State Farm Stadium: Difference between revisions

University of Phoenix Stadium
	File:University of Phoenix Stadium logo.jpg
Former names	Cardinals Stadium (August–September 2006)
Location	1 Cardinals Drive; Glendale, Arizona 85305; United States
Coordinates	33°31′39″N 112°15′45″W / 33.52750°N 112.26250°W
Parking	14,000 on-site parking spaces
Owner	Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority
Operator	Global Spectrum
Executive suites	88
Capacity	63,400 (expandable to 72,200; standing room to at least 78,600); Attendance Record: 2011 BCS National Championship Game 78,603
Surface	Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda Grass
Construction
Broke ground	April 12, 2003
Opened	August 1, 2006
Construction cost	$455 million; ($688 million in 2024 dollars)
Architect	Eisenman Architects; Populous (then HOK Sport)
Structural engineer	TLCP Structural, Inc. (bowl); Walter P Moore to a design by Buro Happold (roof)
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Hunt Construction Group
Tenants
	Arizona Cardinals (NFL) (2006–present); Fiesta Bowl (NCAA) (2007–present); Super Bowl XLII (NFL) (2008); WrestleMania XXVI (WWE) (2010); Super Bowl XLIX (NFL) (2015); 2015 Pro Bowl (NFL) (2015); 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (CONCACAF) (2015)

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 19:00, 21 October 2015

University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona, west of Phoenix. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) and the annual Fiesta Bowl, and replaced Tempe's Sun Devil Stadium as the Valley of the Sun's main outdoor stadium. The stadium is adjacent to the Gila River Arena and it features the first fully retractable natural grass playing surface built in the United States on top of an AirField Systems drainage system. An opening on one side of the stadium allows the playing field to move to the exterior of the building, allowing the entire natural turf playing surface to be exposed to daylight and also allowing the floor of the stadium to be used for any other purpose (such as seating for concerts) without damaging the turf.

The stadium has hosted the Fiesta Bowl, the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, Super Bowl XLII, WrestleMania XXVI, the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, a game that it hosted every four years, which set the venue's entertainment attendance record of 78,603 on January 11, 2011,^[10] and Super Bowl XLIX. It will host the Pro Bowl and CONCACAF Gold Cup matches this year, and the NCAA Final Four in 2017.

The University of Phoenix acquired the naming rights in September 2006, shortly after the stadium had opened under the name Cardinals Stadium. The "University of Phoenix" name is applied as a corporate sponsor, and not as the home stadium of the university, which has no intercollegiate athletics program.

Facility information and history

Since moving to Arizona in 1988, the Cardinals had played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. The Cardinals had only planned to play there until a new stadium could be built in Phoenix. However, the savings and loan crisis derailed funding for a new stadium. Over time, the Cardinals expressed frustration at being merely tenants in a college football stadium. Notably, it denied them access to additional revenue streams available to other NFL teams. The Cardinals campaigned several years for a new and more modern facility.

The 63,400-seat stadium opened on August 1, 2006 after three years of construction. The stadium was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport (now Populous).^[11] The stadium is considered an architectural icon for the region and was named by Business Week as one of the 10 “most impressive” sports facilities on the globe due to the combination of its retractable roof (engineering design by Walter P Moore) and roll-in natural grass field, similar to the GelreDome and the Veltins-Arena.^[12] It is the only American facility on the list. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12, 2003. It was designed to appear like a coiled rattlesnake.

LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season.^[13]

The cost of the project was $455 million. That total included $395.4 million for the stadium, $41.7 million for site improvements, and $17.8 million for the land. Contributors to the stadium included the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority ($302.3 million), the Arizona Cardinals ($143.2 million), and the City of Glendale ($9.5 million).

The playing field outside and lined for the Arizona Cardinals.

The first preseason football game was played August 12, 2006 when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-13. The first regular season game was played September 10 against the San Francisco 49ers (the Cardinals won 34–27). The stadium's air-conditioning system made it possible for the Cardinals to play at home on the opening weekend of the NFL season for the first time since moving to Arizona in 1988.

On October 16, 2006, the stadium hosted a notable game between the Cardinals and the undefeated Chicago Bears where the Bears came back from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Cardinals. The Bears would later go on to play in Super Bowl XLI.

The stadium hosted the highest attended soccer match in the state of Arizona on February 7, 2007, when 62,462 fans watched the United States men's national soccer team defeat Mexico, 2–0.

University of Phoenix Stadium from a bird's-eye view

The multipurpose nature of the facility has allowed it to host 91 events representing 110 event days between the dates of August 4, 2006 through the BCS National Championship January 8, 2007. These events included Arizona Cardinals games; public grand opening tours held August 19 and 20, 2006 (attended by 120,000 people); various shows, expositions, tradeshows and motor sport events; the Rolling Stones concert November 8, 2006; the AIA 4A and 5A state championship games for football (the first high school to win a football championship at the stadium was Cactus Shadows High School of Cave Creek, Arizona on December 2, 2006); an international soccer exhibition match; the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship High School Marching Band competition (the first marching band to ever play on the field was Foothill High School, from Pleasanton, California on December 29, 2006); the Fiesta Bowl January 1, 2007 featuring the Boise State Broncos vs. the University of Oklahoma Sooners (Boise State won 43-42 in overtime); and the BCS National Championship January 8, 2007 between the (1) Ohio State Buckeyes and the (2) University of Florida Gators, which the Gators won 41-14. It also held the 2008 Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma Sooners and the West Virginia University Mountaineers, as well as the 2009 Fiesta Bowl between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes. It has also held many high school graduations.

The Cardinals' first home playoff game since the 1940s took place at the stadium on January 3, 2009, with Arizona beating the Atlanta Falcons, 30-24. The stadium also hosted the 2008-09 NFC Championship Game between the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles on January 18, 2009, which the Cardinals won 32-25 in front of over 70,000 fans in attendance.

The stadium has 88 luxury suites — called luxury lofts — with space for 16 future suites as the stadium matures.

The 25 acres (10 ha) surrounding the stadium is called Sportsman's Park. Included within the Park is an 8-acre (3.2 ha) landscaped tailgating area called the Great Lawn.

There are no obstructed view seats in the stadium. There are visible areas in the upper deck of the end zone where seats could have been put in but were not due to the giant super columns supporting the roof structure.

Cardinals win NFC Championship, January 18, 2009

The stadium seating capacity can be expanded by 8,800 for "mega-events" such as college bowls, NFL Super Bowls, and the NFC Championship Game^[14] by adding risers and ganged, portable "X-frame" folding seats. The endzone area on the side of the facility where the field tray rolls in and out of the facility can be expanded to accommodate the additional seats.

The roof is made out of translucent "Bird-Air" fabric and opens in 12 minutes. It is the first retractable roof ever built on an incline.

The shape of the stadium is loosely modeled after a barrel cactus, a widespread plant in the Arizona desert.

University of Phoenix Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 in which the New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 with a paid attendance crowd of 71,101. This game was mentioned as one of the biggest upsets of all time. This was the second time the Phoenix area hosted a Super Bowl, the other being Super Bowl XXX held in nearby Tempe at Sun Devil Stadium in 1996 when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On August 1, 2009, the stadium hosted Monster Jam Summer Heat, with Maximum Destruction defeating Captain's Curse in the racing finals and Grave Digger winning the freestyle event.

The stadium hosted the WWE event WrestleMania XXVI with 72,219 fans in attendance. The event was held in the stadium on March 28, 2010.

On January 10, 2011, the 2011 BCS National Championship Game had an attendance record setting 78,603 on hand for the game.

On October 11, 2011, it was announced by the owners that University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Cardinals, will host Super Bowl XLIX.

On January 21, 2012, the United States men's national soccer team played against the Venezuela national football team and won the match 1-0.

On September 21, 2012, Ron Elsensohn, former troubadour of the hardcore country punk band Scrotum Grinder, performed a harp rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

On January 30, 2013, the Mexico national football team played against the Denmark national football team. The game was broadcast on Televisa Deportes, UniMás, TV Azteca, etc. The match ended in a 1 - 1 tie.^[15]

The stadium hosted the inaugural Stadium Super Trucks race on April 6, 2013.^[16]

On September 16, 2014, One Direction was the first headlining musical act to ever play at the stadium; the show was a sellout.

On February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX held at the stadium.

The 2015 Pro Bowl was the first Pro Bowl to be held at the same location as the same year's Super Bowl since 2010. The Pro Bowl will permanently return to Hawaii in 2016.^[17]

It was announced on November 14, 2014, that the University of Phoenix Stadium will host the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 2017.

A panoramic view of the interior of the stadium before a Cardinals football game, September 27, 2009

Soccer matches

Date	Competition	Team	Result	Team	Spectators
February 7, 2007	Friendly	United States	2-0	Mexico	62,462
July 12, 2009	2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup	Panama	4-0	Nicaragua	23,876
July 12, 2009	2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup	Mexico	2-0	Guadeloupe	23,876
January 21, 2012	Friendly	United States	1-0	Venezuela	62,462
January 30, 2013		Mexico	1-1	Denmark	62,462
April 2, 2014		United States	0-0	Mexico	62,462
July 12, 2015	2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup	Trinidad and Tobago	2-0	Cuba	62,910
July 12, 2015	2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup	Guatemala	0-0	Mexico	62,910

Naming rights

On September 26, 2006 the University of Phoenix acquired the naming rights to the stadium totalling $154.5 million over 20 years.^[18]

Parking space

The stadium has approximately 14,000 on-site parking spaces (plus 12,000 adjacent spaces),^[19] located in numerous lots that surround the stadium's 2,000 disabled parking spaces. The design improvement, featured for example in a Discovery program about this stadium, is zoning. Parking spaces for guests are zoned with preferred leaving directions, to achieve the fastest possible movement of traffic.^[20]

Notes and references

^ University of Phoenix Stadium Funding & Economic Impact
^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "The University of Phoenix Stadium Sets New Standards". STRUCTURE magazine. February 1, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
^ Emporis.com - University of Phoenix Stadium
^ Gannon, Todd (2008). Eisenman Architects/University of Phoenix Stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. p. 100.
^ M-E Engineers, Inc. - Projects
^ This Week's News: The Cardinals Signature Stadium
^ "The Big Game On the Horizon". Buccaneers.com. February 9, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
^ Auburn Claims SEC's Fifth Straight National Title By Dropping Oregon On Late Field Goal
^ Sunnucks, Mike (January 11, 2011). "BCS Game Sets New University of Phoenix Stadium Attendance Record". Retrieved January 11, 2011.
^ Stadium Statistics
^ World-Class Sports Stadiums: BusinessWeek
^ "Installation Spotlight: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz".
^ Watters, Carrie (January 11, 2009). "Cards vs. Eagles Sells Out in 6 Minutes". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
^ http://www.azcentral.com/sports/azetc/ar
^ "Schedule". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
^ "2015 Pro Bowl to be played in Arizona - NFL.com". Retrieved April 9, 2014.
^ Wong, Scott (September 26, 2006). "Stadium Name Deal: $154.5 mil Over 20 Years". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 26, 2006. ^{[dead link]}
^ Statistics - University of Phoenix Stadium
^ Parking & Directions - University of Phoenix Stadium

External links

Events and tenants
Preceded by Sun Devil Stadium	Home of the Arizona Cardinals 2006 – present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Sun Devil Stadium	Home of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 2007 – present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Rose Bowl	Home of the BCS National Championship Game 2007, 2011	Succeeded by Louisiana Superdome
Preceded by Dolphin Stadium	Host of Super Bowl XLII 2008	Succeeded by Raymond James Stadium
Preceded by Lambeau Field	Host of NFC Championship Game 2009	Succeeded by Louisiana Superdome
Preceded by MetLife Stadium	Host of Super Bowl XLIX 2015	Succeeded by Levi's Stadium
Preceded by NRG Stadium	Host of WrestleMania XXVI 2010	Succeeded by Georgia Dome
Preceded by Aloha Stadium	Host of the NFL Pro Bowl 2015	Succeeded by TBD
Preceded by Reliant Stadium	NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 2017	Succeeded by Alamodome

Template:WrestleMania venues

[1] University of Phoenix Stadium Funding & Economic Impact

[inflation-US-2] 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[3] "The University of Phoenix Stadium Sets New Standards". STRUCTURE magazine. February 1, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2012.

[4] Emporis.com - University of Phoenix Stadium

[BH-5] Gannon, Todd (2008). Eisenman Architects/University of Phoenix Stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. p. 100.

[6] M-E Engineers, Inc. - Projects

[7] This Week's News: The Cardinals Signature Stadium

[8] "The Big Game On the Horizon". Buccaneers.com. February 9, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2008.

[9] Auburn Claims SEC's Fifth Straight National Title By Dropping Oregon On Late Field Goal

[10] Sunnucks, Mike (January 11, 2011). "BCS Game Sets New University of Phoenix Stadium Attendance Record". Retrieved January 11, 2011.

[11] Stadium Statistics

[12] World-Class Sports Stadiums: BusinessWeek

[displays-13] "Installation Spotlight: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz".

[14] Watters, Carrie (January 11, 2009). "Cards vs. Eagles Sells Out in 6 Minutes". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2009.

[15] ttp://www.azcentral.com/sports/azetc/ar

[16] "Schedule". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved October 18, 2013.

[17] "2015 Pro Bowl to be played in Arizona - NFL.com". Retrieved April 9, 2014.

[18] Wong, Scott (September 26, 2006). "Stadium Name Deal: $154.5 mil Over 20 Years". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 26, 2006. ^{[dead link]}

[19] Statistics - University of Phoenix Stadium

[20] Parking & Directions - University of Phoenix Stadium

[8]

[9]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 -->]</ref> It is the only American facility on the list. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12, 2003. It was designed to appear like a coiled rattlesnake.
-[[Light emitting diode]] (LED) video and ribbon displays from [[Daktronics]] in [[Brookings, South Dakota]] were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season.<ref name=displays>{{cite web |url=http://svconline.com/avcontrol/features/avinstall_installation_spotlight_university_2/|title=Installation Spotlight: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.}}</ref>
+[[Light emitting diode|LED]] video and ribbon displays from [[Daktronics]] in [[Brookings, South Dakota]] were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season.<ref name=displays>{{cite web |url=http://svconline.com/avcontrol/features/avinstall_installation_spotlight_university_2/|title=Installation Spotlight: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.}}</ref>
 The cost of the project was [[United States dollar|$]]455 million. That total included $395.4 million for the stadium, $41.7 million for site improvements, and $17.8 million for the land. Contributors to the stadium included the [[Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority]] ($302.3 million), the [[Arizona Cardinals]] ($143.2 million), and the [[Glendale, Arizona|City of Glendale]] ($9.5 million).

v t e Arizona Cardinals
Founded in 1898 Played in Chicago (1920–1959), St. Louis (1960–1987), and formerly the Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993) Based in Glendale, Arizona Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona
Franchise	History in Chicago in St. Louis Seasons Head coaches Players Quarterbacks First-round draft picks
Stadiums	Normal Park Comiskey Park Wrigley Field Forbes Field Soldier Field Busch Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium Mountain America Stadium State Farm Stadium
Culture	Chris O'Brien Charles Bidwill Bill Bidwill Red Sea Big Red (mascot) Jerry Maguire
Lore	1925 Chicago Cardinals–Milwaukee Badgers scandal 1925 NFL Championship controversy Card-Pitt Million Dollar Backfield Chicago Cardinals–Toronto Argonauts exhibition game Fútbol Americano "They are who we thought they were!" Hail Murray
Rivalries	Chicago Bears Kansas City Chiefs (former) Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks
Division championships (7)	1947 1948 1974 1975 2008 2009 2015
Conference championships (1)	2008
League championships (2)	1925 1947
Retired numbers	8 40 77 88 99
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: West Division
Category

v t e Fiesta Bowl
History & conference tie-ins	History Mountain America Stadium State Farm Stadium College Football Playoff College football playoff at-large Group of Five
Games	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 (January) 1997 (December) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 (January) 2014 (December) 2016 (January) 2016 (December) 2017 2019 (January) 2019 (December) 2021 2022 (January) 2022 (December) 2024 (January) 2024 (December)
Notes	The game was also the national title game for either the Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, or Bowl Championship Series in 1996, 1999, and 2003. There was a Fiesta Bowl in January and December in 1997, 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022. Bold indicates College Football Playoff semifinals.

v t e BCS National Championship Game
History State Farm Stadium Caesars Superdome Hard Rock Stadium Rose Bowl BCS Broadcasters
Rotating bowl	1999 (Fiesta) 2000 (Sugar) 2001 (Orange) 2002 (Rose) 2003 (Fiesta) 2004 (Sugar) 2005 (Orange) 2006 (Rose)
Game	2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
AFCA National Championship Trophy

v t e NFL Pro Bowl
All-Star Games	1939 1940 (Jan) 1940 (Dec) 1942 (Jan) 1942 (Dec)
NFL Pro Bowls	1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
AFC–NFC Pro Bowls	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Draft Pro Bowls	2014 2015 2016
Pro Bowl Games	2023 2024
Aloha Stadium Camping World Stadium Allegiant Stadium Records Players A B C–F G–H I–K L–M N–R S–V W–Z Playoff Bowl broadcasters AFL All-Star Game broadcasters

v t e Venues of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Group stage	BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston) BMO Field (Toronto) Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina) Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Soldier Field (Chicago) Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kansas) StubHub Center (Carson, California) Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas) University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Quarter-finals	M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore) MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Semi-finals	Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
Third-place playoff	Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, Pennsylvania)
Final	Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Official website