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Cheerleaders are a staple on the sidelines at the majority of NFL stadiums, but fans of the Arizona Cardinals found themselves largely deprived thanks to a decision the team reportedly made just days before they faced off against the Chargers on Monday night.
The Arizona Cardinals are one of 24 NFL franchises that boast a cheerleading team that’s officially affiliated with the club, and the team headed into the 2024 season with a squad of 30 women tasked with pumping up the crowd.
By now, I sincerely hope I don’t have to remind people being an NFL cheerleader is a serious job defined by long hours and taxing practices, and if you have any doubts about the skills required to become one, I think it’s safe to assume this video posted by Arizona’s squad will put any doubts to rest.
The Cardinals cheerleaders have become accustomed to entertaining fans on gameday with acrobatic feats, choreographed dance routines, and smiles that are usually plastered on their faces for hours on end, but we have a controversy brewing thanks to what unfolded at State Farm Stadium on Monday.
According to Fox10, the Cardinals cheerleaders were subjected to a severely diminished role during the team’s showdown with the Chargers, which reportedly stems from the decision to cater to fans who’ve dropped some serious dough on the luxury ground-level suites that were added to the venue ahead of the start of the season.
While the cheerleaders at Cardinals games were previously on the field for around three hours, the outlet says they were recently informed that number will drop to between 10 and 15 minutes to prevent them from obstructing the views from those exclusive seating areas.
The team did get the chance to perform during a few breaks in the action, but they were relegated to their locker room for the majority of the contest.