Rams get thousands of season-ticket deposits and ‘could not be more pleased’

Is Los Angeles interested in the NFL?

The first indication is a resounding yes.

The Rams announced Wednesday they have received more than 45,000 refundable deposits in the first two days of their online season-ticket campaign. Each $100 deposit secures a spot in line for a customer to buy as many as eight season tickets, if available, for the 2016 season at the Coliseum.

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“We could not be more pleased by Los Angeles’ passion for the return of the Rams,� Kevin Demoff, the team’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “It is evident that our fans are excited to be part of history this year in the Coliseum and their energy is fueling our organization as we begin to build our new stadium in Inglewood.�

The Rams plan to keep their season-ticket campaign open on WelcomeHomeRams.com through Feb. 8.

The team, which won approval from NFL owners last week to relocate from St. Louis, plans to use the Coliseum as its temporary home until its Inglewood stadium is built in time for the 2019 season.

Those people who placed a deposit were also guaranteed a spot on the season-ticket wait list for the Inglewood stadium. In addition, they will get access to single-game tickets before the public, priority access to season tickets in 2017 and ‘18, and access to off-season team events.

At this point, it’s impossible to determine how many season tickets will be sold as a result of 45,000 deposits, because some people submitted multiple applications to improve their chances; some could withdraw if the seats they want aren’t available; and, while some might buy two tickets, others might buy eight.

“There’s going to be some natural attrition to the list, but we’re overwhelmed by the response,� said Jake Bye, Rams vice president of tickets and premium seating.

The website for deposits is run by Ticketmaster, and there were some early hiccups because of a crush of people attempting to submit their deposits.

“I was on there watching the clock count down to 10 a.m. Monday, and I spent the next 10 to 15 minutes trying to complete my order,� said Tom Bateman, director of the Bring Back the Rams fan group. “It was getting a little frustrating.�

Ticket sales are scheduled to start in the spring, and pricing has yet to be determined.

“The ticket prices starting off this year will be very comparable to what we had in St. Louis,� Demoff said at the team’s introductory news conference at the Forum last week.

Season ticket prices per seat in St. Louis ranged from $300 to $1,750 for the 2015 season. The St. Louis Rams, who finished 7-9, averaged 52,402 fans per game in 2015, the lowest total in the NFL. In 1994, during the Rams’ last season in the L.A. area, they drew fewer than 44,000 fans per game.

When the team moves into the stadium in Inglewood, fans will be required to buy a “personal seat license� for each season ticket. PSLs are typically a one-time expense, and often thousands of dollars, though the Rams have yet to announce the pricing plans for those.

Follow Sam Farmer on Twitter @LATimesFarmer.

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