As soon as Roosevelt and Garfield high schools announced Thursday that this year’s East L.A. Classic would take place at SoFi Stadium, fans took to social media.
Reactions were mixed. Some people were excited to learn the event will be held on such a big stage, while others were disappointed to see the Eastside tradition hosted so far away from its roots.
The 89th game, touted as one of the biggest rivalries in youth sports, will take place on Friday, Oct. 25. It will be the first time the game is held at the venue.
Last year, the game was played at East L.A. College where the game is most frequently hosted. In 2022, the match was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and featured the Black Eyed Peas in a special halftime show. The big game drew more than 20,000 fans.
On Instagram, many readers said they preferred to keep the game on the Eastside, under the lights of ELAC’s Weingart Stadium.
“Great venue, but does it take away from being “eastside” if it’s played far away?” one person responded in a Boyle Heights Beat poll.
“Not the same. They need to keep it in the community,” another commenter wrote.
Some pointed out the distance and inconvenience of having to drive to SoFi Stadium, which is approximately 15 miles from the Eastside. Young fans without rides will have to resort to public transportation or expensive rideshares. Drivers could face Friday evening traffic for the trek across town.
Boyle Heights resident Armando Velez, who goes by @mandovizion on Instagram, suggested getting the city’s public transportation service involved.
“Would be amazing if @metrolosangeles provided shuttles from these schools. Parking cost would also deter folks from making that trek,” he wrote.
People also voiced their disappointment after seeing the junior varsity (JV) football game was not listed on the SoFi lineup. Only varsity football and girls’ flag football games were announced to play at the venue that evening. According to MaxPreps, the JV teams are scheduled to face each other at 4 p.m., but the location of the game is still unknown.
Comments from a joint social media post from both high schools were full of family members and concerned community members asking about the apparent exclusion.
“What about the JV teams! These kids and parents from these teams have been looking forward to this since way before they started playing at either High School,” one comment read.
Another said, “So JV works their butt off just like Varsity and they get kicked to the curb? I’m all for inclusivity but why take from these kids what they’ve been working so hard for? They deserve to play @ SOFI.They’ve been part of the rivalry tradition from the very beginning.”
Boyle Heights Beat requested comment from LAUSD but was unable to confirm where the JV game would be played.
Not everyone was pessimistic. Many on social media pointed to the unique experience Eastside players would get playing at the same venue where the L.A. Rams won the Super Bowl in 2022.
“Iconic! Gives RHS Students and BH Community a chance to visit SoFi hopefully at a reasonable price,” one person shared with The Beat.
“All these old heads complaining about where the game is being played need to realize it’s not about them. It’s about the kids playing who dream of a chance to be able to play on a field like that. It’s not everyday they get a chance to do something like this, if you don’t like it don’t go simple as that. SMH,” another commenter wrote.
“No one’s talking about how exciting this will be for the PLAYERS. Playing at a place that big is going to be like a dream come true for some of these guys. A real once in a lifetime experience! Godforid, we have to haul our butt’s 10-15 minutes outside of ELA. I just hope tickets are still reasonably priced,” Boyle Heights record shop @sonidodelvalle commented.
Both schools’ girls flag football teams will compete at 6 p.m. before the East L.A. Classic kick-off at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the game will go on sale on Monday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
Presale tickets will be sold from 1:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, in the Roosevelt High School Gym Lobby. Tickets for students will be $15. Tickets for the general public will be available in limited quantities for $35 each.
