The Rams were "concerned enough about attendance" for tonight's "MNF" game against the Seahawks with Red Sox-Cardinals World Series Game 5 taking place at the same time that Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff "sent a letter
to season ticketholders encouraging them to attend the football game,"
according to John Perrotto in a special for USA TODAY. Demoff said that the "main video screen would play the baseball game at pregame and halftime, and screens throughout the stadium (there are at least 600) would show both games." The team also is "offering free hot dogs and two-for-one beer" from 7:00-8:00pm ET. Demoff wrote, "Here's our big message. We know Busch Stadium will be filled to capacity, but if you're going to stand outside Busch Stadium, you're going to go to a bar downtown, why not come to Edward Jones Dome, be a part of a great Monday night atmosphere, follow the Cardinals game along in our building" (USA TODAY, 10/28). In St. Louis, Jim Thomas noted highlights and updates of the World Series game "will be shown during timeouts." Fans will "find both games on concourse TVs and in the Bud Light Party Zone and the Rams Club." Demoff said, “Our fans have waited a very long time to have ‘Monday Night Football’ back at the Edward Jones Dome. It’s been seven years. A highlight of our schedule this year. And we didn’t want fans to feel like they had to choose between enjoying our game and enjoying the Cardinals’ game." Demoff said that he is "not concerned about how many fans show up." Demoff: "We’re not gonna blame the fans if they watch from home. We’re not gonna blame the fans for going to the World Series. We’re not going to lament our fate. We’re going to make our environment the best possible environment" (STLTODAY.com, 10/27).
MARKET WATCH: YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Edholm noted as of Friday tickets for Seahawks-Rams were "going for as low as $8 up in the rafters," and lower-bowl end zone tickets were "going in the $30 range." But it still is "hard to imagine anything approximating a full house" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/25). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote the situation "creates a strong potential for a local embarrassment, with few people attending the game and few in the St. Louis metropolitan area watching it" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 10/25).
