'Is this SoFi or is this Levi's?' Los Angeles Rams' stadium flooded with San Francisco 49ers fans again
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jamal Cook stood across the street from the $5 billion football stadium on Sunday and wondered aloud, “Is this SoFi or is this Levi’s?’’
It was hard to tell as kickoff approached for the NFC championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
Cook was part of a cluster of 49ers fans, and the clusters were everywhere, some morphing into throngs that reinforced why 49ers call SoFi “Levi’s South,’’ a nod to the Niners home, “Levi’s Stadium.’
Sal Luna said drove eight hours from Gilbert, Arizona, with an entourage of six.
“Because we’re going to take the stadium over,’’ he said.
Vivid Seats has estimated 65 percent of the crowd here will be 49ers fans, according to the Los Angeles Times, and StubHub told Paste BN Sports that it thinks that projection will be close.
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The scene outside the stadium, with the swaths of 49ers red waiting for the gates to open at 1:30 p.m. PT, suggested this game could look and sound like the Week 18 matchup between the two teams.
That day, the 49ers fans were so loud they forced the Rams’ offensive to go to a silent count as San Francisco prevailed 27-24 in overtime to secure a playoff berth.
Though the 49ers have a strong base of support in Southern California, it was evident that many of the faithful traveled from afar to get there for the game.
Attiyah Ali, who said she flew in from Atlanta, sat next to hear dog Earl, a 1-year-old miniature pinscher.
“He’s been to five games so far (this season),’’ Ali said, adding that she is a member of the Atlanta Niner Family, about 500 strong.
Eduardo Solis, a police officer in Los Banos, said he had met 49ers fans from New York, Chicago and Texas staying at the hotel where they spent the night after driving from Central Valley.
Tim Maui, a correctional officer, said he rode with two relatives and a friend on the eight-hour drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
“It didn’t matter how long the drive was,’’ Maui said. “We were coming regardless.’’
Cook, who made his way from across the street closer to the stadium explained why he wasn’t wearing a Rams jersey even through he grew up in the L.A. area.
“Never the Rams,’’ he said. “That’s my father’s team, may he rest in peace.’’