The Chargers are still trying to ingrain themselves with the L.A. community and build relationships with fansgetty images
The Chargers in their second year in L.A. have "struggled to fill" StubHub Center, but the team believes it has "priced season tickets in a way that will change that" once it moves to its new Inglewood Stadium in '20, according to Jeff Miller of the L.A. TIMES. The least-expensive general seating section for the Chargers in the Inglewood stadium, which will be shared with the Rams, will cost $50 per game and "require a one-time personal seat license fee of $100." The Rams last month "announced their season tickets will start at $60 a game," with PSLs beginning at $1,000. Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said the team "priced independently of the Rams." He added that their goal was to "appeal to as many fans as possible." The Chargers announced that their new home will "feature more than 26,000 seats prices between $50 and $90 per ticket, plus the $100 seat license fee." Miller noted the team is still "trying to establish itself" with the L.A. community. Spanos said, "It's going to take a while for us to share memories and build relationships with fans here. ... As we have continued success, that's going to continue to grow" (L.A. TIMES, 10/18).
SOME ARE CONCERNED...: ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported a "major discussion topic" among NFL owners and execs at this week's league meetings in N.Y. was the "Chargers' viability in L.A." While there was not a "formal presentation on it this week," it was a "topic of private conversations." PSL sales "have been a struggle." Sources said that the team is "expected to revise" its revenue goals at the new Inglewood stadium "sharply to a more realistic number," from $400M to around $150M (TWITTER.com, 10/17).
...OTHERS ARE NOT: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who helped spearhead the NFL's return to L.A., said that he is "not concerned about the Chargers establishing a foothold there." Jones said, "I don't share any concern there. It's just a part of two teams that are part of a new stadium and the acclimation and reshuffling of logistics of the fans, and those kinds of things" (SI.com, 10/17). NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there is still "lots of building to do" with the Chargers and the Inglewood stadium. Goodell: "Frankly, we were out of the market for a long time, and we have to earn our way back with our fans. We have to build that relationship back with our fans and make sure that we do it right. Both teams are committed to that." Goodell also said the state of the NFL in L.A. will be "something that we have to work at over a period of time." He said, "[The Rams and Chargers] both have very exciting young teams, and I think that will be helpful also. But I think all of those things will come together over the next two years. That's the work that needs to be done" (ESPN.com, 10/17).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME? PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Darin Gantt wrote the Chargers "aren't that bad at football, so that's not an excuse" for the lack of fan support thus far, which raises a "valid question of whether they should have ever left San Diego" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/17).ESPN's Tony Kornheiser called the move to L.A. an "enormous failure." Kornheiser: "The solution for this is repatriate them to San Diego. Put them back home where people really like them." He added, "The Los Angeles people have their Rams back. They don’t care about this team” (“PTI,” ESPN, 10/17).
