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Arts & Entertainment

Rams Preseason Begins Saturday With New Fan Experience At Coliseum

rams_cheerleaders.jpg
The Rams' Cheerleaders. (Photo by Harry How / Getty Images)

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The L.A. Rams kick off preseason Saturday night with a game against the Dallas Cowboys. After their abysmal 4-12 record last year, the team has re-vamped the fan experience at the Coliseum to entice the crowd into sticking around for the whole season. Last year, the opening game drew 90,000 fans, but "crowds thinned considerably" after that, according to the L.A. Times.

One way to keep the momentum alive is by limiting ticket sales to 70,000 per game, about 10,000 fewer than last season, in order to maximize a "real optimal operating capacity," according to Jake Bye, the Rams’ vice president of consumer sales and marketing. They also plan to improve parking and movement in and out of the stadium.

In terms of food, the Coliseum will offer more locations for buying food and beverages, including adding a new concession area at Gate 28, according to Arash Markazi of ESPN. They also are increasing the number of non-alcoholic and food in-seat vendors, according to City News Service. New additions to the food court include 225 Smokehouse, Loaded Fries, Calle de Tacos, and Island Style.

Fans are now allowed to bring in their own seat cushions as well, provided they have no metal, pockets, or compartments.

This will be the Rams' first season with new coach Sean McVay, who's the youngest head coach in NFL history. Perhaps he, like our fair Mayor Eric Garcetti, is #feelinghorny at the prospect of the new season.

With the Chargers' imminent arrival in L.A., and the Inglewood stadium opening in 2021, sports in L.A. keep growing.

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