You will have seen the clips going viral on social media. The followers watching sporting occasions indoors, on an enormous display screen that makes them really feel as if they’re within the stadium of their selection. It’s a venue that has been frequented by the likes of Hollywood actor Danny DeVito and has remodeled the best way top-level European soccer could be consumed in the USA.
So, how does Cosm, as the brand new idea is thought, evaluate to the actual factor? The Athletic came upon. We despatched Pablo Maurer to Cosm Los Angeles to soak up Fulham vs Arsenal yesterday, whereas Caoimhe O’Neill watched the motion in particular person from the gang at Fulham’s Craven Cottage stadium.
Perhaps greater than some other metropolis in the USA, Los Angeles is a monument to American scale, dotted with outsized landmarks: the famed hillside Hollywood signal, a spaceship-sized soccer stadium and a number of different monuments to outsized kitsch.
Cosm Los Angeles, then, matches proper in. It’s ostensibly a sports activities bar however feels a bit extra like a theme park, that includes an 87ft (26.5m) extensive video display screen that fully and completely immerses you. Cosm takes the American obsession with making almost each sporting occasion a “premium” expertise to the intense, plopping you down on a sofa, basically, in what seems to be the center of a stadium on one other continent.
Simply hours after I completed masking Main League Soccer’s championship match elsewhere within the metropolis on Saturday evening — among the many most genuine footballing experiences you may have in the USA — I hopped in my automotive at 5am to look at Fulham tackle Arsenal from 5,000 miles (almost 9,000km) away in Cosm. I nursed my hangover with a $15 (nearly £12) bloody mary and a $17 slice of avocado toast, alongside Individuals who’ve shunned MLS in favour of the actual model of the game, as they often say.
Clips taken inside Cosm have gone a bit viral on social media and the encircling narrative is that it’s the closest you may get to a real matchday expertise with out the difficulty of attending the match itself. In America, it’s a straightforward promote to Premier League supporters, a lot of whom not often, if ever get an opportunity to go to their chosen membership’s residence floor.
Remnants of Storm Darragh batter Fulham followers as they make their method down the steps at Putney Bridge station.
They’re met by calls of “Get your matchday scarves” and others attempting to dump spare match tickets. It’s 35 minutes till the 2pm kick-off however no one appears in any nice rush, even within the rain, as the previous few Arsenal supporters end their pints of beer and depart The Eight Bells pub.
Followers stroll from Putney Bridge station to Fulham’s floor (Caoimhe O’Neill/The Athletic)
As throngs of followers make their method over the River Thames, by way of Putney Bridge itself, and in direction of Craven Cottage there’s one man going in opposition to the gang, awkwardly carrying a Christmas tree. In Bishops Park, the inexperienced railings that overlook the fast-moving river information us in direction of the stadium.
Amongst these making that muddy stroll are Charles Singer and his daughter Kirsty. The 72-year-old Scotsman is an Arsenal fan however grew to become a member at Fulham after discovering it troublesome to get tickets to Arsenal video games on the Emirates Stadium. They are going to be sitting within the new Riverside Stand — which extremely features a sky deck, rooftop terrace and a swimming pool. “I hope Emile Smith Rowe (previously of Arsenal) scores for Fulham right this moment however my coronary heart desires an Arsenal win as a lot as I really like watching Fulham,” says Charles, who has made the 93-mile (150km) journey from Tub, within the west of England.
Craven Cottage is a sight to behold. It’s (components of it anyway) the oldest soccer stadium in London and in addition probably the most aesthetically pleasing. The Johnny Haynes Stand — which is cornered by the precise cottage to which the bottom bears its identify — has slim turnstile entrances constructed into the encircling brickwork. With quarter-hour till kick-off, followers bundled up in opposition to the winter climate are queuing as much as squeeze by means of these slight openings in a wall which bears traditional Fulham crests.
“Everybody is aware of Pam Wilson,” one Fulham fan says as he buys a matchday programme.
Pam, one other Scot, has been promoting programmes from the identical spot on Stevenage Highway for 26 years. The Athletic finds her as she is giving canine treats to a ginger labrador. “I convey treats for the canine and sweets for the youngsters. It’s important to give again to the neighborhood,” the 51-year-old says. “I’ve liked Fulham ever since I first got here right here in 1997.
“I promote programmes exterior Stamford Bridge earlier than Chelsea video games too (the 2 stadiums are solely a few miles aside in west London) however I’m Fulham 100 per cent. I get common clients who’ve been shopping for programmes from me for years. Persons are superstitious. Once they purchase a programme right here and Fulham don’t win I get moaned at, however then if I’m not right here one week they moan and groan. I really like the banter.”
Let’s get this out of the best way: there is no such thing as a method, actually, to convey the dimensions of the display screen at Cosm.
You’re basically sitting inside it, so to talk, because it cycles by means of 4 completely different digicam angles beamed straight from, on this case, Craven Cottage. The Cosm area is cut up into three ranges and my ticket has positioned me on the second, simply to the left of the centerline.
The place is much from full, it is a 6am native time begin on a Sunday, however there are nonetheless fairly a number of followers in attendance, and most of them are supporting Arsenal. Fulham, although, have at all times had a particular place within the hearts of the American soccer fan, from the times of Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey to Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson and proprietor Shahid Khan extra not too long ago, and right this moment, the Los Angeles chapter of their American fan membership is in attendance. All six or so of them.
When Raul Jimenez will get the opener for Fulham about 10 minutes in, they explode, drawing groans from the Arsenal followers in attendance.
The size of the display screen at Cosm is unimaginable (Pablo Maurer/The Athletic)
“Ambiance is ambiance,” says Todd Petty, who sits alongside his father Mark, additionally a Fulham supporter. They’ve been to Craven Cottage many instances. “If we have been sitting within the Putney Finish or the Hammersmith Finish or the Riverside, it might be completely different. However for us to be sitting right here within the crowd, and to listen to the chants and the cheering, to affix in, it does provide you with a little bit of that have.”
Moments later, that tiny little bit of magic disappears when a difficulty with the feed from throughout the Atlantic causes the image to drop out fully for about 5 minutes. It’s a little bit of a actuality verify.
After managing to get into the bottom with two minutes to spare earlier than kick-off, we’re listening to referee Chris Kavanagh being known as “ineffective” by one Fulham fan inside a minute of the opening whistle being blown. The stand we’re in is outdated and the view, regardless of our ticket costing £81 ($103), is so restricted I’ve to look at the motion by means of and round a steel pillar when Arsenal are on the assault, which is for almost all of the primary half — till I transfer into an empty seat additional alongside the row.
When Mexico worldwide Jimenez scores with Fulham’s first shot from their preliminary assault, his nation’s flag is unfurled by followers within the Riverside Stand behind the 2 dugouts. Slightly boy in a Fulham shirt jumps into his mom’s arms to rejoice as Jimenez dances in entrance of the Arsenal followers — a lot to their frustration.
Arsenal ahead Bukayo Saka is jeered and informed to “f*** off” when he volleys a shot into the Hammersmith Finish as rain swirls into all 4 stands.
The guests from throughout London stay 1-0 down as their followers within the away finish chant, “You solely got here to see the Arsenal play.” One Fulham supporter enjoys (even when the Arsenal contingent can’t straight hear him) declaring, “We got here to see Fulham!” When Smith Rowe takes a heavy contact, he’s reminded by one other within the residence crowd that he doesn’t play for Arsenal anymore — as if he has someway forgotten.
The service at Cosm was nice, albeit just a little sluggish. The employees have been pleasant and attentive, consistent with the luxurious expertise the place is searching for to offer. Prime-level professional sports activities in the USA way back grew to become a product for the rich, and Cosm matches that mildew fairly effectively.
To most of the people, my seat on degree two of the place would price almost $90 (£70), about twice what you’d pay for an inexpensive ticket to an LAFC match in MLS at their stadium down the road. Cheaper choices can be found if you happen to’re prepared to face or mill in regards to the overflow areas.
I’ve a espresso, a bloody mary and a chunk of avocado toast. The food and drinks, frankly, have been glorious however once more, the objects would set me again almost $40. I can not consider a single sports activities crew I’d pay a mixed $150 (£117) to help in a single regular-season sport, even in particular person, although possibly that’s only a private drawback.
As halftime approaches, I stroll exterior, to the venue’s deck, which gives a fully, positively spectacular view of the encircling hills. Cosm overlooks SoFi Stadium, residence of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, and the streets beneath are already dotted with Rams followers who’ve queued up for his or her sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, which kicks off in 5 or 6 hours.
The dude subsequent to me takes a success off of a weed pen. It’s just a little early for that, for my part, however Arsenal have certainly been powerful to look at right this moment.
On 43 minutes, some followers head to the concourse to beat the half-time rush for £7.20 ($9) pints and £7 ($8.92) hen and sage pies.
When the remainder of us head down into the cramped area beneath the outdated wood seats shortly afterwards, it takes the vast majority of the 15-minute break to get served. Most go for pre-poured pints of Camden Hells lager. Others munch £9.50 ($12) jumbo scorching canine. Again-to-back scorching chocolate orders imply one server disappears to the tip of the bar for lengthy waits on the scorching water station. There are additionally a variety of requests for Bovril, a beef-flavoured drink that’s a staple of English soccer winters, to are inclined to.
Followers queue for food and drinks at half-time at Craven Cottage (Caoimhe O’Neill/The Athletic)
These within the seats closest to the pitch are paying for it right this moment with damp coats and jackets. The top steward fingers plastic rain ponchos to these colleagues whose stations imply they don’t seem to be beneath shelter. Being nearer to the pitch does imply you may extra crisply hear the ball being kicked and see small clumps of turf stick up into the air as Martin Odegaard sprays a cross by means of the rain.
Technical issues plague the feed once more within the second half at Cosm, main the small crop of Fulham supporters to interrupt right into a “What’s the WiFi password?” chant, drawing laughter and groans from the Arsenal followers in attendance.
When the feed works, it’s actually spectacular.
For years, I’ve watched matches from the press field, and I’ve at all times appreciated the excessive angle from there, the best way it permits you to see the match holistically. Oftentimes your eyes will wander and also you’ll see performs develop off the ball, one thing so ceaselessly missing from the printed feed. At Cosm, different curious bits add to the viewing expertise: followers who seem on the display screen are bigger than life and you’ll generally see them utilizing their telephone or chatting with one another.
The feed from Craven Cottage goes down at Cosm (Pablo Maurer/The Athletic)
The four-camera setup is managed by Cosm employees and a type of views comes from straight behind the purpose, which proved to be my favorite. You’ll be able to research gamers on the close to publish as they relay defensive techniques and watch the goalkeeper place his defenders. Arsenal rating their second purpose (later disallowed) on a nook kick, and my view of the motion couldn’t have been nearer:
I’m at @CosmLosAngeles, which is totally insane. pic.twitter.com/IO8cwuHt5t
— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) December 8, 2024
There may be much more rain and lots extra expletives within the second half from the house followers — particularly after William Saliba ranges the scores. Arsenal midfielder Jorginho’s shouts of “Keep there” to ahead Gabriel Martinelli are audible from throughout the bottom. His recommendation works, seemingly, as Martinelli cuts in from the precise to offer the cross for Saka’s would-be successful purpose, although it seems the Brazilian was offside within the build-up.
Earlier than they knew that, the Arsenal followers wildly celebrated. Some even used the rain-soaked plastic partition that stored them separated from the Fulham followers within the Putney Finish as a water slide to get nearer to the pitch. Saka was mobbed by his team-mates. Some Fulham followers couldn’t sit by means of the ache of it and received as much as depart.
When the video assistant referee reviewed the purpose and chalked it off, a few of them — however not all — returned to their seats to look at the ultimate jiffy of the sport.
A restricted view at Craven Cottage (Caoimhe O’Neill/The Athletic)
The Arsenal supporters tried to place the frustration behind them as their crew put collectively some late assaults however it was the Fulham ones who banged their ft to create a rumbling sound because the guests’ Declan Rice stood over a free kick on the left facet of the pitch. They appeared happy with themselves when the ball curled into the away finish behind the purpose and Rice lined his face together with his fingers.
Cosm, fairly merely, isn’t very similar to being at a sporting occasion in particular person. The individuals who run the place, although, will usually let you know that it isn’t speculated to be. It’s one thing else solely, feeling a bit extra like a 3D film than going to a sport. Parts of the matchday expertise are there, after all — the supporters, the food and drinks, all that — however on the finish of the day it’s nonetheless a really sterile atmosphere, not fairly as, um, seasoned as the environment at Craven Cottage.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re the kind of one who likes lighting cash on hearth, it’s price trying out. The know-how is undeniably loopy and is totally Cosm’s promoting level.
Ultimately, it feels quite a bit much less like Anfield, Outdated Trafford or some other stadium and extra like one thing plucked out of 2001: A Area Odyssey. I’ll persist with attending matches in particular person once I can.
Heading again by means of Bishops Park, the mud is even worse than it was pre-match as followers disperse within the course of Putney Bridge and the station it provides its identify to. Drizzly rain is ever-present as each units of supporters rejoice and lament. Teams of Arsenal followers argue amongst themselves about whether or not or not they’re in or out of the title race after failing to win right this moment.
The sellers of half-and-half scarves have an urgency of their voice realizing the time to shift remaining Fulham vs Arsenal merchandise is fleeting.
Those self same Arsenal followers head to The Eight Bells to proceed their debrief. Fulham followers heading onto the Tube with mud-covered sneakers appear fairly proud of the purpose.
(Prime images: Craven Cottage’s restricted views and Cosm Los Angeles: Caoimhe O’Neill and Pablo Maurer/The Athletic)