Los Angeles is the second largest city in the USA and has a lot to offer in terms of sport: in the NBA play the Lakers and the Clippers, in the NHL the kings, they play too Dodgers and the Angels in the MLB. The NFL, on the other hand, hadn’t been an issue for over 20 years L.A. – For three years now, two teams have been playing in the city.
Many titles in other sports – not in football
At first glance everything fits together: The Rams were the first football team on the west coast, they played in the venerable “Coliseum“In Los Angeles before moving to St. Louis and winning a Super Bowl there. But the reasons for moving at the time alone show that LA and the NFL have simply not really gotten together so far. Because while the Lakers and Dodgers won championship after championship in their sports in the eighties and the Kings succeeded in one of the biggest transfer coups in the NHL with Wayne Gretzky, the Rams were only mediocre American Football.
The biggest success to date: a lost Super Bowl. The interest of the fans steadily decreased, although it was never quite there from the beginning. The 90,000 seats in the “Coliseum” were almost never completely filled – and many tiers have remained empty since the return five years ago.
Unloved Chargers: “We don’t want you”
The relationship between the fans and the Chargers is even more difficult. They came back to Los Angeles two years after the Rams and had to be content with the fans that were left. That they were founded in LA in 1960 is just a side note. Because for more than 60 years they played only 200 kilometers away in San Diego. There they were loved.
Many fans from San Diego resented the move to LA. Because there is no friendship between the two cities. Many sports fans in the new home were therefore not happy about the new team. The “Los Angeles Times“headlined the move: “We don’t want you.” How little interest there is in the Chargers in Los Angeles is also shown by the audience figures: Although the Chargers have a capacity of 27,000 Dignity Health Sports Park, the smallest stadium in the league, the stadium is never sold out. Often more than half of the audience cheers on the guest team. The Chargers quickly become the away team themselves.
More fans thanks to the new mega-stadium?
The new “SoFi“Stadium, which the two teams will share from this season onwards. The ultra-modern building was recently completed and at around 4.2 billion euros is by far the most expensive stadium in the league. 70,000 fans have space here.
For now, the two teams will play in front of empty stands. California has been badly affected by the coronavirus, including that San Francisco 49ers have announced that they will play their home games without fans. For the ex-charger and now Denver-Broncos-Runningback Melvin Gordon makes no difference anyway. In an interview with his former teammate Marcus Cromartie, he joked: “We haven’t had any fans so far anyway.”
Sporty only mediocre
And sporty? Last season both teams disappointed: After the Rams reached the Super Bowl in 2018, expectations were high. A positive 9-7 record was achieved, but it wasn’t enough for the playoffs. The main reason is the strong division with the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawkswho are again favorites for the playoffs this season. With the Arizona Cardinals There is also a surprise team, DeAndre Hopkins, one of the best Receiver the league caught.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are facing a new chapter in their history: Quarterback and club icon Philip Rivers has left the club after 15 seasons. The young Justin Herbert, whom the Chargers in the first round of the Drafts have selected. Above all, it should be better than last year: After Los Angeles achieved a 12-4 record two years ago and only in the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots When it was over, the Chargers were by far the last in their division. But: Because the Raiders and the Broncos are also weak, LA could with a lot of luck make the playoffs.
Neighbors, but not rivals
A rivalry between the two teams will probably not arise despite the proximity. Because the Chargers in the AFC and the rams in the NFC are represented, the teams play against each other only once every four years (unless they meet in the Super Bowl). In the history so far, there have only been twelve clashes, only seven of them with Los Angeles in the name. For fans and players one thing is clear: Without regular duels, there will be no great sporting rivalry. It’s more like living together like in New York, where the Giants and the Jets yourself that MetLife-Stadium share. In Los Angeles even the club colors.
Stand: 31.08.2020, 08:00
–
