Rams, Chargers will battle for L.A.
The Chargers and Rams will meet on the field on Sunday, but both teams are trying to achieve a common goal off it – trying to reignite Los Angeles’ passion for the NFL.
The progress so far mirrors the tour of the L.A. Stadium at the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood – a slow build.
“The wheel is starting to spin faster, and it is heading in the right direction. We understand that it is going to take time,” said Chargers chief marketing and strategy officer Jeffrey Pollack.
“The live NFL experience took a 20year hiatus from Los Angeles. What we both share is trying to reignite the love for the live NFL experience.”
Sunday’s game at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum marks the sixth time Los Angeles teams will meet. The previous time was Nov. 13, 1994, when the Raiders defeated the Rams, 20-17, at Anaheim Stadium.
Both teams cite increased season ticket and single-game sales, but the TV ratings remain low.
The Nielsen rating for the Chargers’ game in Buffalo last Sunday was 7.9 while the Rams’ game against the Cardinals drew a 5.6 locally.
That was a big drop from Week 1, when the “Monday Night Football” game against the Raiders drew a 16.7.
The Chargers averaged a 6.0 locally last season in their first season back in Los Angeles. The bigger concern might be the Rams, who averaged a 9.0 when they moved to L.A. in 2016 but fell to 8.0 last season despite winning the NFC West.
For both teams, the ratings aren’t close to what they averaged in their former homes. The Rams had a 19.7 rating in St. Louis in 2015 and the Chargers a 24.4 in San Diego in 2016.
Both teams though are quick to point out that the television measuring audience in L.A. compared to the other two markets is more than five times as large.
Despite the low TV ratings, Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff sees signs of growth elsewhere. He pointed out that attendance at training camp in Irvine increased this season and that fans were more engaged at last week’s Cardinals game despite the Rams putting it away at halftime.
“Whether it is seeing more T-shirts at the farmer’s market or hats at the beach it is great to see this team growing in the collective subconscious,” he said.
Both teams are building their hopes toward 2020, when they move into the new stadium. Tuesday’s tour was the first opportunity reporters and most team executives got to see construction from the floor of the stadium, which is half completed. Installation of the massive roof panels has already started.
The new stadium will seat 70,240, with 260 luxury suites and 13,000 premium seats.
“It looks like a stadium now,” Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said. “To be inside the bowl and see the shape of it you can visualize what it is going to look like.”
Superintendent resigns: A white Texas school superintendent who posted online that “You can’t count on a black quarterback” in reference to Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has resigned.
In a letter Saturday to the Onalaska Independent School District board, Lynn Redden says his comment posted earlier in the week on the Houston Chronicle’s Facebook page was “wrong and inappropriate.”
He also apologized to Watson, who is black, and points out that Watson could have criticized him for his comment but instead “chose peace and positivity.”
Redden had criticized Watson for letting the clock run down before completing a pass in a 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.
Steelers hurting: The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without all-pro guard David DeCastro for a second straight week when they visit Tampa Bay on Monday night.
DeCastro is still recovering from a fractured right hand suffered during Pittsburgh’s Week 1 tie against Cleveland. B.J. Finney will start in DeCastro’s place.
DeCastro isn’t the only offensive linemen hurting. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert is doubtful with a hamstring issue. Matt Feiler will start if Gilbert does not play. Safety Morgan Burnett is also doubtful with a groin injury.