Few NFL teams merge culture, community and football together quite like the two-time Super Bowl-winning Los Angeles Rams, and SoFi Stadium has become an entertainment mecca each football Sunday.
Billboard was in the building when the Rams beat the Colts in week 4, and music took center field. Here are seven moments that capture how the Rams continue to redefine what game day can look (and sound) like:
At most stadiums, tailgating means folding chairs and cooler beer. In Inglewood, it means a red carpet and a DJ booth. The CineVita Tailgate is the Rams’ luxury pre-game ritual — a place where locals, celebrities and die-hard fans blend together for one purpose: to celebrate the L.A. Rams. Guests can catch other NFL games on the massive LED screens, play Xbox or trivia for prizes, or lounge on leather couches inside. The pre-game menu honestly tastes like something out of a food festival: loaded potato skins, Ortega taco bars, lemon pepper wings, and a maple-drizzled chicken and waffles station.
Few teams showcase their city’s identity like the Rams do through music. The Mariachi Rams — the NFL’s first-ever mariachi ensemble — have become a fan favorite for the way they blend tradition with modern flair.
“To be the first NFL mariachi ensemble is an absolute honor and a great responsibility,” the group told Billboard. “We might be the first mariachis someone ever sees, so we give it everything every time.”
Their setlist jumps from classics like “El Rey” to mariachi renditions of 2Pac’s “California Love” and Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” “We take contemporary hits and put a mariachi twist on them,” they said. “It honors the genre while paying homage to the pop moments fans love.”
At SoFi, the national anthem isn’t just tradition; it’s the show opener. Singer/songwriter Madilyn Bailey described it as a career milestone. “Singing the national anthem at a Rams game can now be checked off my bucket list,” she told Billboard. “I’m not originally from Los Angeles, but the second I stepped off my first plane here, I knew this was my city and these were my people.”
Her performance carried a message of ambition that fits the energy of LA. “Everyone in this stadium is chasing something,” she said. “If a girl from a town of a thousand people can find herself singing in front of 70,000, anything is possible.”
Each season, the Rams and Cedars-Sinai transform SoFi Stadium into something bigger than football through the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative, which honors cancer survivors and their families. This year’s ceremony recognized 12 “Crucial Catch Captains,” each representing stories of strength and survival. Among them was linebacker Shaun Dolac, who lost his father to stage four cancer in 2016.
The highlight came at halftime when singer/songwriter Rachel Platten took the field to perform her anthem “Fight Song.” “The energy is unbelievable,” Platten told Billboard. “There are 70,000 people, and you’re feeding off the team’s energy. The Rams scored a touchdown right before I went on, so the whole place was already lit up.”
For Platten, the moment carried a deeper purpose. “It wasn’t about me,” she said. “It was about the survivors and the people supporting them. My mom is a cancer survivor, so I wanted to channel that strength. This performance was service, not perfection.”
Canadian DJ duo Loud Luxury brings in club-level energy to SoFi with an electrifying set. “It’s unique because everyone is there for the game first and foremost, so it feels like a chance to win over new fans,” they told Billboard. “Also, playing earlier in the day is definitely a bit of a body shock for both of us since our average bedtime is about 4 a.m.”
Their set bridges the worlds of sports and nightlife. “Fans play a huge role in the game atmosphere,” they said. “Our main goal is to energize the crowd, and if that can influence the game in any way, that’s a win for us.”
Before kick-off, nearly 300 Rams Junior Cheerleaders performed a four-minute routine alongside the official squad, showcasing the team’s dedication to community and youth involvement. The program, which builds confidence and teamwork among kids ages 5 to 14, has become one of the most wholesome traditions on game day.
Even after the final whistle, the energy carries through Hollywood Park. Fans can head to The Meeting Spot for drinks, catch a movie at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, or experience COSM’s immersive visuals. In American Airlines Plaza, $5 Bud Light specials, face painting and games keep the atmosphere lively through sunset.
