The Los Angeles Chargers have opened a new content studio, named "The Bolt," within their El Segundo headquarters. This impressive 1,300-square-foot facility, situated on the top floor, features an impressive 465 square feet of LED displays and 1,712 linear feet of customizable LED lighting. The focus is primarily on post-production content creation rather than live broadcasts.
“As we continue to look for innovative ways to connect with our fans, partners and, given our location, the entertainment industry as a whole, we believe The Bolt provides endless possibilities both for growth as a business and growth as a football team,” said Fred Maas of the Los Angeles Chargers.
This marks a significant upgrade for the Chargers' content team, who previously lacked dedicated production space. Since their relocation from San Diego in 2017, they’ve operated without permanent facilities, frequently constructing and dismantling temporary sets.
The studio's design cleverly incorporates elements of Los Angeles culture and Chargers history. Wall displays showcase the city skyline and palm trees, alongside images of fans and legendary players such as Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Lance Alworth, Kellen Winslow, and Charlie Joyner.
Unlike traditional team broadcast facilities, The Bolt avoids fixed desk positions and permanent camera setups. The Chargers utilize Arri cameras on Sachtler tripods with SmallHD monitors, providing flexibility. The space can accommodate up to 10 cameras for shoots, although it lacks a dedicated production control room for live production.
The studio's strategic placement above the team's weight room and near the practice fields aims to maximize player accessibility for content creation. The project involved collaborations with several companies: Jack Morton for studio design, IDF Studio Scenery for scenic fabrication, Samsung for LED technology, NEP Sweetwater for AV integration, and The Lighting Design Group for lighting systems and design.
The Bolt is part of the Chargers’ new $250 million practice facility, opened in July 2024. This 150,000-square-foot complex includes three natural grass practice fields and occupies 14 acres in El Segundo, California. The Chargers join other NFL and professional sports teams investing in dedicated content studios to elevate their digital and broadcast production capabilities.