These maps show how the Rams dominate the Chargers in Southern California ticket sales

The Chargers aren’t leaving Los Angeles.

That was the message Chargers owner Dean Spanos delivered in emphatic, expletive-laden comments to reporters on Nov. 5. A dearth of Chargers fans at recent home games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers fueled speculation the team might move to London.

Despite the steadfast denials from Spanos and the NFL, it’s no secret the Chargers are struggling to attract fans since their move to L.A. three seasons ago. A glimpse of the seats filled with fans of the opposing team during Chargers home games shows how they’ve been on a virtual permanent road trip since relocating from San Diego in 2017.

Analyzing Southern California NFL ticket sales data from Vivid Seats, an online ticket marketplace, exposes the Chargers’ struggles. Though Spanos said the team is making inroads into growing its fan base, the data show it has a long way to go to match the Rams in ticket sales.

The zip code data released by Vivid only includes the percent sold to each team, not the the total tickets sold. While it cannot show the overall number of fans, it offers a rare view into how the fanbases are relatively distributed.

What are the most popular teams in your ZIP Code?

The Rams have fared well in reestablishing their L.A. fan base since returning from St. Louis in 2016. They dominate NFL ticket sales in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties. A big portion of the Chargers’ ticket sales still come from areas outside the L.A. market in San Diego and Imperial counties.

This isn’t too surprising considering the Rams’ long history in Southern California. The Rams played in the Coliseum from 1946 to 1979 before playing in what was then known as Anaheim Stadium from 1980 until their move to St. Louis after the 1994 season. During their first Southern California stint, the Rams won consecutive NFL championships in 1950 and ‘51, reached the Super Bowl in 1979 and made the playoffs 21 times.

The Chargers’ historical footprint in L.A. is significantly smaller — the franchise played its inaugural season in L.A. in 1960 before moving to San Diego. Like the Rams, the Chargers’ decision to move back to L.A. was rooted almost exclusively in the inability to get a publicly financed stadium deal done. Unlike the Rams, however, the Chargers didn’t have a 49-year legacy in the L.A. market to bolster their return.

Another factor in the ticket sales gulf between the Rams and Chargers are their home stadiums. The Rams can host up to 90,000 fans in the Coliseum while the Chargers are limited to 27,000 at Dignity Health Sports Park — by far the smallest stadium in the NFL. Both teams will play in the 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium in Inglewood beginning next season.

Raiders and Cardinals have fans in Southern California

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The legacy of the Oakland Raiders’ L.A. foray from 1982 to 1994 also isn’t helping the Chargers. The Raiders still have a fan base in L.A. — one that likely will never switch allegiance to the team’s AFC West rival. Even with a failed bid to move to Southern California, The Raiders’ pending move to Las Vegas still brings them closer to L.A., which could have an effect on the Chargers’ ticket sales. The Arizona Cardinals still sell tickets in L.A. and have a strong fan base in eastern Imperial County.

Will the Chargers one day stand on equal footing with the Rams when it comes to ticket sales in Los Angeles? The Rams’ L.A. identity is now 53 years strong. The NFL likely will need to adopt a patient approach with the Chargers if L.A. remains the team’s permanent home.