[Elvis]

Vinny B. OTOH, is cheery:

http://www.insidesocal.com/nfl/2015/07/ ... open-arms/

Book it: Los Angeles will greet NFL with open arms

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Vincent Bonsignore

In a recent column that appeared on Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback blog, writer Emily Kaplan randomly canvassed 100 Los Angeles residents to gauge their interest in the NFL finally returning to L.A.

As you know, the NFL is contemplating two Los Angeles area stadiums projects with attachment to three teams, and could decide by the end of 2015 what two teams relocate to Los Angeles and where they will play.

The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have teamed up to build a stadium in Carson, and St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke is pushing his own project 14 miles away in Inglewood. As early as 2016, one or two teams could be calling Los Angeles home.

With that in mind, Kaplan took to the streets to figure out just how interested L.A. is in professional football coming back after a 20-year absence.

You can read the story here, but the prevailing sentiment Kaplan encountered upon talking to Angelenos was a lukewarm reaction to the NFL coming back.

Or, as Kaplan wrote:

“We posed (the) question to more than 100 Angelenos from all walks of life. We talked to a struggling actor and an A-list entertainer, a bus driver and a barista, natives and transplants, lawyers and self-described hipsters. We also spoke to people like (Enrique) Urbano, residents of Inglewood and Carson who might have a large, loud tenant moving into their backyards. We found pockets of passionate sports fans who felt jilted by the NFL’s extended absence. But that paled to one overarching theme: apathy.”

A few quote snippets:

“Sports just don’t matter to me,” says Taylor Smith, a 20-year-old actor. “Plus, this is a city built off the entertainment industry. That’s our cultural compass, not sports.”

“Isn’t there already a football team in L.A.?” asks Danielle Johnson, a 22-year-old clothing designer. “No seriously,” she says. “Isn’t there?”

“I love football, don’t get me wrong,” says Marissa Martinez, a 26-year-old waitress. “I was a cheerleader growing up. But I’m fine having watch parties at my house on Sundays. That’s just what I’m used to, and it works, you know?”

You get the idea, right?

Am I surprised?

Absolutely not. Fact is, just like any other city Los Angeles if filled with people who could give a rip about football or sports. It’s not hard finding them, either.

Or as a high-ranking NFL official texted me earlier today: “It reminds me of when Howard Stern sends people out on the street to get people to give him answers to questions. I could send someone on the streets and get the opposite story.”

Am I worried this means L.A. won’t support one or two teams?

Not even the slightest.

There are 21 million people in the greater Los Angeles area – counting L.A., Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. I’d be shocked if 80,000 of them don’t make their way to a stadium 10 or 20 times per season.

More importantly, the NFL and the Raiders, Chargers and Rams know they can generate enough money from PSL’s and other revenue streams to support their privately financed stadiums. In fact, that’s the precise reason they can finance stadiums here in Los Angeles but not in Oakland, San Diego and St. Louis, where significant public contributions are required.

How do they know this?

They’ve spent money and time canvassing Los Angeles.

Or, as different NFL executive texted me today: “I’m not sure what people think the NFL (and teams involved) are paying (experts) to do. But A LOT of market research has been done.”

I’m not doubting there are plenty of residents that could give a flip about the NFL – or any other sport for that matter. Same can be said for New York, where you can bump into 50 people in Central Park who have no idea who Derek Jeter is, let alone the difference between a New York Jet, Giant, Met or Knick.

And I’m not discounting there are options available to Southern California residents that don’t exists in other markets.

But all anyone has to do is check the attendance figures for any L.A. professional team to understand three million fans support the Dodgers and Angels every season, the Lakers and Clippers are always near capacity each game and the Kings and Galaxy are well supported.

When it comes to fans financially and emotionally investing themselves in their teams, L.A. takes a back seat to no one.

[Elvis]

Vinny really nails it (which is kind of weird), this in particular:

More importantly, the NFL and the Raiders, Chargers and Rams know they can generate enough money from PSL’s and other revenue streams to support their privately financed stadiums. In fact, that’s the precise reason they can finance stadiums here in Los Angeles but not in Oakland, San Diego and St. Louis, where significant public contributions are required.

How do they know this?

They’ve spent money and time canvassing Los Angeles.

Or, as different NFL executive texted me today: “I’m not sure what people think the NFL (and teams involved) are paying (experts) to do. But A LOT of market research has been done.”

[kayfabe]

I’m not doubting there are plenty of residents that could give a flip about the NFL – or any other sport for that matter. Same can be said for New York, where you can bump into 50 people in Central Park who have no idea who Derek Jeter is, let alone the difference between a New York Jet, Giant, Met or Knick.

And I’m not discounting there are options available to Southern California residents that don’t exists in other markets.

But all anyone has to do is check the attendance figures for any L.A. professional team to understand three million fans support the Dodgers and Angels every season, the Lakers and Clippers are always near capacity each game and the Kings and Galaxy are well supported.

Prime example proving Vinny's point: why just last night 93000 (!!!) fans showed up at the Rose Bowl for the LA Galaxy vs. Barca.

That's right, 93000 fans. On a Tuesday night. In L.A. For soccer.

And I'm guessing had anyone trolled Venice Beach yesterday and asked 100 random people about the LA Galaxy they'd have
gotten a far less lukewarm response than even the allegedly frigid Rams reception.

[BuiltRamTough]

I’m not doubting there are plenty of residents that could give a flip about the NFL – or any other sport for that matter. Same can be said for New York, where you can bump into 50 people in Central Park who have no idea who Derek Jeter is, let alone the difference between a New York Jet, Giant, Met or Knick.

And I’m not discounting there are options available to Southern California residents that don’t exists in other markets.

But all anyone has to do is check the attendance figures for any L.A. professional team to understand three million fans support the Dodgers and Angels every season, the Lakers and Clippers are always near capacity each game and the Kings and Galaxy are well supported.

Prime example proving Vinny's point: why just last night 93000 (!!!) fans showed up at the Rose Bowl for the LA Galaxy vs. Barca.

That's right, 93000 fans. On a Tuesday night. In L.A. For soccer.

And I'm guessing had anyone trolled Venice Beach yesterday and asked 100 random people about the LA Galaxy they'd have
gotten a far less lukewarm response than even the allegedly frigid Rams reception.

And it was friendly exhibition that meant nothing.

People hate on LA because we have a lot of sports teams. The fact that Stan is building an privately financed stadium that might host 2 teams, just pisses people off. Oh and we are getting another MLS teams which also is going to be playing in a brand new privately financed soccer only stadium.

You have city's desperately wanting to keep their teams and hoping they get rewarded an expansion MLS. While LA sport scene keeps getting bigger. Think about it, in 2-3 years we might have 3 new franchise's in LA. Of course people will hate and say LA doesn't sport their teams. If that's the case then why do we keep getting more teams?

They hate us cause they ain't us.
Or
They're peanut butter and jealous.

[The Ripper]

Anyone know what the Rams attendance was year 1 in St Louis?

496,486 = 62K per

Thanks brudda
62k huh?
Did they add extra seats for the Rams or was the 60k inaccuate?

The problem with the early attendance is that the numbers aren't real because of the guaranteed ticket sales. The other curios thing is that the CVC missed guaranteed payments to the Rams the first 2 years in St Louis.

[Hacksaw]

Anyone know what the Rams attendance was year 1 in St Louis?

496,486 = 62K per

Thanks brudda
62k huh?
Did they add extra seats for the Rams or was the 60k inaccuate?

They claim over 64K 2 or 3 games.

[dieterbrock]

The problem with the early attendance is that the numbers aren't real because of the guaranteed ticket sales. The other curios thing is that the CVC missed guaranteed payments to the Rams the first 2 years in St Louis.

I hear you man and you're on point.
No PSL nonsense in early 80's either.
Which is why the only true comparison is cards vs Rams attendance. LA supported the Rams a hell of a lot more than St Louis supported the Cards.
How was Bidwell going to get support for a bigger stadium when they were only selling 2/3 of a smaller one?

[The Ripper]

The problem with the early attendance is that the numbers aren't real because of the guaranteed ticket sales. The other curios thing is that the CVC missed guaranteed payments to the Rams the first 2 years in St Louis.

I hear you man and you're on point.
No PSL nonsense in early 80's either.
Which is why the only true comparison is cards vs Rams attendance. LA supported the Rams a hell of a lot more than St Louis supported the Cards.
How was Bidwell going to get support for a bigger stadium when they were only selling 2/3 of a smaller one?

and no corporate support which was also one of the reasons that they didn't get an expansion team. The main was the mess with the control of the Dome and infighting over the ownership group.

[snackdaddy]

St. people are desperately clinging to articles like Emily Kaplan's. In reality, that goes on in every NFL town. Plenty of people could care less about the home team. Every town has them just like they have their die hard fans.

[dieterbrock]

St. people are desperately clinging to articles like Emily Kaplan's. In reality, that goes on in every NFL town. Plenty of people could care less about the home team. Every town has them just like they have their die hard fans.

Dont get me wrong, I feel bad for the people of St Louis if they lose the team. I think they did a great job of welcoming them to St Louis and supporting the Rams through tough times. What does fry my onions a bit is that LA is basically taking back their team. It was a shady deal that took them to St Louis so they are the last ones to cry foul that they are victims of the same consequence.
Heck, if Kroenke was moving the team to San Antonio or Boise, I'd be more in the corner of the STL
I think the "right the wrong" concept does factor in to the ultimate decision here