TIMES O.C. POLL : Most Don’t See Big Downside if Rams Leave

Voters have little interest in spending taxpayer money to keep the Los Angeles Rams in Orange County, reflecting their sense that the team’s departure would not severely affect the county’s image, according to a Times Orange County Poll.

The poll, conducted by Mark Baldassare & Associates, found that only three in 10 county voters feel keeping the Rams is important to them personally, while nearly 70% say it is unimportant.

“There’s not a whole lot of good will or good feeling toward the Rams,” said Baldassare, who polled 600 Orange County registered voters May 19-22 for The Times. “It doesn’t appear that people are interested in keeping the team.”

The lack of support for the Rams is evenly spread, with little difference of opinion among different age groups or between men and women. North County residents, however, are slightly more likely than those in South County to say the team benefits the economy.

The poll finds Anaheim city officials, who have been unwilling to spend taxpayer money to build the Rams a new stadium, in step with voter sentiment.

The Rams exercised a 15-month escape clause in their Anaheim Stadium lease last month and are seeking offers to move the franchise to another state. Rams officials claim their arrangement in Anaheim is not profitable and they want to move where they can make more money.

Anaheim officials say they can’t compete with the financial packages being put together by cities such as Baltimore and St. Louis, and have asked county government to chip in.

But voters apparently don’t want the county government involved.

Fully three in four voters oppose any county government “financial assistance” to keep the Rams; 21% favor some type of monetary support.

County residents are frustrated with the team’s current ownership, consecutive losing seasons and player personnel changes, as well as the Rams’ lack of commitment to the community, according to interviews with poll respondents.

“The present ownership has done a lousy job,” said Alex Ribakoff, 40, an Irvine attorney. “I have a problem with government subsidies of sport franchises in general. I think the money spent never gets returned to the community.”

The Rams have made no effort to reach out to the community and even refused to change their name when they moved from Los Angeles, he said, adding, “I resent that. I frankly think (the Rams) are going to be replaced.”

Alfred Srnka of Garden Grove said he will miss the team if it moves but does not believe the county should pay to keep the franchise.

“I don’t want to lose them, but I feel the ball teams are making enough money,” said Srnka, 65, a real estate broker and polka-band member. “There’s so much money in sports now that the owners should be able to take care of things.”

Keri Owens, 21, of Anaheim said she does not think it is “ethical” to give money to the Rams “when there are so many other important things that need to be funded.”

Perhaps significant in making up some people’s minds is the belief, among a substantial minority, that the county’s economic health is not tied to the team’s staying. Some 37% say the team is unimportant to the local economy, with 59% saying the Rams help the local economy.

Andrew Crowell said losing the team would be a damaging blow.

“It would have a great impact if they left,” said Crowell, 62, of Laguna Beach. “I want to cut taxes, but I think there is enough money around to spend on the team. They bring in a lot of business to the county.”

Crowell added: “I think the team is a good team. People can’t expect them to win all time.”

To most, the prestige value of the team to the county is even less important than the team’s economic benefits. Slightly more than four in 10 call the franchise important to the county’s image, with 54% saying it is unimportant.

“I don’t think it will matter much if they leave,” Owens said. “It’s not like we have a shortage of professional sports teams here. We have the (California) Angels and the Mighty Ducks hockey team. . . . It won’t bother me at all if the Rams leave.”

How the Poll Was Done

The Times Orange County Poll was conducted by Mark Baldassare and Associates. The telephone survey of 600 Orange County registered voters was conducted May 19-22 on weekday nights and weekend days. The margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 4%.

Times Orange County Poll: Lackluster Support for Rams

Two-thirds of Orange County voters say it is not important to them that the Rams stay in Orange County. And three-quarters are against having the county government offer financial assistance to keep the team here.

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Is it important or unimportant to you personally that the Rams remain in Orange County? O.C. voters Very important: 18% Somewhat important: 12% Somewhat unimportant: 23% Very unimportant: 45% Don’t know: 2% *

Do you think it is important or unimportant to the image and prestige of Orange County that the Rams remain here? O.C. voters Very important: 23% Somewhat important: 20% Somewhat unimportant: 26% Very unimportant: 28% Don’t know: 3% *

Do you think it is important or unimportant to the economy of Orange County that the Rams remain here? O.C. voters Very important: 31% Somewhat important: 28% Somewhat unimportant: 21% Very unimportant: 16% Don’t know: 4% *

Some Anaheim officials have said that the city does not have adequate funds to keep the Rams. Do you favor or oppose having the county government also provide some form of financial assistance to help keep the Rams in Orange County? O.C. voters Favor: 21% Oppose: 75% Don’t know: 4% Source: Times Orange County Poll