Angelenos watch Rams’ opener in most unusual setting

09.09.2024 06:44

DailyNews.com

Rams’ mascot Rampage joins fans during a watch party on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

1 of 19

Rams’ mascot Rampage joins fans during a watch party on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Expand

The puns were sometimes more plentiful than the points but it was a most unusual setting for a watch party.

A couple thousand Los Angeles Rams fans descended on the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sunday to celebrate the start of the NFL season for the hometown L.A. NFL team, which was on the road in Detroit to take on the Lions.

“I’m all in (for the tombstones and touchdowns theme),” said Ben Trujillo of Burbank, as he settled in the cemetery lawn with a picnic blanket and cooler. “We’re resurrecting our playoff hopes? We’re getting in the spirit of things?”

The Rams organization was actually going for an only-in-Hollywood moment under the stars (after the sun set amid the triple-digit swelter eased.)

Unfortunately, the Rams couldn’t come up with a Hollywood-style happy ending for the Angelenos who packed the memorial park — though they got an entertaining game on the big screen. The homefield Lions won back in Detroit in an overtime thriller, 26-20.

“As we gear up for our home opener on Sept. 22 at the Rams House, we’re thrilled to bring our fans together to kick off the season in this unique setting and create memories that will last a lifetime…and beyond,” said Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick, chief marketing officer for the Rams.

Dubbed the “Royal Tour Watch Party,” the celebration was held at the cemetery’s Fairbanks Lawn, with a mondo-screen TV, and stations for merchandise and free airbrushed tattoos and buttons.

Portable electric fans were positioned around the outdoor area, and guests got paper fans and rally towels to soothe the simmer on Day Six of the searing recent heat wave.

The revelry was all within sight of the cemetery’s Cathedral Mausoleum, the final resting place for Hollywood legends such as Rudolph Valentino and Mickey Rooney.

Fans walked past the grave of rocker Johnny Ramone of The Ramones to get to the event.

Kris Sharma of Los Angeles said he has watched every Rams opening game since 2016.

“They’re good, we have a solid offense and I like their draft picks,” he said. “Puka Nacua is on my fantasy league but I love all the guys. We have a great squad.”

Sharma, who has a tattoo commemorating the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl win on his leg, said he predicts a win for his team at this unique watch party. It was not lost on him that the Rams-Lions rematch kicks off this season where the last one ended for the Rams.

“We have to get revenge from last year’s (loss),” Sharma said.

Among the picnicking crowd, talk centered on the 2021 Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff quarterbacks trade, and fan favorites Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. And, well, tons of spooky stories, show business jokes or “hot enough for you” sentiments.

Next, the Rams will travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals at gleaming State Farm Stadium on Sept. 15. It’ll be indoors, air conditioned and nowhere near a mausoleum.