49ers fan takeovers of SoFi Stadium leave Rams safety stunned

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan insists the Los Angeles Rams lobbied to face his team in the NFL's first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia.

The reasoning? Neutralize one of the 49ers' most consistent advantages.

At SoFi Stadium, Rams home games against the 49ers often feel anything but. A large contingent of San Francisco fans routinely fills the venue, turning it into a de facto home game for the visiting team.

The 49ers' strong Southern California presence—built during the years Los Angeles lacked an NFL franchise—combined with the short trip from the Bay Area, has made fan takeovers a regular occurrence.

For players new to the rivalry, the experience can be jarring.

Rams safety Quentin Lake, a 2022 draft pick, recently recalled his first home game against the 49ers and the shock of stepping onto the field at SoFi Stadium.

"I go into SoFi against the 49ers, and mind you, I didn't really know anything about the rivalry or anything like that," Lake said on the Victory Degree Podcast with Nik Atanackovic. "Get into SoFi, and I'm like, 'Dang, there's a lot of 49ers fans.' Like, OK, I kind of understand that. This is like pre-game, so I'm like, OK, this might be normal, they might come out early."

It didn't take long for the assumption that the heavy 49ers fan presence was limited to pre-game to change.

"We get to the game, and we're coming out of the tunnel, and I'm like, 'Why do I hear more boos than cheers?'" Lake continued. "And then you run out of the tunnel, and I'm telling you, it's a sea of red."

While the Rams may avoid another 49ers-heavy crowd at SoFi Stadium during the 2026 NFL season, Lake's experience underscores just how impactful—and surprising—the rivalry environment can be.