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The Super Bowl came to
the desert for the first time in 1996 when Sun Devil Stadium
hosted the game. In the mid 1950s Arizona State University
decided to construct a stadium for its team, the Sun Devils. The
stadium was constructed between two small mountains and was
completed in time for the start of the 1958 season. The stadium
was named after the team, Sun Devil Stadium, and had a capacity of
30,000. Since its opening in 1958, many additions have been
completed at Sun Devil Stadium. Beginning in 1976, the capacity
was increased to over 57,000. The following year the capacity was
once again increased to over 70,000.
Playing in St. Louis, the Cardinals began looking west for a place
to move to in the 1980s. The team was tired of playing at Busch
Stadium, also home of the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) and was unable
to get a football only stadium constructed. After the
1987 season the Cardinals moved to
Arizona and Sun Devil Stadium. Prior to the team's first season
at Sun Devil Stadium, more expansions were completed at the
stadium. Over 1,000 seats were added, along with an athletic
complex on the south end of the stadium, a scoreboard, and four
video boards. In 1989, a three-story, 60,000 square-foot building
was constructed atop the upper deck on the west side,
that
contains two 30-suite levels, a modern press box and eight
additional private suites. Today, Sun Devil Stadium has over
72,000 seats. The main grandstand is in the shape of a horseshoe. Additional seating is located
in the south end zone. The video/scoreboards are located beyond
the south endzone. Fans who attend games at Sun Devil Stadium
receive outstanding views of the surrounding area. The Cardinals
played their last game at Sun Devil Stadium on December 24, 2005.
In August 2006 the team moved into University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale,
AZ. Arizona State University continues to play at Sun Devil
Stadium.
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