Tangled shades of blue flooded the SoFi Stadium concourse. Powder blue jerseys brushed previous royal blue horns in burger traces. Bolt-painted faces mingled with followers in throwback Rams gold.
“Whose home?” blared the stadium announcer.
“Rams Home!” a lot of the gang replied.
Although in pockets of powder blue, the response got here with a shrug, or with nothing in any respect.
That query — whose crew really owns the Los Angeles professional soccer market — lingers almost a decade after the Rams and the Chargers settled into the town’s soccer panorama.
The Rams, who received a Tremendous Bowl title in 2022, sport a polish that no argument over fan bases can scrub away. In the meantime, the Chargers’ rising base insists that is simply as a lot their city.
In the course of the Rams’ 23-22 victory Saturday, the rating felt secondary to the followers staking out territory.
Jerry Quinones, 59, is a four-year Chargers season ticket holder. A retired first responder, he hardly ever misses a house recreation. However even from his regular seat in part 330, he acknowledged the nuance between the groups.
“Rams obtained extra of a household base,” Quinones stated. “I want the Chargers [would] have it, however they don’t. They obtained cheerleaders, we don’t.”
Three ranges under, on the field-level patio behind the top zone, Rams fan Gill Marquez, 25, yanked proudly at his Britain Covey jersey and repeated, “We run L.A.”
“It means rather a lot to be a Rams fan,” Marquez stated. “I really feel it deep down in my soul. We introduced a championship to L.A. and that made an excellent level that we’re the actual crew right here.”
Rams fan Gill Marquez, left, and Chargers fan Eric Robles present their help for his or her respective groups throughout a preseason recreation at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
(Ira Gorawara / Los Angeles Occasions)
Not each Rams fan put it fairly so forcefully. Bob Gerard stated he moved to L.A. from Chicago and hitched onto the Rams after they returned in 2016. The 58-year-old, who donned a Puka Nacua jersey, joked that he’s superb letting the Chargers crash at SoFi — as long as the association isn’t mistaken.
“It’s really the Rams’ home,” Gerard stated, “we simply type of Airbnb it out to [the Chargers] each different weekend.’”
Chase Hay, outfitted in a palm-patterned Hawaiian shirt splashed with Rams logos, minimize a looser determine whereas chatting with Chargers and Rams followers on the subject degree bar. For Hay, 36, the Rams are a household custom greater than a rivalry — a crew he caught with due to his grandfather, and one he believes can share the town with out shedding its roots.
“Being NFC and AFC, there’s a whole lot of room to coexist with each of us right here — till we’re enjoying one another,” stated Hay, a advertising and marketing skilled. “However I don’t see the Chargers as a risk.”
Eric Robles, 22, stated his reply to “Whose home?” comes from two hours south. The San Diego native, sporting a Justin Herbert jersey, stood as Rams followers cracked jokes round him, his lifelong allegiance rooted within the Chargers’ previous — and Herbert, who he stated is the crew’s future.
Herbert, the Chargers’ star quarterback, is a powerful motive for Chargers followers to belief within the trajectory of their membership.
Ed Kim had a powder-blue flag wrapped round his shoulders, the Chargers’ lightning bolt stretching throughout his again.
“We’re the best group in Los Angeles proper now,” he stated. “The Rams are the Clippers of Los Angeles — they’re second fiddle to us. As a result of we have now the best quarterback in Justin Herbert. So mainly, we’re the alphas.”
If Kim introduced conviction, Angel Herrera introduced theater: he was wearing a gleaming blue-and-gold luchador masks, a flowing Chargers cape and a thick chain of metallic beads in Chargers colours. A heavy WWE championship belt hung over his No. 97 jersey.
By halftime, he had posed for near 30 pictures with younger Chargers followers.
Chargers fan Angel Herrera says L.A. is a Rams city, however is hopeful Justin Herbert can lead the Chargers to greatness.
(Ira Gorawara / Los Angeles Occasions)
“Sincere reality, L.A. is extra of a Rams city — solely as a result of they just lately received,” Herrera stated. “It’s gonna be an extended route earlier than extra Chargers followers come round, however it’s gonna occur. We obtained Herbert, so it’s not gonna be that lengthy.”
As followers streamed out of the stadium, the controversy continued. Some would possibly level to Tremendous Bowl banners and shout, “Rams Home!” Others would possibly shake their heads, trusting San Diego roots and Herbert’s promise.
For now, it’s a home divided, however one with room for all.
