# Does playing in their home stadium give the Rams home field advantage in the Super Bowl?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** football-nfl
**Created:** [February 2, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805 "2022-02-02T16:59:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/1 "2022-02-02T16:59:21Z")
Usually the advantage to playing at home, other than a nebulous psychological boost, is the effect of the home fans making noise so the visiting team can’t hear their own play-calling, or trying to distract kickers into missing. But the SB will be different, because the visitors will not be primarily home team fans, they’ll be from all over.
Any other home field advantages that still apply? The Rams won’t have to travel, that’s something I suppose. They’ll be comfier in their own familiar locker room. I don’t think here’s any environmental advantage, the way there would be if, say, Green Bay played the SB at home in bad winter weather against a warm-weather team (I guess if it’s particularly hot that day, it could affect the Bengals more negatively than the Rams).
Anything else I’m not thinking of? Not wondering for betting reasons, just curious. Last year was the first year ever a team played the Super Bowl at home, and the Bucs did win; did they get a home field advantage boost would you say?
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/2 "2022-02-02T17:12:05Z")
If there are any quirks of the field, the Rams would know it, for whatever help it is.
To give one example, way back in the day, Texas Stadium had a slight swelling of the field, well known as the “hump,” because of water absorbance or something. So the Cowboys were accustomed to playing on a field that was high in the middle and low on the edges while visiting teams were accustomed to a purely flat surface.
But I doubt SoFi would have any major flaws like that that would make a difference.
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/3 "2022-02-02T17:23:04Z")
The players from LA don’t have to travel and stay in a hotel room, they can chill from home. That’s got to be an advantage. And there will still be a lot of Rams fans in the stadium and the tailgating in the lot will be humungous. Pretty sure the season ticket holders of both teams have the chance to purchase tickets in any super bowl, being in LA I’d say most of them will attend or sell there tickets to other locals, not as many from Cincinnati will sell to other Cincinnati fans as they will post them for sell to the highest bidder.
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### Author:  [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/4 "2022-02-02T17:37:51Z")
The Rams are technically the ‘away’ team, because home and visiting teams alternate between the AFC and NFC every year.
The Bengals have a 5 hour flight across 2,000+ miles and three time zones. Jet lag is real, but in this case bad weather in Cincinnati means they are in LA _on the 8th_ and take over UCLA’s Drake Stadium for practice.
ETA: On the other hand, the current win rate for NFL teams playing the Super Bowl in their home stadium is… 100%. 😉
~Max
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/5 "2022-02-02T18:02:20Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> To give one example, way back in the day, Texas Stadium had a slight swelling of the field, well known as the “hump,” because of water absorbance or something. So the Cowboys were accustomed to playing on a field that was high in the middle and low on the edges while visiting teams were accustomed to a purely flat surface.
That’s ringing a bell, but with Lambeau Field-- I seem to remember watching a playoff game at Lambeau back to the Favre days, where the announcers were talking about Lambeau field having something like that-- and being familiar with it supposedly conferred an advantage to the Packers. I think they even called it ‘the hump’ as well. Is that possible it happened at Lambeau too, or am I imagining things (a distinct possibility)?
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/6 "2022-02-02T18:07:53Z")
Most outdoor football fields from high school through the pros had that, back before higher tech water drainage technology and artificial turf was widespread. Certainly not unique to any particular field back then.
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### Author:  [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/7 "2022-02-02T18:12:36Z")
I don’t think travel or jet lag is going to be of concern since were only talking a few hours and players will probably be in town a week ahead of time to experience the whole “Superbowl Week” of interviews and events.
Homefield crowd advantage won’t mean much since not a lot of the real fans can afford to go to the game. The average ticket price this year is $10,000 per seat. It’s going to be a whole lot of rich people and celebs going to be seen at the place to be.
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### Author:  [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/8 "2022-02-02T18:14:00Z")
Consider also that the Rams have only been playing at So-Fi since 2020, and ~~they’re relatively new to L.A. in general.~~ ETA: well, judging by the below comment, there’s probably a lot of Rams fans who held on from last century.
Also, L.A. has a whole 'nother team to split the city’s fanbase.
~Max
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### Author:  [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/9 "2022-02-02T18:19:14Z")
> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> L.A. has a whole 'nother team to split the city’s fanbase.
Objection! Assumes facts not in evidence!
Seriously, as far as I can tell living here, LA still has more Raiders fans than Chargers fans.
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### Author:  [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/10 "2022-02-02T18:27:28Z")
> [@Hampshire](#):
>
> I don’t think travel or jet lag is going to be of concern since were only talking a few hours and players will probably be in town a week ahead of time to experience the whole “Superbowl Week” of interviews and events.
A week in which the Bengals will have no choice but to consume exotic LA fare such as Baja-style fish tacos and donuts from a pink box, rather than that weird-ass cinnamon-chili-on-spaghetti they’re accustomed to eating. Think of the havoc this could play with the team’s digestive health!
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### Author:  [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/11 "2022-02-02T18:36:48Z")
> [@solost](#):
>
> They’ll be comfier in their own familiar locker room.
> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> The Rams are technically the ‘away’ team, because home and visiting teams alternate between the AFC and NFC every year.
Do the Rams get to use the home lockers?
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/12 "2022-02-02T21:18:00Z")
> [@Pleonast](#):
>
> Do the Rams get to use the home lockers?
They will; it looks like the Bengals will be using the Chargers’ locker room – SoFi apparently has two “home” locker rooms (one for each of the two teams that call the stadium home), and two “visitors” locker rooms.
> [@](#):
>
> Traditionally, the Bengals would be privy to the Rams’ home locker room as the home team. But the Rams will have their typical locker room for Super Bowl LVI, [according to](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1488236292534059008?s=20&t=HBjDgvU3WU2GXTL0_w2R3Q) [NFL](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl) Network’s Ian Rapoport, while the Bengals will presumably use the [Chargers](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/LAC/los-angeles-chargers/)’ (who share SoFi Stadium with the Rams) locker room, per Rapoport.
[Super Bowl 2022: Here's why the Rams will be the 'away' team in their own stadium when they face the Bengals - CBSSports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-2022-heres-why-the-rams-will-be-the-away-team-in-their-own-stadium-when-they-face-the-bengals/#:~:text=Traditionally%2C%20the%20Bengals%20would%20be,))%20locker%20room%2C%20per%20Rapoport.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/13 "2022-02-02T21:26:46Z")
I think to be fair, whatever team plays in the stadium that will be hosting the Super Bowl should be ineligible to compete. They forfeit the conference championship if they make it that far. If multiple teams share a stadium, they are all ineligible. That’s the only way to prevent this problem.
(The preceding post may have been sarcastic.)
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/14 "2022-02-02T21:43:15Z")
Super Bowls are generally quieter than almost any regular season crowd. Not only is the crowd 50/50 partisan, but they are typically the rich folks.
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### Author:  [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/15 "2022-02-02T21:47:11Z")
> [@flurb](#):
>
> rather than that weird-ass cinnamon-chili-on-spaghetti they’re accustomed to eating.
I’m sure they have White Castle in L.A. That’s a more typical Bengal diet.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/16 "2022-02-02T21:52:59Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Super Bowls are generally quieter than almost any regular season crowd. Not only is the crowd 50/50 partisan, but they are typically the rich folks.
Not SB 48. 😃
They were so loud it led to this first snap…
[https://fansided.com/files/2014/02/safety.gif](https://fansided.com/files/2014/02/safety.gif)
Though technically Denver was supposed to be the home team. I can’t imagine what that would have been like in the (then-called) Clink.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/17 "2022-02-02T21:56:40Z")
IIRC, Nate Silver once crunched the numbers for the NCAA, and found that in tournaments, the teams with shorter travel distances had a clear advantage over those with longer. Part of that might be that they were able to bring more of their fans with it, but I think he concluded that it was mostly due to the stress of travel.
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### Author:  [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/18 "2022-02-02T22:14:27Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#):
>
> I’m sure they have White Castle in L.A. That’s a more typical Bengal diet.
I think the nearest White Castle is Phoenix, AZ.
~Max
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### Author:  [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/19 "2022-02-02T22:23:18Z")
> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> I think the nearest White Castle is Phoenix, AZ.
>
> ~Max
There’s one in Las Vegas, which is closer than Phoenix, but still not all that close.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-playing-in-their-home-stadium-give-the-rams-home-field-advantage-in-the-super-bowl/958805/20 "2022-02-02T22:32:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> I think to be fair, whatever team plays in the stadium that will be hosting the Super Bowl should be ineligible to compete.
If this were actually a serious concern, I’d just suggest having backup locations. It shouldn’t be too hard to schedule a slot by the time they know who will play.
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