The Rams’ ability to adapt as an organization has "again been put to a stress test," as this was "supposed to be such a pivotal spring" for the team's marketing efforts in the lead-up to the opening of SoFi Stadium, according to Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY. It was "all so meticulously planned," but the pandemic has "changed those big plans." As construction continues on the stadium, Rams COO Kevin Demoff said right now the "two best traits in the organization are the ability to be flexible and adaptable.” He added, "Everything changes every 48 to 72 hours. I think you think in small increments. As an organization, you keep your long-term goals in mind ... but in the short term, our thoughts and focus, everything, pivots to people most in need.” Still, Bell reports the timeline for the stadium opening "remains intact." With construction "deemed 85% complete in late January, it is on track to open on July 25 with a Taylor Swift concert." That date "seemingly would depend more on whether large crowds are gathering again in public by late July" (USA TODAY, 3/30).
BRAND BLUNDER? In St. Louis, Ben Frederickson wrote the Rams' new logo unveiling last week "went poorly." Frederickson: "How poorly?" The Rams "managed to make national news for all of the wrong reasons," so much so that the N.Y. Times "dedicated an entire story to pointing out all of the reasons the Chargers-like logo is terrible, the first and worst being that it appears to be a total rip-off of poor little Angelo State [Univ.]." A source added that the Rams "managed to tick off multiple Los Angeles media members during the reveal process" as well, by "packaging the story as an exclusive scoop to one reporter, something the team later changed its mind on due to the backlash." Frederickson wrote, "In times of great stress, it’s nice to know some things will never change, like the Rams turning a non-story into a Dumpster fire" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/29).
