The Rams as part of their first season back in L.A. need to "win back fans they abandoned" in the mid-'90s with their move to St. Louis and "attract a new generation of ticket buyers without much of a sizzle reel," according to cover story by Jason Reid of ESPN THE MAGAZINE. The Rams "haven’t qualified for the playoffs" since '04, and they last "had a winning season" in '03. All the fuss "around 'The Return of Football to LA' will drive attendance" in the near-future. However, as any team knows, it "takes victories and marquee names to keep the people coming back." No. 1 overall Draft pick QB Jared Goff is "part of the plan," and the Rams are "exercising patience with their rookie QB in the early going." However, with "all the hits he took in the pocket during preseason ... it might be awhile before he catches up to the speed of the NFL game." That means it is up to second-year RB Todd Gurley to "put butts in seats" (ESPN THE MAGAZINE, 9/19 issue). SI's Greg Bishop notes the Rams in their return to L.A. have been the subject of a "marketing barrage," two separate Rams-centric reality TV shows and "'Hamilton'-level ticket demand." However, local fans "aren't yet sold on the team." Rams GM Les Snead knows returning to L.A. "means win now," as the team otherwise will be "just another failed Hollywood sequel." For now, demand "seems high," as the full allotment of season tickets "sold out in six hours" (SI, 9/12 issue). In California, Rich Hammond wrote the Rams at some point know the "narrative must change," as billboards and "slick videos touting their homecoming" will only go so far with fans. The L.A. Coliseum "will be full this year, but the watchability of the product remains to be seen" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/8).
LIKE THEY NEVER LEFT: In Tacoma, John McGrath wrote the Rams are "back where they belong," and "no matter what other storylines and controversies await during the NFL's 97th season ... the league already has done something right." McGrath: "It has fixed a wrong. The Rams never quite fit in St. Louis" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/8).
