StubHub Center

StubHub Center
Sander Valdre · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Location	Carson, California
Opened	2003
Owner	Anschutz Entertainment Group
Capacity	27,000 (soccer)
Surface	Natural grass
Architect	HNTB
Tenants	LA Galaxy; Los Angeles Chargers (2017–2019) (selected matches); United States men's national soccer team (selected)

StubHub Center The StubHub Center was a sports and entertainment complex in Carson, California, known for hosting professional soccer, Major League Soccer, United States national team matches, collegiate competitions, and concerts. Opened in 2003 and developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group, the venue played a central role in the Los Angeles sports landscape alongside venues such as the Rose Bowl (stadium), Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, SoFi Stadium, Banc of California Stadium, and Dodger Stadium. The complex influenced professional franchises including the LA Galaxy, Chivas USA, the United States men's national soccer team, and the Los Angeles Chargers, while attracting international clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, and AC Milan for friendlies.

History

The project emerged amid late 20th- and early 21st-century developments involving the Anschutz Corporation, AEG, and municipal stakeholders in Carson, California, following debates over proposed stadiums in Inglewood, California and Long Beach, California. Groundbreaking coincided with MLS expansion ambitions and the legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup that boosted soccer infrastructure in the United States men's national soccer team system. The venue opened in 2003, replacing previous temporary sites used by the LA Galaxy and providing a permanent home after the club had played at the Rose Bowl (stadium) and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In the 2000s the stadium hosted teams from MLS expansion and contraction cycles, including the creation and dissolution of Chivas USA, and served as a site for CONCACAF qualifiers and FIFA-sanctioned friendlies. During the 2010s the facility accommodated NFL preseason and regular-season special events for the Los Angeles Chargers while larger projects such as SoFi Stadium advanced nearby. Ownership and naming-rights changes reflected corporate marketing strategies tied to entities like StubHub and AEG.

Design and Facilities

Designed by HNTB, the complex featured a rectangular pitch optimized for soccer, with seating capacity around 27,000 for soccer matches and configurable arrangements for concerts and athletics. The site included training fields, a performance turf system, locker rooms used by professional teams including the LA Galaxy, corporate hospitality suites, press facilities meeting FIFA and CONCACAF standards, and broadcast infrastructure compatible with networks such as Fox Sports, ESPN, and Telemundo Deportes. Architectural and engineering solutions addressed local climatic conditions typical of Los Angeles County, California, while sightlines and acoustics were optimized for both sporting events and touring acts by artists associated with labels like Live Nation and promoters collaborating with AEG Presents. Accessibility features complied with federal statutes enforced by agencies including the United States Department of Justice in matters concerning public accommodations and stadium modifications. Landscape and parking planning connected the complex to regional arterials and mass-transit proposals coordinated with agencies such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Major Events and Tenants

The venue hosted a wide range of tenants and marquee events. Primary tenants included the LA Galaxy (Major League Soccer), who won multiple MLS Cup titles while based there, and the now-defunct Chivas USA. The stadium staged international friendlies featuring clubs like Liverpool F.C., Chelsea F.C., Bayern Munich, Juventus F.C., and national teams including Mexico national football team and Brazil national football team. It was chosen for CONCACAF competitions, MLS Cup finals, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, and collegiate championships such as matches involving USC Trojans men's soccer and UCLA Bruins men's soccer. Concerts and cultural events brought performers from labels and promoters including Clear Channel Communications, and the facility was used for charity matches featuring athletes and entertainers like David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and guest appearances by public figures linked to soccer growth in the United States. The Chargers used the complex for selected home games during their transitional years in Los Angeles while SoFi Stadium and other NFL venues were under development. The stadium also hosted high-profile MLS All-Star Games and events tied to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Transportation and Access

Located in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles County, California, the complex sat near regional freeways including Interstate 405, Interstate 110, and California State Route 91, with parking lots arranged for event-day ingress and egress. Public transit connections were planned in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and municipal agencies in Carson, California to support shuttle services from rail stations such as those on the Metro C Line (Los Angeles Metro). Event-day traffic management involved coordination with the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to regulate crowds and roadways. Ride-hailing services and designated pickup/drop-off zones reflected private mobility strategies tied to companies like Uber and Lyft. For international visitors, proximity to Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport was an operational advantage.

Legacy and Redevelopment

The complex left a measurable imprint on professional soccer infrastructure in the United States, influencing franchise relocation decisions, stadium financing models championed by entities such as AEG, and the urban planning debates surrounding sports-led development in Los Angeles. Its operational model informed subsequent projects like Banc of California Stadium and SoFi Stadium in matters of naming rights, public-private partnerships, and mixed-use site planning. Redevelopment discussions involved local government actors in Carson, California, regional stakeholders including Los Angeles County, investors affiliated with Anschutz Entertainment Group, and community organizations advocating for youth sports facilities and transit-oriented development. The site's history is referenced in studies of American soccer growth, stadium economics, and the cultural integration of global football in markets led by personalities such as Pelé and modern ambassadors like David Beckham.

Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles County, California