Whose House?

The Los Angeles Rams played the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football at Sofi Stadium. The Rams played at home, which is often considered an advantage. However, this time, the home team had a different outcome.

Philly, Philly

The Rams lost 37-20, but what happened off the field stood out the most about the game. That was my first time attending an NFL game, and I immediately noticed the midnight green crowds. It was noticeable in the stands, parking lot and concession lines. The overwhelming number of Eagles fans in attendance far exceeded the number of Rams fans. It was noticeable even when walking through the streets into the stadium. Eagles fans arrived in masses, making their presence known. They were loud and proud as the visiting team. I lost track of how many times I heard their victory song, "Fly, Eagles Fly," throughout the night.

Leaving Los Angeles

It is well known that the Eagles have one of the largest fan bases. However, it is hard to see that as the only reason for the staggering number of visiting fans who fill Sofi stadium during Ram's home games. From 1946 to 1994, the Rams played in Southern California but relocated to St Louis, Missouri, for two decades. In 2016, the franchise returned to Los Angeles only to find that the city's natives had started supporting other teams. For 21 years, the city had no NFL team to root for. Jerseys from different franchises, including the 49ers, Raiders, and Cowboys, are seen more often than the Rams'.

No Place to Call Home

Another issue with their hiatus from the city is the delay in building a home venue. At the time of the return, the Rams played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for four years. While historic, it hindered the team from growing a fan base because they shared the field with two other teams. One team is the Los Angeles Chargers, which relocated to the city from San Diego. The other football team is the University of Southern California. It is easier to build a culture when the fans and team have a place to call home. Even now, with a new stadium, they still share it with the Chargers. The lack of home-field advantage hurts the Rams because now the NFL fans in Los Angeles are not only divided between two teams. They also compete with the fans who support the other teams in California or different states.

I Love L.A.

If there is one thing the city of Los Angeles welcomes, it is championships. After winning the Super Bowl in 2022, the team gained a larger fan base. The team needs more winning seasons to keep the fan base growing. No one wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a ticket to watch the home team lose. Only time will tell if the Los Angeles Rams will become as beloved as the Lakers and Dodgers. Focusing on the now, the Rams have another opportunity this Sunday to win a home game against the Buffalo Bills to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. The question is, will it be the Rams House, or will the Bills Mafia take over?