The Los Angeles Rams were thrilled to welcome fans to SoFi Stadium on Thursday night for their final practice of minicamp, packing about 30,000 supporters in the stands for what’s been the stadium’s biggest crowd ever.
However, it didn’t go off without a hitch.
As is the case with just about any large event in Los Angeles, traffic caused some problems. The practice was supposed to start at 4 p.m. PT but it was pushed back an hour because players were stuck in traffic.
Sean McVay was asked if traffic was an issue and his answer was very clear.
“Yes, it was. It was a major issue,” he said. “Guys that left at 2:45 did not get here until a little past 5, so that was the reason we bumped it back. Feel terrible but I am appreciative of our guys. Man, it’s good to be back in person but not good to have this damn traffic. But yes, that was a major, major issue and that was the reason we had to bump everything back an hour and why I trimmed off the last 30 minutes of practice.”
It’s bad enough that fans have to sit in traffic to get to the stadium, but having players take more than two hours to arrive is borderline unacceptable. The Rams can’t have that happen on game days when players are on a tight schedule.
Here are some of the responses to the traffic from fans on social media.
As frustrating as the traffic was, McVay did say the presence of fans in the stadium was outstanding and it reminded him of just how big a part they play on Sundays. For that reason, he can’t wait to see SoFi Stadium packed in Week 1 when the Rams take on the Bears.
“It’s even better,” he said. “I just think you’re reminded of the energy and atmosphere that’s created by the fans. To have 30,000, 35,000, whatever it was out here today, I said to a handful of our players and coaches, ‘Can you imagine how rockin’ this thing is going to be on Sunday Night Football when we open up against the Bears?’ That has me excited.”
Hopefully by September, they can solve the traffic issues, with the Rams’ two preseason games being additional trial runs before Week 1.