Chargers still struggling to build fan base in Los Angeles

An aerial view of Azteca Stium in Mexico City, Saturday, v. 16, 2019, where Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams will face off for a regular-season Monday Night Football game. Heavy rain and heavy use last year left grass unfit for AFC matchup, forcing Chiefs-Rams game to be relocated to Los Angeles. 

An aerial view of Azteca Stium in Mexico City, Saturday, v. 16, 2019, where Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams will face off for a regular-season Monday Night Football game. Heavy rain and heavy use last year left grass unfit for AFC matchup, forcing Chiefs-Rams game to be relocated to Los Angeles.

  Los Angeles Chargers are designated home team for Monday night’s game in Mexico City against Kansas City Chiefs, perhaps a fitting circumstance for a team that never quite feels at home.

With local excitement about NFL coming back to Mexico after two years, Chargers could get a warmer welcome than y’re accustomed to — despite playing in Azteca Stium, nearly 1,900 miles away from Los Angeles.

Chargers have often felt like visiting team in ir tiny, temporary stium in Carson. ir lack of fan support has been evident this season as Steelers and Packers fans comprised at least 80% of crowd. Steelers game h a particularly b look as a nationally televised Sunday night contest.

Many expect Chargers to have more of a home-field vant next season when y move into palatial SoFi Stium in Inglewood, which y will share with Rams. But during NFL’s fall meeting last month, Chargers’ personal seat license revenue projections — which are going toward construction costs — were cut by more than half.

Chargers chief of staff Fred Maas said early bumps were expected.

“We didn’t have any delirious tions of coming here and people wildly embracing us. We realized we h to come here and earn fans’ respect,” he said. “It’s a marathon and t a sprint.”

Lower prices are one reason why Chargers’ PSL revenues have fallen short of projections. A PSL for an upper-deck midfield seat for Chargers games costs $100. same seat for Rams games is priced at $4,000.

While affordable PSLs could draw more season-ticket holders, price disparity has caused friction between Rams and Chargers as cost of Hollywood Park project is approaching $5 billion, with Rams owner Stan Kroenke footing most of bill.

Maas and Rams CEO Kevin Demoff tried to quiet any rumors of rancor during a recent event at stium.

“re are always challenges when re are two competing teams, but both sides are doing everything in tandem,” Demoff said. “By everything I see, Chargers are going to be partners with us for a long time.”

Chargers and league have also tried to debunk talk of relocation to London following an Oct. 28 report in Athletic that raised possibility. Owner Dean Spas angrily denied those reports.

Chargers season-ticket holder Casey Rasile, who got an early look at his seats in new stium during a recent event, said seeing large numbers of opposing fans was t uncommon, even when team was in San Diego.

“We’re going to build a fan base, especially when y move into new stium,” he said. “It’s a smaller stium right w, but early in season during first two home games (against Colts and Texans), re were a large number of Chargers fans re.”

Maas said re remains stey interest in team and its move to new stium. He pointed out 60,000 fans who attended training camp earlier this season and 30,000 who registered for chance to attend a draft party on Santa Monica Pier.

lack of a true home field has caused a strain with players at times. Wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. have said it has felt like y play 16 ro games.

Chargers have struggled on field, too. y are 4-6 going into ir game against Chiefs and need a victory if y have any hopes of making a run and making consecutive postseason appearances for first time since 2009.

Los Angeles split its games against Kansas City last season and faces Chiefs twice in final six games. y will meet in Kansas City in Week 17.

“We have to find a way to beat Kansas City,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. You have to go one at a time, but certainly, I’m a fan of looking at big-picture perspective.”

Chiefs (6-4) also need a win after dropping four of ir last six, and with Oakland suddenly challenging for AFC West le.

Coach Andy Reid expects a fun atmosphere in Mexico City. His team gets to play re this season after last year’s game against Rams was moved to Los Angeles because of poor field conditions.

“y all come to game because re’s one game. re’s a buzz that takes place throughout whole game. re’s ise, which is great. I think it’s equal for both teams,” he said. “But you’re going to have to deal with some ise. re are a lot of people in that stium and y’re excited for both teams to be re.”