The L.A. Chargers brought a bit of Hollywood magic to their new El Segundo practice facility, the Bolt, with its own Walk of Fame. And it’s fitting that the team, competing for eyeballs in a crowded local sports market, would use some showbiz razzle-dazzle to illuminate its storied history in the NFL.
At the entrance of the building is their own Walk of Fame.
The Chargers Walk of Fame naturally used the same company that designs the stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame: Top End Terrazzo. Former Chargers greats honored at the Bolt include running back LaDainian Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates, quarterback Dan Fouts, wide receiver Charlie Joiner and innovative former head coach Don Coryell. The newest honorees, inducted July 2, are late owners Alex and Faye Spanos.
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The team wanted to create a place that was more than offices and a practice facility — they wanted to embrace and pay homage to the team and Los Angeles. “And what better way to do that then emulating Hollywood Walk of Fame?” says Chargers chief of staff, Fred Maas. “And one idea led to the next and we decided to go find the firms that [creates the stars] for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So you walk through the walk of fame, you are paying homage to the past and you enter our future, here.”
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Former Chargers defensive end and host of “American Ninja Warrior” and “The Talk” Akbar Gbajabiamila adds, “The players come in every morning, and it’s a reminder of the Chargers’ deep history, the greatness of the history — if you can see it, you can be it. It’s inspirational. It’s an intentional mindset-shifter, walking into the facility, so what’s cool is that is what leads you into the facility.”
Visitors walk past the plaques to enter the 150,000-square-foot-building, which is designed to dazzle. The building’s modern angular shape is meant to evoke the team’s lightning bolt logo, while inside Wolfgang Puck Catering is handling the food, and the dining hall has an open kitchen with a pizza oven sporting a mosaic designed to look like a Chargers’ helmet.
By tapping Wolfgang Puck Catering, the Chargers are aligning themselves with a quintessential Hollywood brand and its first foray into feeding professional athletes. “We always like a good challenge, and I think if you look at how Wolfgang has grown his enterprise over the years, it’s always centered on how to create a great experience for people,” says Pamela Brunson, president of Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The chefs work closely with the team’s nutritionists. “The challenge and excitement of it is being able to provide that hospitality and enjoyable moments that goes beyond just a box check on dietary and nutritional needs list that expands their palates,” says Brunson.
“It’s our first pro sports partnership, and we’re just really excited and humbled that we have this opportunity and hope we hit a home run, although that’s the wrong sports metaphor,” Brunson laughs.
The top floor will be highlighted by a soon-to-be-completed members-only club with a wrap-around outdoor balcony and lounge overlooking the practice fields. The club will also include a stylish dining area and private dining room, which will also be available as event space. The outdoor space includes a lap/rehab pool and an outdoor lounge area with a BBQ, fire pit and Samsung’s “The Terrace” QLED 4K outdoor TVs. The space is designed for player use as well as for events.
“I’m pretty sure we’re the first NFL training facility with this caliber of building in Los Angeles,” says Maas, noting that the Rams are still in a temporary facility. “So this has really been the first opportunity for us to show the full expression of what the NFL means to the greater Los Angeles [area].”
In the off-season, the Chargers made a big move by hiring Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh in the wake of his leading the Wolverines to a National Championship title. Harbaugh, a former Chargers quarterback, brings some heat and expectations to the team given his record: 144-52 as a collegiate head coach and a 49-22-1 as an NFL head coach. Over four years, he led the San Francisco 49ers to three straight NFC Championship Games, including an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII.
Harbaugh’s got a certifiable star on his roster, QB Justin Herbert, which should also raise the visibility of the team in the L.A. Market.
The glossy new facility, just under 10 miles from their home SoFi Stadium, illustrates a new commitment to the franchise and the town it left for San Diego in 1961.
“When you get something new, there’s an excitement, there’s a buzz,” says Gbajabiamila, noting that the Chargers organization has “invested over a quarter of a billion dollars into this facility,” giving the team and the fans the sense that this is a winning organization. “I mean, there’s no reason why this doesn’t become what the Los Angeles Lakers have been for so many years. Their training facility is just down the street and, by the way, this [facility] kills them.”
Carolyn Giardino contributed to this report.
