COSTA MESA – Keenan Allen’s estimate of 50-50 viewers between Chargers fans and Raiders fans at SoFi Stadium on Monday night was likely wishful thinking.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a strong following in Los Angeles. They called the city their home in the 1980s and early 90s, with coach Tom Flores grazing on the sidelines and running back Marcus Allen playing dynamic games on the Los Anegles Memorial Coliseum field.
Many Southern California Raiders fans will likely be in attendance on Monday, just as they did at SoFi Stadium in August, drowning out the Rams fans for a preseason game.
Allen, the Chargers’ star-wide receiver, probably knew it was a bold prediction to be made of an evenly divided crowd, but perhaps Allen motivated the Chargers fans to take part and not sell their tickets on the secondary market Selling.
“It’s probably going to be 50-50, but that’s not good for a raider game,” Allen said. “You travel well, but we won. Obviously we got 10 (Justin Herbert). I’m pretty sure they’ll be in the building. ”
Allen promoted his 2-1 team, which scored a unique road win against the Kansas City Chiefs. As if that weren’t enticing enough, with his MVP-level performances, Herbert was a must-watch quarterback to start his sophomore season.
Everyone and many of his Chargers teammates are used to counting quietly at home games. Last season, the Chargers didn’t have to worry about that for their first season at SoFi Stadium with fans not allowed to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not wanting to return to a home disadvantage, the Chargers encourage fans to support their young star quarterback and perhaps an up and coming team with new head coach Brandon Staley.
Requesting a 50-50 split probably felt like the bare minimum to everyone, but that might be as good as possible against the Raiders’ avid fans.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr recalled being informed by Charles Woodson during his rookie season that he was expecting a home game setting for the street match against the Chargers.
The Hall of Fame cornerback didn’t lie to Carr in 2014. Carr saw many sections in silver and black when the Chargers played in San Diego, and it was the same in Carson when the Chargers played their home games there between 2017 and 2019.
“Whether in Los Angeles at this soccer stadium or in Qualcomm (stadium) in San Diego, it was another home game,” said Carr this week. “Just like you always thought of it as another home game. No disrespect, it’s just a fact. The way you trained, the way you met, it felt like a home game and I expect Raider Nation to take over most of the stadium again. ”
Carr assumes that the Raiders fans will be out and about with fans at full speed for the team’s first regular season game at the SoFi stadium. But it couldn’t be a one-way split on Monday night.
The Dallas Cowboys are also known for their traveling fan base, but Allen said the crowd seemed divided even when the Cowboys played the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 2.
The Cowboys probably had the most fans in the stands, but many sections were covered in powder blue and sun gold, which came as a surprise to many Chargers.
At one point in the first half, Cowboys fans could be heard chanting “Defense” as Herbert and his offense were on the field. But when the Chargers recovered, the cheering of the cowboys ceased.
“I found it pretty even,” Allen said of the crowd versus the Cowboys. “I thought there were a lot of Chargers fans. We surely felt the love. ”
Many Chargers fans were also present at the season opener in Washington. The sections behind the Chargers sideline were wrapped in powder blue.
For Chargers fans, however, it might be more tempting to travel to street games for a short vacation, which could be paid for by selling home game tickets at the top price in the secondary market.
The Raiders also got to see a large number of fans of the opposing teams at their home games as people love to travel to Las Vegas.
“I welcome Raider Nation on the field down there (in the SoFi stadium),” said Raiders coach Jon Gruden. “Some of these Dolphins fans sneaked into our stadium last week. Maybe Raider Nation can put up a resistance in LA. We look forward to seeing the fans, of course. It’s going to be a great game as always. Great rivalry. ”
The Chargers have made strides in building a fan base in Los Angeles, but there are other circumstances when it comes to the Raiders playing in their home.
“Hopefully they’re not out there not letting Raiders fans in,” said Carr. “But if they let them in, I’m pretty sure it will be another home game feeling for us.”
Keenan Allen said he expected the crowd to be 50-50 with #Chargers and #Raiders fans at SoFi on Monday night: “They travel well, but we won. Obviously we have 10 (Herbert). I’m pretty, you’ll be safe in the building. ”#LVvsLAC
– Gilbert Manzano (@ GManzano24) October 1, 2021
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