Games without fans in the stands? Melvin Gordon has been there before.
No fans? No problem
Though the NFL appears intent on playing games with fans in the stands this fall, there’s a real chance that the roar of the crowd will be replaced by dead silence. After spending the past three seasons playing with the Chargers in Los Angeles, Melvin Gordon wouldn’t mind the lack of spectators.
Gordon was interviewed by former NFL cornerback Marcus Cromartie (his old Wisconsin teammate) and was asked about the prospect of playing without fans.
“Bro, we didn’t have fans anyway,” Gordon said.
“I’ll be honest with you, we didn’t have many Charger fans at the games,” he continued. “Much loyalty and love but we ain’t have many, so I’m not missing anything.”
As a percentage of stadium capacity, no team in the NFL attracted more fans last year than the Chargers. It’s just that not many of them rooted for the Chargers.
After failing to fill many seats (an average of just 25,335 per game in a stadium with 27,000 seats) in 2017, their first season in L.A., visiting fans flocked to the converted soccer stadium to see their teams play on the road. They averaged 32,768 fans in 2018 and 31,750 last year. Again, hardly any of them were there to root for the home team.
No matter who was playing, it was tough to find anyone in the stands wearing powder blue.
Gordon is able to keep it real about the Chargers’ lack of support in Los Angeles because he just signed with the division-rival Broncos. If Chargers fans want to voice their displeasure, they’re welcome to come out to a game at the team’s new $5 billion stadium. Maybe they won’t get drowned out by Broncos
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