What Happened to Hollywood Park Racetrack?

Hollywood Park Racetrack, a prominent thoroughbred racing facility in Inglewood, California, closed permanently on December 22, 2013, after 75 years of operation. The decision was driven by economic factors, including declining attendance and the increasing value of the 260-acre (later expanded to nearly 300 acres) land for redevelopment. The site has since been transformed into a massive urban mixed-use development, retaining the name Hollywood Park, which now features SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater, Hollywood Park Casino, residential complexes, retail, office spaces, and public parks.

The primary reason for the closure was the recognition that the land had a "higher and better use" than horse racing. Horse racing as a leisure activity had seen a considerable decline in popularity and attendance by the 1990s and 2000s, making the racetrack financially less viable despite past efforts to reinvigorate it. The property had been sold to a real estate development firm in 2005, signaling the inevitable shift towards redevelopment. The opportunity to build a major sports and entertainment complex, particularly an NFL stadium, presented a far more lucrative and impactful future for the site.

Key turning points in Hollywood Park's history include its opening on June 10, 1938, quickly becoming a celebrity hotspot and major racing venue. In 2005, Churchill Downs Inc. sold the property to a real estate development firm for $260 million, setting the stage for future redevelopment. The official announcement of the track's closure came in May 2013, with the final race held on December 22, 2013, concluding 75 years of horse racing. Demolition of the racetrack structures began in 2014, and Rams owner Stan Kroenke acquired the site that same year, along with adjacent land, paving the way for an NFL stadium. The City of Inglewood approved the stadium plan in 2015, and a new Hollywood Park Casino opened in October 2016.

The closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack marked the end of an era for horse racing in Southern California and led to the displacement of horses and racing operations to other tracks like Santa Anita and Del Mar. However, it also ushered in a massive economic revitalization for Inglewood, transforming the area into a global sports and entertainment destination. The development brought thousands of jobs, new housing, retail, and significant infrastructure improvements to the city.

As of August 20, 2026, the Hollywood Park mixed-use development is largely complete but continues to expand. SoFi Stadium is a fully operational, world-class venue, having hosted Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, and eight matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is also slated to host Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics. YouTube Theater is a popular 6,000-seat performance venue. The retail district, including Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, continues to open new tenants, with several slated for late 2024 and early 2025. Residential units are occupied, and further phases are under construction. Notably, Hollywood Park Studios, a film production campus, is under construction, with its first phase topped out in June 2026, and will serve as the International Broadcast Center for the 2028 Olympics before pivoting to commercial film and TV production. There is an ongoing legal dispute between Hollywood Park and the City of Inglewood regarding $400 million in reimbursement for infrastructure improvements.