The Rams are already taking preemptive steps to ensure next weekend’s NFC championship game doesn’t feel like another 49ers acquisition.
David Lombardi of The Athletic reported that the Rams are restricting ticket sales to residents of the greater Los Angeles region, with location based on credit card billing address. The team said in its notice that orders from those not in Los Angeles will be canceled and refunds will be issued.
It seems the Rams already fear the 49ers will make SoFi Stadium their home again: They’re trying to restrict ticket sales for a potential NFC title game by geography.
Pathetic and also premature in my opinion – LA isn’t even in the title game yet pic.twitter.com/G8VmbG9muv
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 23, 2022
The team’s move is similar to what the Titans did for their divisional round matchup against the Bengals. Tennessee shortened the ticket transfer window to 24 hours before the game to try to reduce scalping.
The last time the 49ers came to Inglewood, in the 2021 regular season finale, San Francisco fans packed the stands at SoFi Stadium, sometimes making the Rams’ home game feel like a away matchup against an NFC West rival.
The 49ers needed to win the game to secure a playoff spot, which they did in a 27-24 overtime finish.
News of the ticket policy change is sure to delight Kelly Stafford, the wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. She said on her podcast, “The Morning After,” after the 49ers game that Matthew Stafford was on a silent count and San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was not.
“I’m not going to lie, I’ve never seen so many opposing fans at a game. We came from Detroit and there were a lot of teams that traveled well there, but that was crazy,” Kelly Stafford. saying. “It was crazy. I mean, again, I’ve never seen anything like it, but it made it really hard for us because I guess we didn’t expect to be quiet.”
In an Instagram post with the clip, he wrote, “My plea. Please don’t sell tickets to Arizona fans,” a reference to the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Cardinals the following Monday.
If Los Angeles overcomes the NFC championship and makes it to the Super Bowl, it will once again have to contend with a SoFi Stadium that will likely be divided in allegiance. Your home stadium will host the game.
To get to that point, however, LA will have to beat San Francisco, which has won the last six meetings between the teams.