From ballparks to digital domes, discover LA's most unexpected thrill

A city synonymous with big screens and bigger dreams, Los Angeles is also home to some of the most hallowed ground in American sports.

Stepping into Dodger Stadium for a baseball game and touring the architectural marvel that is SoFi Stadium offers a fascinating study in contrasts: one, a monument to a romanticised past; the other, a cathedral to a technological future. Then, to top it off, there's the sports-viewing experience that needs to be experienced to be believed: Cosm.

Driving up to Dodger Stadium is a pilgrimage in itself. Perched on a hill overlooking downtown Los Angeles, the 63-year-old ballpark feels like a relic from a simpler time. The air, thick with anticipation, carries the scent of roasted peanuts and the legendary Dodger Dog.

The mid-century design, with its colourful, tiered parking lots and palm trees swaying in the breeze, evokes a sense of timeless Americana. Inside, the atmosphere is electric yet laid-back. Fans, a vibrant mix of multi-generational families, die-hards and first-timers, create a sea of Dodger blue.

I'm here on a Friday night for a fierce National League West showdown between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The crowd's energy builds with every pitch, punctuated by the organist's tunes and the roaring chants of "Let's go Dodgers!"

"This place is an absolute classic ... there's a real sense of community, especially when the team is doing well," Scott, who moved to Los Angeles from New York three years ago, tells me in the stands.

The stadium's open-air design offers breathtaking panoramic views, with the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance and the city skyline sparkling at sunset. I'm hoping to see a celebrity and the little kid in me is hoping to catch a foul ball, but alas, neither happen from my seat high in right field.

It doesn't matter. With a 3-2 win in the bag, and a brigade of happy fans pouring out of the ground at 9.30pm, it's beyond doubt that a night at Dodger Stadium is more than just a game. It's a quintessential Los Angeles experience that taps into the city's rich history and love affair with its baseball team.

In stark contrast, a trip to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is a journey into the future of sports and entertainment. A behind-the-scenes tour of this state-of-the-art facility is less about tradition and more about innovation. The stadium's sleek, futuristic design and translucent canopy are a sight to behold, a modern architectural wonder that feels more like a spaceship than a sports arena.

The sheer scale of the stadium is staggering, dominated by the colossal, double-sided "Oculus" video board that hangs over the field. It's a technological marvel that ensures every seat has a premium view of the action.

We're visiting the stadium the day before NFL team the LA Rams are due to play a practice match and while a game-day crowd would undoubtedly fill the space with a different kind of energy, the tour itself gives a true appreciation for the engineering and foresight that went into creating this $US5 billion venue.

SoFi Stadium's playing surface is more than 30 metres below street level because of its location directly in the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport. Perhaps even more remarkably, in 2028, the 70,000-seat NFL stadium will be transformed into a 38,000-seat natatorium, making it the largest Olympic swimming venue in history.

Having hosted everything from WrestleMania to Taylor Swift and, next year, eight matches of the FIFA World Cup, SoFi Stadium is a testament to LA's forward-thinking spirit. It's a place built not just for today's games but for the grand events of tomorrow, from the Super Bowl to the Olympics.

Fancy a front-row seat to a soccer match in England while eating buffalo wings and drinking beer at 9.30 on a Saturday morning? Only in America, right?

Stepping into the City of Angels as an Australian tourist, there is an expectation of grandeur, but nothing prepared me for the sheer scale of the sports-viewing experience at Cosm.

A trailer gives us a mind-blowing front-row seat to basketball, ice hockey, football and UFC, just to name a handful, transporting you all over the country and the world.

I'm curious as to how many fans will gather on this Saturday morning, to watch a Premier League clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City. The answer is soon apparent - plenty - as about 350 supporters of both clubs pack into the immersive grandstand.

While you may have travelled halfway across the world to see Hollywood and the beaches, time spent at this venue is a fantastic reminder that the American entertainment capital is constantly pushing the boundaries of how we enjoy sports.

Did I mention buffalo wings and beer?

The writer was a guest of Los Angeles Tourism