Kroenke felt Rams fandom in L.A. turned a corner this season around the "MNF" game against the ChiefsGETTY IMAGES
Rams Owner Stan Kroenke will "prove to be one of the most significant owners in league history and be a major candidate" for the Pro Football HOF should the Rams win Super Bowl LIII after moving back to L.A. just three years ago, according to Dan Wetzel of YAHOO SPORTS. In addition to relocating the team back to its former home in '16, Kroenke began development on the privately funded, $5B Inglewood stadium. Kroenke said, "It was a big opportunity to build a stadium. The Rams certainly needed a new stadium and Los Angeles is a big enough market to attract private funding." Wetzel noted shortly after taking over "full ownership" of the Rams in '10, Kroenke was "dealing with an untenable situation" in St. Louis. The team needed a stadium to replace Edward Jones Dome, and local politicians "weren't acting with the urgency needed." L.A. eventually "became the better, ableit far bolder, path," and once Kroenke "focused on that, then it was going to happen." The past three seasons have been "transitional in nature, a new team in a new town playing in a temporary home." L.A. in general "hasn't rushed to embrace" the Rams. However, Kroenke "felt a corner was turned earlier this season" when the "MNF" game against the Chiefs "had to be rescheduled from Mexico City and on seven days notice, which included a period of devastating wildfires and a mass shooting, 77,000 fans showed up to support local charities." Wetzel: "Nothing builds fan bases like winning. It's why this Super Bowl trip is of particular significance for the franchise and the league. It's not merely a reward for longtime fans, like when most franchises make it to the big game. This one can create a generation of new ones" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/31).
COACH SPEAK: Rams coach Sean McVay had high praise for Kroenke, saying, "I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to work for such a great owner. He's been nothing but great to me. He's really an enjoyable guy to be around." McVay added, "When you talk about looking for an owner that's committed to investing and providing all of the resources you could ask for to be a successful franchise, it's outstanding. He has a quiet confidence but a humility. I can't imagine having a better situation" (DENVERPOST.com, 1/31).
TOUGH CROWD: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Flint notes the Rams are "scoring on the field, but not with TV ratings." The team averaged a 10.6 local rating, meaning 10.6% of L.A. households were "watching the games." The Patriots, by comparison, had a 35 rating. Given the size of the L.A. market, the "total viewership numbers for Rams games may be higher than teams in many markets, but the Rams aren't getting as big a share of their local audience." The figures suggest that L.A. has a "ho-hum attitude toward the return" of the NFL. Many locals see the Rams as a "third banana behind the Dodgers and Lakers, which was often the case during the Rams' first stint" in L.A. Rams ratings have "been improving and a Super Bowl appearance will be another opportunity to broaden the fan base" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/1).
GIVE THEM TIME: In Boston, Ben Volin wonders if Rams fans "sense that the run has generated a lot of new fandom, or are the Rams still more of a curiosity" in the L.A. sports scene. The L.A. Times' Sam Farmer replied, "The foothold the Rams have doesn't compare to that devout fan base in New England, but you've got to remember, the team has only been back three years. Los Angeles is a city of transplants, and everybody brings their hometown football loyalties with them." Farmer: "It takes some time to restart the engine." However, Farmer added the "story that the Rams have no fans is exaggerated and played out" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1).
