In a Galaxy Not Far, Far Away

Official Review by Drew Cieszynski, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

A not so long time ago, in a galaxy not far, far away, the year was 1996. Los Angeles, one of the most storied sports towns in the United States, was granted one of the ten charter franchises of Major League Soccer.

While the first fans may remember the Galaxy playing at the Rose Bowl, the team moved to a more modern $150 million facility in 2003. The capacity dropped from over 100,000 to a much more intimate 27,000. The fans responded positively, and the Home Depot Center has been filled ever since.

The stadium is located on the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus in Carson, CA. It
is approximately 10 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and easily accessible from the 405 or 91
freeways. If Carson doesn't ring a bell, you may recognize it as the setting for movies such as "The Cable Guy," and "Gone in 60 Seconds." While the name leads to believe otherwise, the television show "Reno 911" is also filmed here and Carson was even the location of the "Hey Mickey" music video long before the MLS was ever created.

It is said that the Galaxy derived it nickname from Los Angeles, being home of the stars. Clearly, this was a much better choice than being home to the traffic or smog.

Food & Beverage    3

While the local neighborhood offers quite a few options, there are also some choices inside the stadium that the soccer fan may want to try during a visit. Unfortunately many of the food options are at rather elevated prices and while this is to be expected for this region, I cannot say that the quality even remotely lines up with the prices.

Some of the more traditional options include Hot Dog ($4.50), Nachos ($5.75), a slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza ($5.50), Super Pretzel ($3.75), a substantial portion of peanuts ($4.50), candy ($3.75), "Big" cheeseburger ($7), fries ($4.50), and chips ($3.75).

If you enjoy poultry, you will probably find something for you with chicken fingers ($7.75), chicken breast sandwich ($7), and 2-piece chicken ($7.75) options all available.

On the concourse behind the sidelines, you can find a variety of Mexican options that include a Tostado Grande ($8.50), Crispy Beef Tacos ($6), Fiesta Salad ($7.50), Super Nachos ($8).

One of the more surprising selections includes the Yucca fries. I sampled these for $6 as received a side of southwest sauce with them. The flavor of the Yucca fries is a little sweeter than normal and the texture is definitely firmer than you will find in traditional french fries. Yucca root is a South American vegetable that is quickly gaining popularity in Southern California.

Still hungry for more, I also tried a chicken caesar pazzan for $7.50. This was basically a chicken-caesar salad wrapped in some rather tough, seasoned pita bread. This was extremely different to eat without the contents falling out or the bread flaking all over me.

Lastly, some of the other finds include "Sensible Portions" Veggie Straws, Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and kettle corn, which can be found in the yellow tent.

If you get thirsty, the Home Depot Center offers Coke Products at $4 and $4.50 for a larger size.
Bottled Water was also available for $3.75. Budweiser products were available for $8, most notable of which was their Golden Wheat. The larger 24 oz. sizes were $11 for a domestic and $13 for a premium. Some of their premium options include Dos Equis and Heineken. Margaritas were also available for $12. It can get chilly in Carson at night, so Hot Chocolate can be found at the Cinnabon stands for $4.

I was rather surprised that being a more modern venue that they did not have more branded food
vendors in the facility. It seems that the nearby Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, and Angel Stadium all have well-known chain vendors in their venues, but none at the Home Depot Center.

Atmosphere    5

The sightlines are key in making any stadium journey great and Home Depot Center provides some of the best for all fans. While 27,000 seems modest in terms of attendance, it is phenomenal for the
experience as every seat in the house seems to be a decent one, and even average fans can get close to the action.

To really get involved in the atmosphere, make sure you check out Soccer Fest on the main concourse by the north entrance prior to the game. Fans of all genders and ages can enjoy the games, music, interactive booths, and even get photos with the life-size player cutouts.

Again, I need to quote the comfort and intimacy of the stadium when it comes to the atmosphere.
While sections 107-115 and 128-136 have individual seats equipped with armrests and cupholders, even the bleacher seats have seatbacks and are reasonably spacious.

While the 45 minute halves do not allow for the multiple promotions between innings or during
timeouts, the Galaxy do seem to get some opportunities for the fans to win some prizes. Throughout
the game, multiple rows are announced as prize winners from some of the team's sponsors and they have a Home Depot "lumber run" during halftime. During this contest, two players from each team are
challenged to carry soccer balls on a piece of lumber from mid-field to the goal line.

Neighborhood    4

Carson is just 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and not far from Long Beach, so any fan will have a vast amount of things to do before or after the game.

In the immediate area surrounding the stadium, there is also a lot in terms of food and shopping. In
terms of fast food, you can have KFC, Carl's Jr, Jack-in-the-Box, Subway, Fatburger, and Taco Bell. Other food options that I did not have a chance to try include R & R Soul Food, Bravo's Cheeseburger, and Bodacious Q, which offers a lot of barbeque options.

Not far from the stadium, you'll find a Chili's, which offers a rather predictable, but delicious experience.

I almost thought that I was in Louisiana for a moment with all of the local "Big-Easy" inspired options. Less than a mile from the stadium, you'll find Louisiana Fried Chicken, the Bayou Grille, and Louisiana Hometown Seafood.

The Big Burger is another option. They have reasonable pricing with meals under $6. Rather than the
traditional white bun, you can also choose wheat buns and I hear good things about their turkey burger. The only shortfall of this place is that it is a "cash-only" restaurant.

If I had to pick one stop near the Home Depot Center, it would have to be the Off Campus Pub. They
offer the largest selection of beer on tap anywhere in Carson (24 beers on draft) and have everything from your traditional favorites to local brews. If you are particularly thirsty, they even offer a 50 oz mug!

Watching soccer games are so much more enjoyable with a group of rowdy fans, so you may want to
check out one of the Galaxy official pubs:

Locals Sports Bar & Grill (Los Angeles, CA)
OB's Pub & Grill (Manhattan Beach, CA)
The Olde Ship (Santa Ana, CA)
Alpine Village (Torrance, CA)
Ye Olde Kings Head (Santa Monica, CA)
K.C. Branaghan's (Long Beach, CA)
The Auld Irisher (Orange, CA)

Fans    5

The fans were easily the best part of the experience. I often found my head turned toward the large
groups of fans to observe their antics, as much as I was watching the game itself.

In one corner of the stadium was a group of fans that was typically led by a ringleader in all of
their chants and songs in support of their team. At the opposite end, behind the goal, was a highly
concentrated group waving flags, and screaming for their team throughout the game. At one point
during the game, the fans at one end would yell "L.A." and the other would subsequently yell "Galaxy!"

Sections 137 and 138 are reserved for the Galaxy's most passionate supporters. The average fan will
not fit in here as these fans are known to stand throughout the game and sing, chant, and make noise heard throughout the galaxy. Two of the more notable groups in this fanbase include the "GaLAxians" and the "Angel City Brigade". Of course, there is also "Cozmo," the mascot of the Galaxy who is found all over the Home Depot Center generating excitement during the game. The Galaxy even offer options for younger fans to get involved in the experience. Children can serve as ball kids during the match or participate in a pre-game parade across the field, the "high-five line," or presenting the center circle banner at midfield during pre-game ceremonies.

Lastly, in a rather interesting note, I would say that nearly all fans stayed for 10 minutes after the game had ended to show their appreciation for the players in their comeback win. Many of the
fans continued to applaud until the last member of the Galaxy had left the field. Clearly the players appreciate this effort as they on many occasions acknowledged the fans.

Access    3

If you are coming from the east or west, you can get to Carson, CA from the dreaded 91 freeway and
take the Avalon exit. If you are arriving from the north or south, the stadium is just minutes from the 405 Freeway and again you can use the Avalon exit or exit on Vermont if coming from the north. If you are using the 110, take the Torrance Blvd exit to get to the stadium if you are not using Avalon.

Parking proves to be the biggest complaint of the Home Depot Center on the interwebs. I paid $15 for
my spot on this very evening and I've heard that it can be as high as $20 for premium games. From the time that I entered the Home Depot Center complex, it probably took a good 5 minutes after paying the attendant and traveling down several roads to my final parking spot. This was without traffic, so I would allot yourself some additional time if a bigger game is on the schedule. Exiting was a much more difficult task. It took me about 20 minutes to leave from my parking spot, but fans have mentioned that it takes much longer for more noteworthy games.

Los Angeles is a rather large, congested city, so I would recommend checking out the Metro Trip
Planner site to see what combination of rail and bus you can utilize to get to the Home Depot Center.

I also spoke with a few fans who mentioned parking a bit away and walking 15 minutes to the venue.
Another option that I heard of was to park at the previously mentioned "Off Campus Pub" where you
can park for $10 and get a free beer.

I did enter the stadium rather quickly, but the Home Depot Center was one of the few stadiums I've
visited with a rather elaborate security check. Not only is there a pair of guards at each turnstile, but you must also empty your pockets and go through a metal detector. It is a nuisance and does slow things down, but I'm more than willing to sacrifice a few minutes for everyone's safety.

Once you are in the stadium, you can get around the main concourses rather easily. Once you get near the scoreboard or south end, things really tighten up and its tough to quickly get to anything. Adding to the congestion are the areas designated for those with disabilities. The security guards do all too good of a job making sure that you don't step over the line to take any photographs.

Return on Investment    4

I must say that I did experience some initial sticker shock when I saw the list prices for the various seating options throughout the Home Depot Center. If money is no issue, maybe you want to try the field seats for $200 apiece. At $125, a fan can sit in the club level, which offers some additional privacy and perks. The club level has 1,500 seats and there are also 42 luxury suites. Getting under $100, fans can get sideline seats for $50-$75, corner seats for $50, or upper sideline for $40. The lowest prices include the endlines for $24-$34 and the general admission section on the grassy berm for $24 during more crowded games.

At the end of the day, there are limited places that you can see live MLS soccer, and even fewer places where you can see one of the most storied MLS franchises that consistently fills the stadium, so any seat can be a sound investment. The fans make the atmosphere truly one of the best in all of LA sports, so even when the Galaxy are matched up with a lesser opponent, the experience is a worthwhile one.

Extras    5

The location of the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA allows it to cool down very quickly. Even on the
hottest Southern California days, you'll experience rather comfortable temperatures at the game. The
average high is about 80 degrees and the average low can swing 30 degrees to approximately 50.

The site of the stadium is much more than simply the soccer venue. It is also connected to a 2,500 seat cycling arena and 13,000 seat tennis stadium. It has hosted rugby matches, the Summer X Games, and Spike TV's television show "Pros vs Joes."

There are a limited amount of players in the MLS with retired numbers. The Galaxy have one of them in #13 Cobi Jones who played midfield for the team from 1996 through 2007.

The Galaxy share the Home Depot Center with CD Chivas USA and the two teams participate in the Honda SuperClasico. This is basically annual "rivalry matches" that occur between the two clubs. With both teams having such loyal fan bases, this creates quite an interesting atmosphere.

While I really thought the music played through the loudspeakers often took away from the chants and songs that the fans were engaging in, there was an instance where I felt the music was appropriate. I really enjoy when a franchise embraces who they are or where they are, so I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the song "This is L.A." by the Briggs. The fans were extremely engaged in singing along to the chorus of the song:

"This is L.A.
Our city, our home.
Los Angeles,
We never walk alone.
Forever true we'll stay
In tribute to our city,
No matter where we go
This is our home."

Being that the Galaxy play at the Home Depot Center, one would think that they could offer some enticing Home Depot promotions. Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be true as several fans were
complaining that their "mystery gift card" they received upon entry was worth a whopping $1.

Final Thoughts

The Home Depot Center is widely regarded as one of the most reputable venues in all of American
Soccer. On an evening against the weakest team in the MLS, I still found it to be a rather entertaining atmosphere.

Due to the parameters of the FANFARE score, the Home Depot Center will drop some points in the
rankings due to the high ticket prices, access, strict tailgating policies, and average food options. This should in no way inhibit your scheduling of your stadium journeys. The Galaxy and the Home Depot Center should remain atop any sports fan's list.

Even after the days of Donovan and Beckham, many stars will continue to don the Galaxy colors &
perform at the Home Depot Center for years to come.

Follow Drew's travels through Southern California on twitter @Big10Drew.