The Los Angeles Rams tried to stop 49ers followers from attending Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation. It seems there are many 49ers followers already dwelling in Southern California. (Photograph courtesy of Ramses Vargas)
LOS ANGELES — Jose Diaz wasn’t in the least shocked when the Rams tried to maintain 49ers followers out of Sunday’s NFC Championship sport rematch in opposition to the 49ers.
However there was one drawback, in accordance with Diaz, the president of the 40 Niners LA Chapter.
“Niners followers are already right here,” he stated. “I’ve been [in Los Angeles] my whole life and I run a chapter of Niners followers. They couldn’t hold us out of this weekend’s sport even when they tried.”
The Rams’ issues, which briefly included limiting public ticket gross sales to Southern California residents, stem from the regular-season finale in opposition to the 49ers three weeks in the past. A couple of-third of the 70,000 seats at Sofi Stadium had been occupied by folks carrying 49ers colours.
Following the 49ers’ 27-24 additional time victory, a victory that put the 49ers within the playoffs, Rams head coach Sean McVay conceded the big variety of 49ers followers “did catch us off guard” and the noise they created precipitated communication issues on the sphere for the Rams.
“They had been scared,” Diaz stated this week, referring to the Rams’ efforts to maintain 49ers followers out of Sunday’s sport. “They noticed how loyal and loud we had been.” 
For Diaz and plenty of of his membership’s members, sports activities fandom is a sophisticated dual-citizenship. He's a passionate 49ers fan who attends three to 5 video games a 12 months and organizes watch events when he can’t make the journey.
He’s a fervent Dodgers fan, however come soccer season his colours change. There are a lot of others like him.
“I’ll have a flag that claims ‘Beat LA’ on it,” stated Marina Cleveland, a 40 Niners LA Chapter member who might be in attendance Sunday. “I wish to beat the Rams. It has nothing to do with baseball. It has the whole lot to do with soccer. I’m right here to beat LA as a result of I’m with the Niners. Finish of story.”
Whereas many of those Los Angeles residents root for his or her native groups, they turned 49ers followers to fill a void left by the departures of the Raiders and Rams after the 1994 season. By the point the NFL reentered the Los Angeles market six years in the past, their allegiances had been already cemented. Now, they really feel no battle about rooting in opposition to their dwelling metropolis.
“Numerous us have household within the Bay Space so we turned 49er Faithfuls,” Cleveland stated. “I like my Niners and may’t think about cheering for some other staff.”
Added Diaz: “Purple and gold run by my veins and it doesn’t matter that I name LA dwelling. I’m with the 49ers.”
A 49ers fan takeover has turn into a precedence for The Devoted, particularly those that name Southern California dwelling. Childhood associates and avid 49ers followers Tony Valadez and Ramses Vargas imagine packing the seats with crimson will play an important function within the 49ers’ success on the sphere because it was three weeks in the past. A Southern California resident, Valadez has executed his half, buying one ticket for himself and two for a pair of Bay Space associates who couldn’t buy them initially when the Rams restricted entry.
Vargas might be on the sport, too. The 41-year-old who's affectionately generally known as ‘El 49er Luchador’ attends staff occasions wearing a 49ers go well with jacket and matching Luchador masks. He hopes to be an simply recognizable chief of what he’s calling, “A 49ers fan takeover of the Rams’ home.”
“The Rams are very scared that their followers aren’t going to do the identical,” Vargas stated with a chuckle. “Their restrictions say much more about their fan base, about their group, than it does us. 49ers followers in LA are simply extra loyal than the Rams followers within the space.”
Added Valadez, a lifelong 49ers fan who stated his uncle labored on the landscaping at Candlestick Park: “I feel a fanbase has quite a bit to do with the result of the sport. The Rams are actually a brand new staff in Los Angeles. They don’t have that massive of a fanbase like San Francisco does even in their very own metropolis.”
The 49ers have additionally executed their half to stoke the rivalry, inviting Southern California 49ers followers to an “LA Invasion” occasion earlier than the sport the place they’ll have a chance to win prizes and meet different supporters. In accordance with vividseats.com’s crowd projection algorithm known as Fan Forecast, Sunday’s sport might be cut up 65 p.c 49ers followers and simply 35 p.c Rams. 
Diaz, who's internet hosting his personal tailgate with the 40 Niners LA Chapter, stated all 49ers followers are welcome to attend.
“I at all times convey further chairs as a result of the tailgate isn’t only for me and my members,” he stated. “We’ll have meals, drinks, video games, leisure, and we simply need everybody to cease by and present their assist for our 49ers.”
Whereas some 49ers followers have opted to pay the roughly $700 entry payment plus what may very well be as a lot as $500 to park their automobiles, different L.A-based Faithfuls might be celebrating their staff from dwelling.
One among them, Jason Galvin, thinks the Rams made a horrible mistake this week.
“My impression dwelling down right here is all of the Rams did this week was make it extra seemingly San Francisco followers present up,” he stated.
If the 49ers win Sunday, they’ll be again in.L.A. in two weeks. Sofi Stadium is the location of the Tremendous Bowl.
For the staff’s followers primarily based in Southern California, nothing will cease them from attending the sport in Los Angeles, actually not the Rams.
“I’ll promote a automobile if I must,” Diaz stated. “I imply it. I might be there for the Tremendous Bowl if the Niners are there.”