from reiss's mailbag
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extras/askreiss/11_14_06/?page=7
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extras/askreiss/11_14_06/?page=7
I could not help but notice at times how quiet the fans at Gillette seemed on Sunday throughout most of the game. Was it the rain? Was a competitive game unexpected? I was certainly very surprised to see so many empty seats in the first quarter. I'm wondering if the expensive seats have priced out some of the dedicated football fans -- ones who know to be loud when the other team has the ball. Fans that will put on a raincoat, attend, participate -- and actually help the defense play better. I flipped over to the Seahawks-Rams game later -- pouring rain, close game like ours, but the seats were full and the fans were loud. What am I missing?
John Costello, Wall, NJ
I don't think you're missing much, John. Gillette Stadium has been quiet. Those empty seats might have been club seats, where the ticket holders were inside the club instead of out in the rain.