By james art 
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 21: The Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium on October 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, Arizona – Friends and families of Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders say the team was sidelined for Monday Night Football’s best game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
They say the cheerleaders only performed during breaks in the game, apparently due to the new premium seats.
The move came as a shock to the current team and decades of vets.
The cheerleaders’ families say what used to be nearly three hours they performed on the field during a game day will now be a total of 10 to 15 minutes. They also say the cheerleaders were given four days’ notice that they would not be participating in the game.
“I was a Cardinals cheerleader many years ago,” Kim Denson said. “The ’94 and ’95 team when they first became the Cardinals.”
“I was an Arizona Cardinals cheerleader from 2017 to 2021,” Davis Berryhill said.
Keeping the legacy alive, the four corners and end zone are usually covered in pom poms, getting fans and players going.
“We added spice, girls and something other than football,” Denson said.
“We really got the crowd going and kept the energy positive regardless. Whether it’s a win or not, great game,” Berryhill said.
Davis remembered her time on the sideline as the highlight of the day, but Monday night’s cheerleaders apparently watched the game from the locker room.
Fans took their frustration to social media. The Cardinals’ Instagram page was flooded with comments and people demanding answers.
“We worked our tails off,” Denson said. “We put in a lot of hours. I am very surprised.”
“It’s a little heartbreaking that they won’t be there tonight,” Berryhill said.
The cheerleaders were allegedly told the reasoning behind the decision was that they would block the view.
“We drove for three hours,” said one mother. “What should I tell my daughter? Where are the cheerleaders?”
Berryhill remembers the influence she had on young fans.
“When I was on the team, seeing all the little girls in the stands was my favorite thing. For them to see a woman can be in professional sports. A woman can be in the NFL. I think that representation of women is really important,” Berryhill said.
Family members of the cheerleaders say they talked about letting them stand in the tunnel during the game. Instead, they left them in the locker room to keep the game going.
They were brought out for a minute and a half, a quarter break and half time.
Many other NFL cheerleaders around the league are showing their support. The hashtag #KeepAZCCOnTheField is making the rounds on social media.
FOX 10 reached out to the Arizona Cardinals about the changes, but did not hear back.