How did the LA Galaxy get their name? Where is the stadium located?
After promising starts from both Los Angeles based sides, LA Galaxy and LAFC, interest is riding high ahead of Saturday’s ‘El Trafico’ derby
The Los Angeles Galaxy were one of the ten founding franchises when Major League Soccer was created back in 1996 originally playing at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. The came to global notoriety in 2007 when they signed England international David Beckham with his signing boosting the profile of the league both domestically and abroad.
During their history, the Galaxy have won five MLS Cups with the first coming in 2002 where a solitary goal over the New England Revolution secured the club’s first silverware. 2014 was the last MLS Cup win with the club famous for securing high profile international players with the likes of Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic having worn the famous white jersey in recent times.
What’s in a name?
With Los Angeles being synonymous with glamour, glitz and home to the stars, the name was inspired by the ‘galaxy’ of stars in the local environment and the ‘galaxy’ of big name international soccer stars the club would go on to attract.
Galaxy homes
From 1996 through to 2002, the Galaxy took up home at the massive 107,000 capacity Pasadena Rose Bowl but did play US Open Cup games at the smaller Titan Stadium (Cal State University).
The club always believed of the importance of the team playing at a soccer specific stadium and in 2003, the franchise moved into their Carson home, originally known as the Home Depot Centre and later the StubHub Center, with the stadium called the Dignity Health Sports Park these days.
The 27,000 capacity ground is located approximately 25 km from central Los Angeles and is also the home of XFL team the Los Angeles Wildcats.
LAFC, new kids on the block
The Galaxy were joined in the ‘City of Angels’ in 2018 with the emergence of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Based in downtown, fans of the new LA franchise look down a their longer established rivals for not actually playing in the city, being based in Carson with derby games between both sides securing the moniker of ‘El Trafico’ which is a nod to the city’s notorious traffic issues.