The First Season is the Toughest.
With the NFL draft in less than 10 days, people are all excited to see who their favorite team is picking up this season. Will the Rams be picking up native Jared Goff or North Dakota's Carson Wentz with their risky first round pick?
In an article by Kaleel Weatherly, of iSportsWeb, a very good point was made about how important it is for the Rams to trade up for the first round pick. It's now or never. When it comes down to it, the Rams need to WOW.
The Rams need to WOW.
With teams relocating or starting off completely, the first year is the most important year. Not only is it the first impression, but it could set the team up for success or failure.
I always think back to the Sacramento Republic FC, a USL Pro team, that started in 2014, and how they were not only able to pull off a sold out game every time, but walked away with the USL Pro championship. Many would argue that it is the geographical monopoly or novelty of the team that solidified it's popularity but I would attribute it to their first season.
The Rams are not only competing against the UCLA/USC crowd, but the young transplant culture of LA could cause it difficulty. Over the past two months, I was able to gather some perspectives from many people and this is what I have found. 1. Will NFL take away from the UCLA/USC fandom?
Football is the core of the American culture but the NFL and NCAA will not cross. There will be individuals who regard the sport as a whole but the UCLA/UCS rivalry will always mean more than just teams to the fans. For many of the fans, UCLA/USC was their alma mater, or where their parents or spouses went. The schools and the pride represents not only the football team but the blood, sweat, and tears that many have put in to get their degrees, create a new life, or dream. Even on the technical side, college sports and professional sports are always different; the rules are different, the timing is different, and the drive is different.
The Rams could probably take a few Saturday nights away from these teams but it seems like they need a lot more than being an NFL team to pull away from the NCAA.
2. How will the Rams fill the season tickets with the over-saturation of LA sports teams?
Los Angeles has an abundance of sports teams. We have the Clippers, the Lakers, the Angels, the Dodgers, the Kings, the Ducks, the Galaxys, and now the Rams. Luckily, the NFL season only overlaps briefly with the other sports. With that being said, there are so many games that happen in the geographically restricted Los Angeles, that having season tickets for more than one team would cause some issues.
Fortunately, football games are way fewer and pricier than the other sports so I do not foresee a dilemma for their season ticket sales agents in the near future. Judging on the season ticket deposits, there are not even enough tickets for those who want them!
The biggest "if" for the Rams is if they can bring their A game and keep people coming back for more. The last thing they want would to be when the Lakers fans got bored and hopped on the Clippers train.
3. Will the Rams maintain a loyal fan base in a city full of young transplants?
This is probably the most split conversation I have encountered while chatting with fellow sports fans. For those that do not live in LA, it is a hub for young professionals that want to "make it". Whether it is in the film/entertainment industry, or the new "Silicon Beach", individuals in their 20s are flocking to LA for opportunity. Many come from 10 miles away, while others come from 10,000 miles away. I constantly feel like the only person with a California ID in the room.
One of my colleagues argued that being in a younger city, would mean less loyalty to their hometown teams. Imagine converting a Bengals fan of 25 years and converting a Cowboys fan of 3 years, the latter has less loyalty.
I'd rather pay off my student loan.
On the contrary, being a city comprised of "millennials" means that many, like myself, are just learning how to "adult" and do not have a disposable income. If I can eat out, I feel like a queen. The thought of paying a large sum for season tickets? I'd rather pay off my student loan.
In a city full of transplants, the most important thing is value. Everyone here is for the better job, the better them, or the better opportunity so if the Rams can provide a rival fan something better, then I don't see why they wouldn't have a solid fan base.
I think it is fair enough to say that I have high hopes for the Rams. Not only would it be awesome to win, but the Rams really need to impress the 3.9 million individuals that live in the Los Angeles county lines in order to call this place their home.
What do you think?
