[AnotherUnixGeek]

Los Angeles has never been a football city during my lifetime. Before the Rams left Anaheim the stadium was usually half empty, and the sight of all those empty sections at the LA Coliseum for Raiders games was just sad. Meanwhile, the tidal wave of people fleeing the Bay Area means 49ers away games are always going to have a lot of 49ers fans on hand. I’ll be showing up in 49ers colors for Cowboys games in the fall after I move.

[dfwgator]

The Raiders are still Los Angeles’ favorite team, even though they play in Las Vegas.

[SoCal Pubbie]

The Raiders drew better in LA than in Oakland, but you go ahead now...

[SoCal Pubbie]

From 2008 to 2015 in St Louis, the Rams averaged between 52,402 and 59,980 per game. In the first year back in Los Angeles, the Rams averaged 83,164 in 2016, 63,392 in 2017, 72,429 in 2018, and 71,229 in 2019. Hmmm, something seems out of sorts here, doesn’t it? Covid has tanked the numbers since, of course.

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

The Rams started in Cleveland in the old AAFC and kind of got muscled to Los Angeles by the Browns in 1946. They played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Rams re-located to Anaheim in 1980 then they moved to Saint Louis in 1995, then they returned to LA in 2016.

Although their rivalry with the 49ers is one of the best in football history, it isn't hard to imagine fan loyalty isn't a strong suit.

[Michael.SF.]

Los Angeles has never been a football city

I will take it a step further and say that LA in general is not a strong sports area. Some caveats to that:

Before I get to that though I am originally from LA, left there when I was 40 years old. I'm still a Dodger, Lakers and USC fan. I saw Koufax pitch at the Coliseum, had season tickets to the Lakers and USC. I have also been to the World Series twice at Dodger Stadium. I don't know how many times I have been to Dodger stadium, but it is likely around 40-50.

Now about those caveats:

1) LA loves a winner, and remains loyal to a team taht wins. Case in point: USC after Pete Carrol left, or before he got there.

2) Population base: 12-15 million live within 50 miles of downtown LA. If LA was a strong sports city like Boston, Chicago, Green Bay and others, tickets would be far more difficult to get.

3) Over saturation: Two NFL teams, Two MLB TeamsTwo NBA teams, Two Hockey teams, Plus UCLA Plus USC

4) Too many 'foreigners' -- LA is full of people from out of state with loyalty to the original hometown team. You go to a Cubs, or Bulls, or Red Sox or Yankees or many other team games, it seems 25% of the people are wearing the visitors' colors. Other teams the draw is not as strong.

5) Too many distractions -- The beach the mountains, Disneyland, Universal studios and more. Jack Kent Cook was once asked why the LA Kings did not draw well in LA when there is a half million Canadians living in LA. His response was classic:

Sure, there are a half-million Canadians here. But they moved here because they hate hockey.