Rams Safety Quentin Lake Frustrated by 49ers Fans Filling SoFi Stadium

Lake shocked to find more red than blue in the stands for Rams home games against their NFC West rivals.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:50am

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A cubist, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, conceptually representing the divided fan loyalties at SoFi Stadium as the Rams face their NFC West rivals.A fractured, geometric painting captures the divided fan loyalties at SoFi Stadium as the Rams struggle to establish a home-field advantage against their NFC West rivals, the 49ers.Los Angeles Today

Rams safety Quentin Lake was surprised to find SoFi Stadium filled with more San Francisco 49ers fans than Rams fans when he first played in a home game against the Niners. Lake, who was drafted by the Rams in 2022, didn't initially understand the long-standing rivalry between the two NFC West teams. However, he now realizes that the Rams' 22-year absence from Los Angeles led many fans in the area to adopt other teams, especially the 49ers, during that time.

Why it matters

The Rams' return to Los Angeles in 2016 after over two decades without an NFL team has led to a divided fan base, with many longtime LA football fans still loyal to teams like the 49ers that filled the void during the Rams' absence. This presents a challenge for the Rams as they try to rebuild their fanbase and create a true home-field advantage at SoFi Stadium.

The details

When Rams safety Quentin Lake first played in a home game against the 49ers at SoFi Stadium, he was shocked to hear more boos than cheers as the team took the field. He was surprised to see a 'sea of red' in the stands, with 49ers fans outnumbering Rams fans. This is due to the fact that from 1994 to 2016, Los Angeles was without an NFL team, leading many fans in the area to adopt other teams, especially the successful 49ers dynasty of that era. Even though the Rams have found success since returning to LA in 2016, including winning a Super Bowl, rebuilding that local fanbase has been an ongoing challenge.

  • The Rams left Los Angeles in 1994 and returned in 2016.
  • Lake was drafted by the Rams in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The players

Quentin Lake

A safety for the Los Angeles Rams who was drafted by the team in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, hired in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“I go into SoFi against the 49ers. I didn't really know anything about the rivalry or anything like that. We get to the start of the game, and we come out of the tunnel and I'm like, 'Why do I hear more boos than cheers?' And then you run out of the tunnel and I'm telling you it's a sea of red.”

— Quentin Lake, Rams Safety

What’s next

The Rams will continue to work on rebuilding their fanbase in Los Angeles, hoping that a new generation of fans will embrace the team as they find more success on the field.

The takeaway

The Rams' long absence from Los Angeles has led to a divided fan base, with many local fans still loyal to teams like the 49ers that filled the void during that time. Rebuilding the Rams' fanbase and creating a true home-field advantage at SoFi Stadium remains an ongoing challenge for the organization.