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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rams aren't just trying to win over L.A. They strive to be 'the world's team'
Rams linebackers Bryon Young (0) and Jared Verse (8) stand with teammates during the playing of the national anthem before a win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 28. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) The Rams returned to Southern California nearly a decade ago intent on capturing the heart of NFL fans in Los Angeles. Now, with two Super Bowl appearances, one championship and a still glistening-like SoFi Stadium, they have their eyes set on a larger territory: the world. Advertisement The Rams' trip to Maui last week for a minicamp was their latest foray into building a global brand. 'In the journey to growing your brand globally, there's never an 'Aha, this is a perfect moment,'' Rams president Kevin Demoff said as he stood on the field at War Memorial Stadium after a workout attended by several thousand fans. 'But I think this is a great step.' The Rams' reach is expanding well beyond the United States. Read more: Puka Nacua's rapid ascent an inspiration to Polynesian athletes and Hawaiian fans As part of the NFL's Global Markets Program, the Rams in the last decade were granted rights in Mexico, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement In February, the NFL announced that the Rams in 2026 would be the home team for the first NFL regular-season game in Australia. The game against a still-to-be determined opponent will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On Thursday, Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner, offensive lineman Steve Avila and tight end Davis Allen left Hawaii to travel to Melbourne for a family-friendly fan combine that was expected to draw thousands at Margaret Court Arena. 'While many many people travel to L.A. and we have many of our international fans come to a game at SoFi every year, putting it in somebody's backyard makes it that much more accessible,' said Stephanie Cheng, the Rams' head of international and special projects. The Rams have sent ambassadors abroad before. Former running backs Steven Jackson and Todd Gurley made trips, and former safety Nick Scott accompanied the Super Bowl LVI trophy on a tour of Australia and Mexico. Advertisement Last March, safety Quentin Lake visited Japan. Though he was not there in an official capacity with the Rams, the fourth-year pro attended fashion week, an Ohtani-crazed Dodgers game against the Cubs and participated in other cultural activities. Lake's father, Carnell, a former NFL safety, played a 1996 exhibition game for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Chargers at the Tokyo Dome. During Lake's own trip, he worked out with Tokyo University defensive backs. 'You would think in Japan, they don't know football over there,' Lake said. 'But they were doing drills and I was genuinely impressed. They're playing football there in pads and helmets and I was like, this is insane. ... That really gave me an appreciation that football is expanding.' Rams safety Quentin Lake recently got a taste of how popular football is in Japan. (Ryan Sun / Associated Press) Jamison Collier, who describes herself as 'just a super fan,' serves on the Rams' fan council in Australia. Advertisement Collier's husband, Zachariah Sepulveda, grew up in Orange County, 'so his whole family supports the Rams,' she said. The couple played together on a mixed rugby team. But one day, after seeing a team playing American football, Sepulveda decided he wanted to play. After one season, he encouraged his wife to try a training session. 'I was hooked,' she said. Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata, an Australian who grew up playing rugby, made it to the NFL through the league's International Player Pathway Program. Now, he is a Super Bowl champion. Read more: Rams primed to be Super Bowl contenders, but two critical areas of concern remain Advertisement The Rams' scheduled game in Australia has created new fans, Collier said. 'Having Jordan Mailata play for the Philadelphia Eagles was a great way for the league to get exposure in Australia,' Collier said. 'But the Rams have really capitalized on that by being, 'Oh, well, look at that, we're going to come play.' 'So people that were kind of just getting their foot in the door of watching the game have gone, 'OK, well I don't have a team. The Rams are coming. They're my team,' which is how a lot of people tend to get into a team. Over here, it's one that's close to your home, or the first game you go to.' The Rams are not the only team expanding their brand in Australia. The Eagles, the Seattle Seahawks and the Las Vegas Raiders also have marketing rights. Advertisement Read more: Rams' new headquarters to be centerpiece of ambitious Warner Center development project Charlotte Offord, general manager of NFL Australia and New Zealand, said the NFL fan base has grown from 5.7 million to 7.5 million in nearly three years. The Rams were the first team to open the market, and have grown it through player appearances, social media channels, books, watch parties, flag football and cheerleading clinics. 'Australian fans love sports so much, but they want the authentic product,' Offord said. 'And so it's not about an Australian talking about the Rams to another Australian. They want an American voice. They want the authentic players, the real players... which really brings to life the Rams brand.' Advertisement By setting up a Super Bowl watch party in Australia a few years ago, and then winning the game, the Rams 'couldn't have asked for a better entry into the market,' said Lucas Barclay, vice president and general manager of the 160over90 agency that helps market the Rams. And Los Angeles as the 'gateway' to the United States for Australians taking direct flights also gives the Rams an advantage, he said. 'The majority of people fly through L.A.,' he said, 'and therefore L.A.'s become known as that team, that if you're going to an NFL game or want to start to discover or uncover the NFL, then the Rams themselves are the team to do it.' As the Rams prepare for their 10th season in L.A. since returning, they are anticipating another potential Super Bowl run. Advertisement Demoff noted that the fans who wore Rams T-shirts and jerseys as 5-year-olds in 2016 are now teenagers. In 10 years, those fans could be season-ticket holders to see the Rams play at a stadium that will also host the World Cup next year and the 2028 Olympics. Read more: Rams' chances of trading for cornerback Jalen Ramsey appear to be fading 'I don't think you look at the first decade and say, 'Check, we did that,'' Demoff said. 'We've had amazing growth, and when I look at all our metrics in terms of fandom and growth, I would say they're certainly where we had hoped they would be. 'But I still think we can push for more.' Advertisement Locally and globally. The goal is to be 'the world's team,' Demoff said. 'To be truly part of Los Angeles, you have to be part of the globe,' he said. 'And as we've looked at our international efforts, we're excited about the foothold and what we're trying to gain, but there's a lot more work to do.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Every prospect the Rams have met with or shown interest in leading up to the 2025 draft
Every prospect the Rams have met with or shown interest in leading up to the 2025 draft The Los Angeles Rams are gearing up to add some young talent to their roster for not only 2025, but several years to come. They hold the 26th pick in the draft, as well as seven others on Days 2 and 3. They've been one of the best teams when it comes to building through the draft, finding gems such as Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams and Steve Avila in the last few years. They take a unique approach to the draft, too, by opting not to attend the NFL Scouting Combine or host prospects for official top-30 visits. That can make it difficult to gauge who the Rams are actually interested in, but there have been plenty of reports about players they met with at the combine, pro day or at other various times. Below is a complete list of prospects the Rams have either met with or expressed interest in during the pre-draft process. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart Louisville QB Tyler Shough Syracuse QB Kyle McCord Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo Michigan State RB Nate Carter Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter Texas WR Matthew Golden Arkansas WR Isaac TeSlaa Texas WR Isaiah Bond Oregon WR Tez Johnson Colorado State WR Tory Horton Ole Miss WR Tre Harris Penn State TE Tyler Warren Texas TE Gunnar Helm Nebraska TE Thomas Fidone Georgia C Jared Wilson Michigan State OL Luke Newman Sacramento State OL Jackson Slater Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman Syracuse LB Justin Barron Washington LB Carson Bruener Virginia Tech CB Dorian Strong Western Kentucky CB Upton Stout Louisiana CB Keyon Martin Texas S Andrew Mukuba
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' most underpaid player is also one of their best
Rams' most underpaid player is also one of their best The Los Angeles Rams have a lot of young players on rookie contracts after hitting on most of their draft picks in recent years. Jared Verse was the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Puka Nacua broke a rookie record in 2023 before coming on strong late in the 2024 season. Even other defensive players like Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young are fantastic contributors so early in their careers. But in terms of production vs. salary, Nacua was identified by Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon as the most underpaid player on the Rams heading into 2025. "Rushing from the inside, Kobie Turner has produced 17 sacks at a cost of just $2.2 million in the first two seasons of his rookie contract with the Rams," Gagnon wrote. "But even that isn't enough when you're drafted two rounds ahead of a guy who has already become a superstar on a four-year, $4.1 million rookie deal. Incredibly, 214 receivers make more money than Nacua." Nacua is making just $61,245 per year, according to Over The Cap, with a base salary of only $1.03 million in 2025. Those numbers put him among the lowest-paid players at his position and Nacua's base salary ranks 34th on his own team. Meanwhile, Nacua's 2,476 receiving yards since 2023 ranks seventh among all receivers in the NFL over the past two seasons. It's hard to find talented receivers late in the draft, but the Rams managed to find one of the best in fifth round with Nacua. Now, they've paired with him superstar receiver Davante Adams in what should be a great third season for the young wideout. Nacua won't be eligible for an extension until after the 2025 season (his fifth accrued season in the NFL). But until then, the Rams can capitalize on paying one of the best receivers in the NFL one of the lowest salaries at the position.
