LA Sports: Football fans are staying home on Sundays

The LA sports world finally welcomed dual NFL teams, in the same city, on the same day. However, this historic day ultimately fell flat.

On a historic Sunday where Los Angeles hosted two games in the National Football League (NFL) for the first time since 1994 one fact stuck out, no not that both teams lost close games (although that stunk). On social and print media many talking heads noted how few LA sports fans came out for the games.

At the Memorial Coliseum, the Los Angeles Rams hosted just 56,612 fans down a good 20,000 from the week before and a whopping 40,000 less than their first pre-season game of last year. Down in Carson at the first home game for the Los Angeles Chargers in Southern California since 1960, only 25,381 fans showed up at the StubHub Center.

Combined the two teams were had fewer fans than the USC-Texas game at the Coliseum on Saturday, some see this as another sign of Los Angeles lacking “real fans.” There is some merit to that argument but other factors have to be addressed.

As noted last year, the Rams were able to fill the Coliseum regularly rain or shine, at least in the beginning. But after the fans experienced the putrid Rams offense, outdated facilities causing long lines, and no shelter from scorching temperatures, fans are wisely staying away.

Frankly, who can blame Rams fans, this author sat through some torturous games last year. What did the Rams do besides signing a new coach that made people think they had improved enough that fans would flock to the Coliseum.

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The Chargers coming back to LA has been met with mostly derision, as there was no clamor for them to return nor significant signs that they had a fan base north of Orange County. On top of that, the Chargers average game ticket prices are the most expensive in the NFL at $192. This is for a team that was 5-11 last year and start this year 0-2 on missed field goals.

While it’s easy to blame fans for lack of attendance, folks should remember that the NFL watching experience isn’t what it was in 1994. Back then there were two channels for football, smaller TV’s, and fewer alternatives to watching a game other than in person.

Now with the popularity of the NFL and fantasy football, you can watch every touchdown on the NFL Red Zone channel on 80-inch television while sitting in air-conditioned home. No traffic, no long bathroom lines, no scorching sun, and no crap WiFi connections trying to check on your fantasy team. The NFL is practically saying stay home when they offer that kind of option.

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It’s laughable to say that LA sports fans don’t like football one day after 84,000 packed the Coliseum for a college game. Fans want the NFL – they just want it to be winning football, if the Rams or Chargers turn that around the fans will come.