s Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and SoFi Stadium all hosted a Super Bowl in their infancy, and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is set to join the fray this season. One of the NFL’s newer stadiums is now getting the opportunity to host the big game a second time.

The league announced Wednesday that Super Bowl 61, set for Feb. 2027, will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. just five years after the home of the Rams and Chargers hosted Super Bowl 56.

The Rams became the second team in as many years to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium after they took a late lead over the Bengals, and the week of events was deemed a success. Still, it’s not all too common to see only five years between Super Bowls for the same venue.

Los Angeles will host Super Bowl LXI in 2027! #SBLXI pic.twitter.com/V2QeEDdcVM

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2023

Here’s what you need to know about why Super Bowl 61 will be played in Los Angeles and where all of the upcoming Super Bowls will be played.

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Why is the Super Bowl going back to Los Angeles?

In a statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, “[Los Angeles] did an outstanding job hosting Super Bowl 56 in the incredible SoFi Stadium and we believe that Super Bowl 61 will be even more memorable.”

The league cited the success of Super Bowl 56 as a major reason for the game’s return to the city, touting both the economic impact on the region and the fan experience.

Location and climate were presumably factors in the decision as well. 

Unlike the MLB or NBA All-Star festivities, not every one of the NFL’s 30 stadiums can realistically host a Super Bowl. Because the game is played in the middle of winter, venues such as Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, or Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium likely won’t be seeing a Super Bowl come their way anytime soon. That’s the biggest reason why indoor or warm-weather venues dominate the selection process, with MetLife Stadium, host of Super Bowl 48, a rare exception. 

Including 2023, only one of the last 10 seasons has had a Super Bowl outside of a warm-weather city. Super Bowl 52 was played in Minnesota, and the game wouldn’t have been possible without a roof. While indoor stadiums in cold-weather cities leave the door open for a Super Bowl, the NFL also hosts outdoor events in the days leading up to the big game each year, and the league doesn’t often place the game in cities that could have harsh conditions during Super Bowl week. 

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With that being said, the NFL explained in its release that Los Angeles will host “a highly anticipated slate of events that make up Super Bowl Week, including NFL Honors, Super Bowl Experience, Super Bowl Opening Night and a robust community program,” with events taking place all across the city.

The desire to create a base of passionate football fans in Los Angeles is also likely part of the league’s motivation. Unlike Arizona or New Orleans, which already host the Super Bowl often, Los Angeles has been a revolving door for the NFL. The Rams moved to the city in 2016, while the Chargers moved in 2017.

SoFi Stadium is often filled with more fans of the opposing team than most other venues, so it will likely take time for the Rams and Chargers to fully build a rabid fan base. Putting the NFL’s premier event in the city is one way to accelerate that process.

Future Super Bowl locations

Here’s a closer look at the upcoming Super Bowl locations, through Super Bowl 61.

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