The return of NFL football to the L.A. market has put USC and UCLA in a "new position," as the schools' football programs for the past two decades have "operated as de facto professional teams," according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. The schools have commanded "most of the spotlight" in the L.A. market since the NFL departed in the late '90s, but now, "how much of that status quo will be overhauled?" USC this past season played in front of a "half-full Coliseum crowd," averaging the school's lowest attendance since '02. UCLA saw a 1% increase last season, but crowds at the Rose Bowl are "still in sharp decline since the program set an all-time attendance record" of 76,650 in '14. Past figures also "do not suggest a correlation between the NFL’s presence and interest in college football." When the NFL left L.A. prior to the '95 season, the "impact was minimal on USC and UCLA home games," as "neither school saw a boon in attendance." Meanwhile, both the Rose Bowl and L.A. Coliseum are "playing catch-up, hoping old-school tradition can compete with top-of-the-line modern amenities." Improving game day operations is of "utmost importance" to the Rose Bowl Operating Committee as the Rams' new venue in Inglewood "threatens the iconic stadium’s ability to host concerts and soccer matches." Meanwhile, L.A. Coliseum is in line for a $270M upgrade starting in '18 (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/11).
ROOM FOR ANOTHER? In L.A., Dan Woike notes the Chargers are using the phrase "Fight for L.A." as the "guiding principle in their move into the market." It is a "fight to prove to the people" of L.A. that the Chargers "really belong ... that they deserve a slice of attention in a town that’s already stretching people’s eyes in so many directions." Chargers Chair Dean Spanos said, "I don't expect anything to be handed to us. We didn't expect a red carpet welcome. We're one of a bunch of teams here, and we've got to prove ourselves. And we're going to fight for every fan and every game and go from there.” Woike writes, "For the Chargers, a big part of the 'fight' is simply staying in the conversation." Spanos: "One of the big things for us is we have to keep being engaged with the media as best we can. We want our players up here. We're going to have a presence up here as best we can until we actually get moved in" (L.A. TIMES, 2/13).
