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Hannibal, MO —
News that tickets went on sale Monday for the NFL’s 2012 regular-season game in London between the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots did not inspire any cheers from Dr. Mike Murphy of Hannibal, who has been a St. Louis Rams season ticket holder for 12 years.
“I wouldn’t be in favor of that at all,” said Murphy of seeing one of the Rams’ eight home games moved to London.
Murphy had heard rumblings the Rams might play abroad, but “I thought they would play in London maybe one time on their bye week,” said the Hannibal chiropractor.
Tickets for the Oct. 28 game went on sale after the Rams reportedly solved an issue regarding their stadium lease, clearing the way for them to host one game per season over the next three years in Britain. General admission ticket sales for next season’s game at Wembley were temporarily halted after it was learned the Rams’ plans clashed with the team’s Edward Jones Dome lease.
Last week, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission delivered to the Rams plans for a $124 million overhaul of the dome that officials contend would make the stadium one of the best in pro football.
“I know the Rams in their contract have to be in the top tier of stadiums, and at one time it was when they first came to St. Louis. But then because of all the new stadiums like the Cowboys, maybe Indianapolis and Mile High Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome has slipped down,” said Murphy.
In Murphy’s opinion, the dome is still a fun venue in which to watch an NFL game.
“Almost every year that I go there there is always some kind of improvement,” he said. “My opinion is I guess they have to go by their rules, but I think it’s a great place to go and have fun and watch a game just the way it is.”
Even though the Rams have gone 15-65 over the past five seasons, Murphy, who still fondly remembers the “Greatest Show on Turf” days, remains optimistic.
“Now, even though they don’t play good, I always go down with excitement that maybe this is the game they’re going to do well. But when they don’t, I’m not disappointed because it’s just a game,” he said.
Bolstering Murphy’s hopes about the Rams’ future was the recent hiring of Jeff Fisher as the team’s new head coach.
“I liked (former coach) Steve Spagnuolo. As a person he was really a great guy, but I think maybe as a head coach he just wasn’t the right fit. Jeff Fisher hopefully can change things around,” he said. “I think having the right personality and the right head coach has a lot to do with how the team is going to work.”
Many Rams fans are already wringing their hands that about the time Fisher gets the team back on track owner Stan Kroenke will move the team back to Los Angeles. Not Murphy.
“St. Louis is a sports city,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll work out something to make sure the Rams are going to stay there.”
News that tickets went on sale Monday for the NFL’s 2012 regular-season game in London between the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots did not inspire any cheers from Dr. Mike Murphy of Hannibal, who has been a St. Louis Rams season ticket holder for 12 years.
“I wouldn’t be in favor of that at all,” said Murphy of seeing one of the Rams’ eight home games moved to London.
Murphy had heard rumblings the Rams might play abroad, but “I thought they would play in London maybe one time on their bye week,” said the Hannibal chiropractor.
Tickets for the Oct. 28 game went on sale after the Rams reportedly solved an issue regarding their stadium lease, clearing the way for them to host one game per season over the next three years in Britain. General admission ticket sales for next season’s game at Wembley were temporarily halted after it was learned the Rams’ plans clashed with the team’s Edward Jones Dome lease.
Last week, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission delivered to the Rams plans for a $124 million overhaul of the dome that officials contend would make the stadium one of the best in pro football.
“I know the Rams in their contract have to be in the top tier of stadiums, and at one time it was when they first came to St. Louis. But then because of all the new stadiums like the Cowboys, maybe Indianapolis and Mile High Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome has slipped down,” said Murphy.
In Murphy’s opinion, the dome is still a fun venue in which to watch an NFL game.
“Almost every year that I go there there is always some kind of improvement,” he said. “My opinion is I guess they have to go by their rules, but I think it’s a great place to go and have fun and watch a game just the way it is.”
Even though the Rams have gone 15-65 over the past five seasons, Murphy, who still fondly remembers the “Greatest Show on Turf” days, remains optimistic.
“Now, even though they don’t play good, I always go down with excitement that maybe this is the game they’re going to do well. But when they don’t, I’m not disappointed because it’s just a game,” he said.
Bolstering Murphy’s hopes about the Rams’ future was the recent hiring of Jeff Fisher as the team’s new head coach.
“I liked (former coach) Steve Spagnuolo. As a person he was really a great guy, but I think maybe as a head coach he just wasn’t the right fit. Jeff Fisher hopefully can change things around,” he said. “I think having the right personality and the right head coach has a lot to do with how the team is going to work.”
Many Rams fans are already wringing their hands that about the time Fisher gets the team back on track owner Stan Kroenke will move the team back to Los Angeles. Not Murphy.
“St. Louis is a sports city,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll work out something to make sure the Rams are going to stay there.”
