University of Phoenix Stadium - History, Photos & More of the Arizona Cardinals NFL stadium


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University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, AZ

For the first time in their history, dating back to 1898, the Cardinals have a stadium that they do not have to share with another team. From their formation as a football club in Chicago in 1898 to their move to St. Louis in 1960 and move to Arizona after the 1987 season, the team has never had a stadium of their own, most recently playing at a collegiate stadium, Sun Devil Stadium. Through the late 1990s the Cardinals began seeking a new stadium. After several years of debate, in August 2002, the Arizona State Tourism and Sports Authority voted to build a new retractable roof stadium in Glendale, AZ for the Arizona Cardinals. At a cost of $455 million, the stadium not only features a retractable roof, but features a retractable side and field that moves in and out of the structure. The stadium is built on 28 acres that is owned by the sports authority. The Cardinals paid for 25% of the stadium, $109 million, including cost overruns and the state Tourism and Sports Authority paid for 75% of the stadium. The Cardinals also bought the land for the stadium at a cost of $18.5 million.

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FACTS & FIGURES

-Tenant: Arizona Cardinals
-Capacity: 63,400
-Surface: Grass
-Opened: August 12, 2006
-Naming Rights: University of Phoenix, $154.4 Million over 20 years
-Architect: Populus, Peter Eisenman
-Cost: $455 Million
-Public Financing: 62.7%
-Private Financing: 37.3%
-Seating Chart

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The retractable roof at the University of Phoenix Stadium is comprised of two 180-feet long by 240-feet wide retractable panels close to allow for air conditioning during the hot summer months and open during the cooler months to take advantage of the Valley's abundant sunshine. The fabric roof allows light to fill the stadium and provides an open, airy feel even when the roof panels are closed. The roof system is designed to close in approximately 12 minutes. University of Phoenix Stadium features a unique rollout natural-grass playing field, contained in a single tray measuring 234 feet wide by 403 feet long and weighing a hefty 18.9 million pounds. It is first completely retractable field in North America. It is positioned inside the stadium on game days to offer the preferred natural-grass playing surface for football and outside the stadium the remaining 350+ days of the year to receive the needed sunlight and water to grow. A total of 462 steel wheels, riding on 13 parallel steel rails are used to slide the field tray in and out of the facility.

Construction of University of Phoenix Stadium began in July 2003. Originally expected to be completed in time for the 2005 NFL season, the stadium opened on August 12, 2006, when the Cardinals played the Pittsburgh Steelers in a preseason game. The Cardinals played their inaugural first game at the stadium when they hosted the San Francisco 49ers on September 10, 2006. During the first month of its opening, the facility was known as Cardinals Stadium. In September 2006, the University of Phoenix purchased the naming rights for 20 years. The new stadium has a very modern, futuristic look and seats 63,000 fans for football. The capacity can be expanded to 72,800 for other events at the stadium including the Super Bowl. Not only is the stadium the home of the Arizona Cardinals, but hosts the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, hosted Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and NCAA Final Four Championships. It will also host Super Bowl XLVIV in 2015.