The Rams’ popularity level has certainly risen since they moved to Los Angeles in 2016, gradually growing their fanbase over the last six years. No event had a greater effect on their public perception, however, than Super Bowl LVI in February.
Winning a world championship helped put the Rams on the map once again, even if it did come just three years after they lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. We saw that in full effect at training camp the last two-plus weeks with fans packing the bleachers and lining up along the fences to see their favorite players practice.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Rams estimated that nearly 100,000 fans attended training camp across the 10 open practices.
The Rams estimated that nearly 100,000 fans had attended 10 free public workouts. Most appeared to be wearing Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford or Jalen Ramsey jerseys. Or T-shirts and caps commemorating the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.
“We talked so much about it in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl: What playing the Super Bowl in Los Angeles would do. What a win would do,” said Kevin Demoff, the Rams chief operating officer. “I don’t think you can underestimate it.”
That’s a lot of fans at UC Irvine, which has been home to Rams training camp over the last few years. Sean McVay loved the atmosphere fans created throughout camp, which is something the team missed in 2020 when teams were forced to stay at their main facility without fans for camp.
Rams head coach Sean McVay with praise for the training camp atmosphere down in Irvine:
"The fan engagement here was great. It's good to be able to feel that support, and our players enjoy that."
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 10, 2022
If 100,000 fans are showing up to training camp practices across 10 days, imagine how packed SoFi Stadium is going to be throughout the season, and especially on Sept. 8 in the opener against the Bills.
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