INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A barrage of fireworks erupted. Plumes of smoke hung in the air. The chorus of a catchy Nipsey Hussle song blared from the loudspeakers.
Only one element was missing Sunday night when the 2020 Los Angeles Rams sprinted out of the tunnel to take the field for the first time at their palatial new stadium: There were no fans in the stands to applaud them.
The startling emptiness at SoFi Stadium served as a surreal backdrop to what should have been a historic night in Los Angeles. The COVID-19 pandemic robbed Rams fans of the chance to celebrate the unveiling of their new $5 billion stadium and to revel in a tense 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.