For the primary time in 30 years, Los Angeles is internet hosting the NFL's greatest sport within the metropolis's new $5 billion stadium that includes one in every of two house city groups. "Clearly I believe the Rams will win," says Insurgent Wilson.
Tremendous Bowl LVI has already earned a distinction for the historical past books. When the Cincinnati Bengals face off towards the Los Angeles Rams contained in the latter’s SoFi Stadium, it is going to be solely the second time in NFL historical past that a native group hosts the massive sport. Feb. 13 might ship one other notable point out that would solely occur because of its location: Tremendous Bowl LVI may very well be probably the most star-studded in historical past.
Even earlier than the Rams clinched their division and earned a spot within the Tremendous Bowl, SoFi insiders had been boasting concerning the parade of bold-faced names which have breezed by the gates for video games that includes the Rams and fellow native membership the Los Angeles Chargers. “Between our two groups, there have been in all probability extra celebrities featured on that board than every other stadium within the NFL,” Chargers president of enterprise operations A.G. Spanos defined final month at a Tremendous Bowl press convention contained in the stadium. “That’s going to be a giant a part of what drives the thrill for the Tremendous Bowl, all the opposite celebrities and leisure folks coming in and being part of it.”
Movie star followers for the Rams and the Bengals are prepared — even when the house group shall be greatest represented. The Rams have a passionate base that features LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Kevin Hart, Taran Killam, Ty Burrell, Danny Trejo, Insurgent Wilson, Jessica Alba, Ellie Kemper, Bryan Cranston, YG, Jamie Foxx, Terry Crews (who as soon as performed for the group), Daniel Dae Kim, and extra. The bandwagon is getting extra packed by the day because of the group’s second Tremendous Bowl exhibiting in 4 years and among the many stars interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, the overall sentiment is “the extra the merrier,” as Trejo places it. The house group may also be nicely represented throughout the Pepsi Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present by followers (and hometown heroes) Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre who will carry out alongside Mary J. Blige and Eminem.
Diehard fan and season ticket holder Killam is usually noticed close to the 50-yard line, dressed for the event with such equipment as Rams jerseys, Nike Air Pressure hi-tops in Rams yellow and blue and socks that includes gamers like linebacker Aaron Donald. Not in plain sight: a pair of fortunate Rams underwear bought throughout the group’s first season again in L.A. in 2016. Witnessing the Rams second Tremendous Bowl look in 4 years makes Killam really feel spoiled, he says. [In 2019, the Rams lost to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.]
“What a time to be alive,” explains the Culver Metropolis native. “I used to be born and raised in Los Angeles County after which lived in San Bernardino County for a time. So, the entire first half of my life I spent right here in Southern California with no group of our personal. I’ve beloved the NFL my entire life and at all times felt assured that we'd get one. Now to have one with a group that's making two Tremendous Bowl appearances in 4 years — and this one is going down within the best stadium on the earth right here in Los Angeles? It clearly feels too good to be true.”
Trejo has additionally been shaking his head making an attempt to course of the great fortunes of his beloved Rams. “You’re speaking to a man that used to sneak into the L.A. Coliseum in 1957 to see the Rams play. We used to trip the streetcar from Echo Park all the best way to the Coliseum — it was such an occasion. Now we received our personal stadium at SoFi and it’s one of many greatest and most stunning on the earth,” explains Trejo, who shall be attending with son Danny Boy. “I used to be voted #1 Rams fan once they had been on the Coliseum so the group at all times provides me two tickets. It’s such an unbelievable expertise to be in SoFi watching the Rams. You are feeling this unbelievable power. The attractive half about all of that is that the Rams are peaking on the proper time. Los Angeles wants the Rams proper now as a result of we're so pulled aside due to the pandemic and the crime and every little thing else, this group and the Tremendous Bowl are actually bringing us collectively.”
Wilson is greater than a Rams fan, she’s an envoy of the group after partnering with the membership final yr for an activation round its NFL Draft actions. The deal got here with insider entry to suites and swag and since then, Wilson has been a fixture at house video games. “At the beginning of the season, the boys all signed a helmet for me, so from a monetary perspective I’m ecstatic that they’ve made it to the Tremendous Bowl,” Wilson says, facetiously. “Simply kidding — I might by no means promote it! I’m so excited and simply wish to say congratulations to everybody within the Rams group. They’ve completely crushed this season!”
A successful season and a berth within the Tremendous Bowl give the Rams have an opportunity to hitch the ranks of L.A.’s skilled sports activities champs just like the Lakers, Dodgers, Kings, Geese, Sparks and Galaxy. A league championship is a option to win a military of latest followers particularly for a newish transplant just like the Rams, which returned to Los Angeles in 2016 after 21 seasons in St. Louis.
Now, making their second Tremendous Bowl in 4 years and doing it inside town’s $5 billion SoFi Stadium, it appears the entire metropolis has been paying shut consideration. “I like working into leisure business mates and also you run into lots of people on the video games, so it’s very sociable and enjoyable. I like happening the sector and saying hey to the gamers. I actually respect what they do and revel in watching warm-ups,” Wilson explains. “America simply actually is aware of how one can do sports activities video games excellently and the NFL takes it to such a grand degree with the brand new SoFi. It’s the proper place for the Tremendous Bowl.”
Shannon Dang, a collection common on Kung Fu, is at present on location in chilly Vancouver taking pictures the second season of the CW collection however she’s hoping to make it again to Los Angeles in time to get to the sport or a viewing occasion as a way to cheer on the Rams. She has loads of expertise: Dang was a member of the Rams cheerleading squad for 3 seasons from 2017-19, even touring with the squad for the final Tremendous Bowl look in Atlanta.
“I like this group, not simply as a sports activities group however as an employer, too, as a result of the vast majority of our time as cheerleaders was spent in the neighborhood doing ambassador work and outreach. To see how the Rams have touched and influenced the neighborhood is de facto heartwarming,” explains Dang, who additionally was on a squad representing the L.A. Clippers previous to becoming a member of the Rams. “Shifting on and deciding to retire from dancing to give attention to my performing profession was actually laborious however I've nothing however love and fond reminiscences of my time with the group. After all, a part of me needs that in the event that they wanted any backup dancers final minute, I might strap on my boots and placed on my previous uniform and I might fortunately attend and dance on the Tremendous Bowl with everybody.”
The Bengals cheering part shall be removed from empty. Legions of Ohio followers are anticipated to make the trek to cheer on their group for its third-ever Tremendous Bowl outing. Well-known followers embrace George Clooney, John Legend, Nick Lachey and Oscar-winning filmmaker Matthew Cherry (who as soon as suited up for the group throughout his NFL days).
The primary time the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Tremendous Bowl, Lachey was 8 years previous and he watched the sport alongside his father from their Ohio house. “It was an excellent yr to comply with the hometown group,” Lachey remembers of Tremendous Bowl XVI, performed in Pontiac, Michigan, on Jan. 24, 1982. “I’ve been a Bengals fan so long as I can keep in mind.”
Within the a long time since, Lachey says has fallen in keeping with what he describe as an “extremely fierce and constant” Bengals fanbase and weathered a number of less-than-stellar seasons. “We’ve caught by our group by thick and skinny and thru some long-suffering years there,” he says with fun. “We’re not used to being on this place and that’s what makes this run all of the extra candy.”
Lachey, who stated he’s been fortunate to have a seat at fairly a number of Tremendous Bowls over time, will make the trek to SoFi as a result of “no sport is extra vital than this yr” to him and the remainder of the Bengals household. Even when it’s no slam dunk to get in. “It’s the hardest ticket within the historical past of the sport,” he quips, including that he’ll doubtless go along with brother and 98 Levels comrade Drew Lachey and goes to get a pair for himself and 9-year-old son Camden. Lachey stated he was capable of deliver Camden to a Bengals sport in Cincinnati only a few months again, and the Tremendous Bowl shall be a pleasant full circle, father-son Tremendous Bowl second.
Requested if he had anything he wished so as to add about this yr’s sport, Lachey was fast to recite the Bengals well-known chant, “Who Dey,” and shut with one ultimate anecdote. “My youngsters got here house from faculty yesterday, after celebrating the Lunar New Yr, and it’s the yr of the tiger. Want I say extra?”
Wilson definitely has extra to say: “Clearly, I believe the Rams will win. If we had been towards the Chiefs then I believe it could be completely different, however the way it stands I like our probabilities. Sean [McVey] in a tremendous coach, [defensive tackle Aaron Donald] will clearly dominate and [quarterback Matthew Stafford] and [wide receiver Cooper Kupp] will make unbelievable performs. Can’t wait!”
As for Killam, he predicts the result of the sport will match its setting by offering the proper Hollywood ending. “You couldn’t have written a greater story. It's such an excellent story that conspiracy theorists are going wild. I've by no means seen extra tweets, notifications and information articles concerning the conspiracy idea that the NFL is a rigged sport, it’s a enterprise first, all these things. I can’t absolutely fault individuals who really feel that approach as a result of the Rams shall be enjoying a Tremendous Bowl of their brand-new stadium — the best stadium on the earth — throughout the first yr that followers are allowed inside, with the perfect Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present lineup within the historical past of Tremendous Bowls that includes predominantly Southern California natives performing,” he explains. “There’s no approach the Rams lose.”
This story first appeared within the Feb. 11 situation of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.