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For Rams’ season ticket sales, Bradford matters more than lockout

Sam Bradford

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford reacts as he stands on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, in St. Louis. The Chiefs won 27-13. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

AP

The longest work stoppage in NFL history is apparently no match for a promising young quarterback when it comes to ticket sales.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the team had the highest season ticket renewal rate -- 94% -- in more than a decade. (Dating back to when the Rams were competing for titles.) The team has already sold double what they did last year in new season tickets.

The news is a reminder that wins can make up for a lot of negatives in the football business. St. Louis won more games in 2010 than 2007-2009 combined, so it’s not a shocker that interest is up.

It also brings up a point we’ve been thinking about lately. If a lockout ends this week, interest will absolutely explode and it will be like the lockout never happened for almost all fans. (Football is a helluva drug.)

The league knows this. The players know this. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so comfortable taking advantage of fans at every turn.

They would probably answer that criticism by saying: It’s just business.