For the 89th time, Roosevelt High School and Garfield High School will face off on the gridiron in Friday’s East LA Classic.
The annual event is one of the biggest rivalries in youth sports and has become a holiday of sorts for locals looking forward to seeing which team will come out on top and claim Eastside bragging rights. There is.
President Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, dressed in crimson red and gold, represent Boyle Heights. Meanwhile, Garfield’s bulldogs, decked out in red and blue, hail from unincorporated East LA.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Friday’s big game.
Who will play, where and when? Roosevelt and Garfield students will clash during the 2022 East LA Classic. Photo courtesy of Boyle Heights Beat.
For the first time, the Classic will be held at Inglewood’s So-Fi Stadium, co-home of NFL teams the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. SoFi is the NFL’s largest stadium, with approximately 3.1 million square feet and 70,000 seats. The schools announced the locations for the games on social media in early September, but criticism quickly arose from some area residents who said the games should have been played on the East Side.
This year’s festival kicks off on Friday, Oct. 25, with junior varsity games taking place at 3:30 p.m. The JV team was previously removed from the schedule, but was added after complaints from the community. The women’s flag football game begins at 6 p.m., marking a landmark moment for the sport, which is growing in popularity on the East Side. Finally, the varsity game begins at 7:30 p.m.
How can I buy tickets?2024 East LA Classic flyer.
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Those eager to witness LA history are in luck. $40 event tickets are still available at Ticketmaster. Once purchased, we recommend downloading the SoFi Stadium mobile app where you can find your tickets. Only mobile tickets are accepted, no screenshots or PDFs. The stadium is also a cashless venue, accepting all major credit, debit and mobile payments.
Roosevelt High School will be selling discounted tickets until Wednesday, October 23rd. RHS/MSTMA students can purchase tickets for $15, while general ticket prices are $35. Tickets can be purchased at the Roosevelt Student Store (enter from 4th Street) from 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
What about parking?
SoFi Stadium parking lot opens at 1:30 p.m. Parking can be purchased online before the game. There are several parking lots around the stadium, and passes range in price from $22 to $28. Parking fees at the venue will be increased on the day of the event.
What can I expect from my commute?
East LA Classic attendees should plan plenty of time for their commute, as numerous sporting events and concerts are expected to congest roads and highways on Friday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium at 5:08 p.m. The Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena downtown starting at 7 p.m. In South Los Angeles, the USC Trojans will take on Rutgers University at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 8 p.m.
Concerts are scheduled at two venues near SoFi. Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is scheduled to perform at the Intuit Dome at 7:30 p.m., and Jeff Lynne’s ELO will take the stage at 8 p.m. and at the KIA Forum.
What can I bring inside?
According to SoFi’s bag policy page, approved bags include: 12-by-6-by-12-inch clear tote bags, 1-gallon resealable clear plastic storage bags, and small bags not exceeding 4 by 6 inches. Includes clutch bag. The long list of prohibited items includes drugs (marijuana, all types of tobacco, vaporizers, smokeless tobacco, illegal substances, etc.), outdoor food and beverages (medically necessary food and drink are permitted), weapons, and incendiary materials. This includes equipment, etc. All kinds and more.
Who will perform at the 2022 East LA Classic? Will.i.am. Photo courtesy of Boyle Heights Beat.
Boyle Heights native and hip-hop superstar will.i.am will once again perform the classic halftime show with Grammy Award-winning group the Black Eyed Peas. The rapper and producer previously performed at Game 87 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Spirit teams from both schools, including marching band, cheer, drill and flag teams, will perform alongside the Black Eyed Peas. The school’s mariachi band will also perform at the event.
What is the history of the Classic? What is the position of the team?
East LA Classic’s history dates back to 1925, when Garfield was founded. According to President Roosevelt’s website, the two schools hosted games every year except from 1939 to 1948 due to the Great Depression and World War II.
The games were originally held on each school’s campus, but were moved to East Los Angeles College’s stadium to accommodate the large crowds. In 1971, President Roosevelt’s football coach, Al Chavez, and Garfield’s coach, Ted Davis, met and decided to give the now popular event an appropriate name, settling on the “Classic.”
The game has previously been held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but most years it is held at ELAC’s Weingart Stadium.
Garfield High School dominated the 2010s Classic and maintained an impressive 10-game winning streak against Roosevelt until the Rough Riders’ upset victory in 2021. However, Garfield High School defeated its opponent 49-16 in last year’s classic.
