Pitt, Rams star Aaron Donald wants to see fans at new SoFi Stadium

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Aaron Donald thinks the NFL ought to figure out a way to get some fans into more of its massive stadiums this fall — at a proper social distance, of course.

The Los Angeles Rams’ All-Pro defensive tackle participated in the team’s second fan-free scrimmage at brand-new SoFi Stadium on Saturday. The players’ shouts at every big play or missed kick echoed off the empty seats during the Rams’ final dress rehearsal for next month’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

The scrimmage was a preview of the Rams’ near future in several senses. Although he loves his team’s new home, Donald repeatedly has said he thinks football just isn’t as fun without fans, even in this gleaming palace.

He doesn’t see why the NFL and government officials shouldn’t closely explore ways to welcome even a few faithful to SoFi on Sundays this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“I feel like we need fans in there just for the excitement and the fun, but ain’t nothing I can do about it,” Donald said. “I think we can try to figure something out to get some type of fans in there, but I don’t know. I feel like it’s a big stadium. Spread people out. But it ain’t my call.”

Teams across the league are developing individual policies for attendance amid various state regulations and other concerns, but most teams have said they won’t allow fans at the start of the season. Although several teams are planning on limited fan attendance, the Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers have said SoFi won’t have fans “until further notice.”

Donald and his teammates got a full game weekend experience with this scrimmage. To prepare the Rams for their new normal after four years playing near downtown at the venerable Coliseum, the team stayed overnight at its new team hotel near Inglewood and went through a full game-day routine leading into the glorified practice.

“It was good, definitely,” Donald said. “Us being in a new stadium, going to a new hotel and all the protocols we’ve got going on with the virus and stuff, it was good to get a feel with it.”

Inglewood Mayor James Butts and members of the city council attended the scrimmage. The Rams officially will open the stadium Sept. 13 with a prime-time game against the Cowboys.