Hey there busy mamas! This year we made our way out to the Loyola Marymount Campus to experience the Los Angeles Rams football Training Camp. This is a yearly event that we attend as season ticket holder and have included our now five-year-old daughter ever since she was born. While the training camp was previously hosted in Orange County (UC Irvine Campus) this year, the location was changed, and we decided to make our trek out from Orange County to check it out!
When We Attended
We have a had a busy year with travelling squeezing in Disney days, family fun events, dealing with work-life changes and so we really pushed it this year by booking our training camp tickets to attend on the last Saturday of practice. We were a bit on the fence on even attending only because we had been spoiled these last few years having the training camp located in Orange County. The drive wasn’t too bad coming in from Orange County but nothing compared to what we had previous years.
Parking
Credit must be given on how easy it was to find the designated parking. Kiosks were available throughout the lots to pay for parking, so I have to say the parking situation was much smoother than what it was like in Irvine in years past. Getting out of the lot was easy too!
What’s Allowed In?
A quick run down of what’s not allowed:
- Water bottles or drinks of any kind
- Food Items
- Umbrellas
- Clear small/limited size bag policy was in place. Always check the site before you visit for updates!
Entrance
Entering the training facility was easy, lines were monitored and organized very well. We had arrived early before opening and there was a line formed but it moved quickly once gates opened. I do have to say that the energy at this training camp was subpar. I’m not generally picky about these things but I feel like the Rams organization could have put some effort in having displays, pop ups, good music and signage to really display this as this as their new training facility. Something to make the fans excited about prior to/upon entering the gates.
Concessions
One word here – lacking. This concessions throughout the center reminded me of nothing better than a high school sports snack bar. You had hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, soft drinks, water and ice cream. I counted two beer stands. This was nothing in comparison to what their training camp in Irvine had. Also, don’t count on any shade being available.
We opted for a hot dog and chips at lunch time with soft drinks and cold water. During practice I stepped away to go find some shade under the umbrella tables and bought my daughter a snow-cone which she loved!
A huge downfall here is that they only had a small number of tables and lawn chairs in one area next to the field where practice was held. In Irvine they had a huge, shaded area with beautiful picnic tables both in the kids’ fun zone and by the food truck/concession area.
Rams Fan Zone
The Fan Zone was also lacking, it seemed like a last-minute effort to put something together. This was previously the Family/Fun Zone centered around kids’ activities which was really so much fun! They had bounce houses and obstacle courses, none of which were there this year. There were some cool booths for prizes and one or two drill activities for kids. But again, pretty disappointing. It made me question why they would have selected this as a training facility for such a great LA team.
Watching the Rams Practice Live
If you a fan that only is looking to watch your team practice, then absolutely no complaints here! We got a great view of our team players and enjoyed watching them practice. We weren’t there long enough to find out if autographs were given after practice, but we know that was always offered in Irvine.
If you’re parent, the extra frills make the difference. It allows for a family experience to really come out and enjoy some football but also includes all members of the family. Kids get to play a bit, learn about the team, parents get to shop cool team merchandise (options were really limited at this event) and watch their team play. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend an NFL game at SoFI Stadium, so I think this is where the Rams have to keep their fan-base engaged. I’m hoping to see an improvement next year. And we’re also planning on heading out earlier in the practice season.
Final Thoughts
We are LA Rams fans in this house! So needless to say, we will always be supportive of our team. We like to write about our experiences so that others can help plan and prepare for their own best experience. There are a lot of limitations on what you can bring in so it’s best to be prepared to buy food and drinks inside. We say too many people have to dispose of their bottled drinks before entering. Food options around Loyola Marymount weren’t much compared to what they had in UC Irvine so plan accordingly. We’re excited for the NFL season to begin with our first game at SoFI in late September.
xoxo,
The Sun Queen