The Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders were removed from the sidelines for the prime time game in Glendale

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Friends and families of Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders say the team has been removed from the sidelines for Monday night’s prime-time football game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

They say the cheerleaders only performed during game breaks, which was apparently due to the new premium seating.

The move came as a shock to the current team and decades of veterans.

Families of the cheerleaders say the nearly three hours they once spent playing on the field on a game day now totals 10 to 15 minutes. They also say the cheerleaders were given four days’ notice that they would not be performing during the game.

“I was a Cardinals cheerleader many years ago,” Kim Denson said. “The 1994 and 1995 team when they first became the Cardinals.”

“I was an Arizona Cardinals cheerleader from 2017 to 2021,” said Davis Berryhill.

To keep the legacy alive, four corners and the end zone are typically covered in pompoms, creating excitement among fans and players.

“We added spice, girls and something other than football,” Denson said.

“We really led the crowd and still kept the positive energy going. Whether it’s a win or not, it’s a great game,” Berryhill said.

Davis called her time on the sidelines 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 tried hard,” Denson said. “We put in a lot of hours. I’m very surprised.”

“It hurts me a little bit that they won’t be out there tonight,” Berryhill said.

The cheerleaders were told the decision was based on blocking the view.

“We drove three hours,” said one mother. “What should I say to my daughter? Where are the cheerleaders?”

Berryhill remembers the influence she had on young fans.

“When I was on the team, my favorite thing was seeing all the little girls in the stands. The fact that they can see a woman can be in professional sports. A woman can be in the NFL. “I think that having women represented is really important,” Berryhill said.

Family members of cheerleaders said they talked about making them stand in the tunnel during the game. Instead, they left her in the locker room to keep up with the game.

They were taken out for a minute and a half, a quarter break and a half time break.

Many other NFL cheer teams 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 has not received a response.