The Chargers held a joint practice with the Rams at StubHub Center in L.A. Saturday and drew a "pretty robust turnout for the debut of their cozy new home," according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. The Chargers, who "opened only the lower level of the stadium, extended invitations to fans who have either bought season tickets or are on the waiting list." The team "estimated attendance at 8,000." The Chargers playing at the 27,000-seat StubHub Center is a "bizarre experiment," as the stadium is "less than half the size of every other stadium in the league." It will be "fascinating to see whether the intimate feel of StubHub causes a ripple effect around the NFL." There are some "unique seats simply not available in other stadiums around the league," as well as a club behind the south end zone that "features restaurant booths looking directly onto the field." There also is a "section that sits directly on the field, a safe distance behind the players and down closer to the goal line." The challenge for the Chargers will be "building a fan base" in L.A., and "getting fans to pay premium prices 10 times a season, rather than people looking at these games as a one-off boutique experience" (L.A. TIMES, 8/6). In California, Jack Wang noted StubHub Center may not be very large, but "unlike just about every other NFL venue in the country, fans can get very, very close." If the Chargers "want to sell this as a unique environment, there are clearly factors working in their favor." The venue is "going to be small," but that "doesn’t mean it won’t be loud" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/6). ESPN.com's Eric Williams noted the Chargers were "praising" their temporary home. Chargers DE Melvin Ingram said, "The atmosphere is amazing. Everybody's all close. It's just a warm feeling, and I like that feeling. I love this place." Chargers DE Joey Bosa: "It will be cool when we get a packed house in here." Chargers QB Philip Rivers: "It's going to be awesome. There's no bad seat in the house. Everybody's going to have a great seat and be up close to the action" (ESPN.com, 8/6).
THUNDERSTRUCK? ESPN.com's Williams reported the task for the Chargers in their first year back in L.A. is to "carve out their own niche in an ultra-competitive L.A. sports market." Not only are the Chargers a year "behind in competing for NFL fans with the Rams relocating a year earlier, but the organization that spent 57 years in San Diego before moving to Orange County this summer has to grow a fan base in a city where the Raiders rule." The Chargers believe they had "already established a foothold" in L.A. during the two decades the city was without a team, as they claim 25-30% of their season-ticket sales in the past "originated from the L.A. and Orange County markets." Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said, "Our advertising campaign is still being formulated. We've got a great team, and our players are our best assets. We've got to figure out a way to get the helmets off them and introduce them to this new market." Williams noted along with community outreach, the Chargers want to "build a unique fan experience at StubHub Center that they can build on at the new Inglewood Stadium once it’s ready" in '20. The Chargers hired Mark Tamar as VP/Fan Experience to "create an electric atmosphere on game days." He has "firsthand experience doing that in his former job of head of fan engagement for the Seahawks, home of the '12th Man' and one of the most festive stadium experiences in the NFL." Like the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder, Tamar said that the Chargers are "adding a drum line, calling them The Thunder Bolts." The Chargers also are "adding flag runners for pregame player introductions and are tinkering with the thought of bringing in a trumpet player." Tamar said that the team will "not stray from its five-plus decades of history in San Diego" (ESPN.com, 8/5). Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said, "In Year 2, the focus of this organization is on laying roots to grow -- across the board, whether that’s on the coaching staff, changes we made personnel-wise, players, culture, across the front office and the organization. It's about planting the seed so that we're growing" (ESPN.com, 8/5).
