BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

LA-based Bengals fans gear up for return to the Big Game

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

BE - Test Share

More Sports

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

LOS ANGELES (NewsNation Now) — While thousands of Cincinnati Bengals fans are on their way to California for the Super Bowl this weekend, many fans are already there as residents.

The Bengals West group has called Los Angeles home for years, and now, there’s finally a super payoff.

The 5 Line Tavern near Pasadena is the official hangout for the group, which is also known as “Who Dey in L.A.”

Todd Armstrong, the founder of Bengals West, said he’s been waiting on this game for a lifetime.

“Living in Los Angeles and walking around in Bengals gear, basically I’ve kind of looked like an idiot for years and years, so now I’m feeling a little redemption. It’s kinda nice,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong, who is originally from Ohio, founded the group more than 15 years ago. Over the years, Armstrong gathered some 1,200 followers on social media.

Many fans gathered over the weekend just to rally and rewatch the AFC championship win against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It’s been more than three decades since the Cincinnati Bengals last made it to the Super Bowl. Lifelong Bengals fan Nick Mazzaro said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the victory.

“I never thought this was possible,” Mazzaro said. “This is how fans of other teams feel every year. This is really special that we all get to be a part of this.”

Bengals fan Jen Chambers is also excited for the big game. She said she’s been waiting for this since she was a little girl.

This Sunday marks “the first time we’re in the Super Bowl since I was 12,” Chambers said. “And it happens to be a home game for the Rams. But there’s something about this team that … you still have a little PTSD but I think they’re going to do it. I don’t think they’ve come this far to lose the Super Bowl.”

Armstrong said the City of Angels will be swarming with many more members of the “Who Dey in LA” group ahead of Sunday’s showdown. He said it’s nice to know that home isn’t so far away.

“It’s nice to have a little piece of home with you,” Armstrong said. “And to have them come to us this year is really sweet.”

While Cincinnati has clear ties in southern California, there are also clear Ohio ties for the L.A. Rams. The Rams began as a Cleveland team in 1936 before moving to L.A. in 1946.

Sports

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

63°F Sunny Feels like 63°
Wind
5 mph SSW
Humidity
52%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F Clear to partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
5 mph N
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous