State Farm Stadium
 | |
| Location | Glendale, Arizona 85305 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Capacity | 63,500 (can be expanded to 72,800) |
| Field size | 134 yds x 78 yrds (122m x 71m) |
| Surface | Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 12, 2003 |
| Opened | August 12, 2006 |
| Construction cost | $455 million |
| Architect | Peter Eisenman HOK Sport |
| Tenants | |
| Arizona Cardinals (NFL) (2006-present) Fiesta Bowl (NCAA) (starting in 2007) | |
Cardinals Stadium is a football stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Its primary tenant is the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. The new stadium is located across the street from the Glendale Arena. It is likely the stadium will be renamed after a naming rights contract is negotiated. The 63,500-seat stadium (expandable to 72,800) opened on August 12, 2006 when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-13, in a preseason game. The first regular season game is set for September 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, the first time the Cardinals will play on the opening weekend of the NFL season at home since moving to Arizona in 1988. The stadium will also be home to the annual Fiesta Bowl and, once every four years, the BCS National Championship Game. In 2008, the stadium will host Super Bowl XLII.
It will also be the site for the West Regional Finals of the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12, 2003. The estimated cost of the project is $455 million. The $455 million includes the cost of acquiring the land, constructing the stadium and $41.7 million for site improvements planned directly outside the venue. The Arizona Cardinals will contribute at least $147 million, and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority will spend more than $298 million. Glendale, where the stadium is located, will put in $9.5 million.
Unique features
The facility features a retractable roof that is 206 feet above grade. The roof uses more than 100,000 square feet of Teflon coated translucent fabric which allows light to pass through. The roof is the first of its kind that moves up and down on an incline and is driven by a cable drum drive system. The drive system consists of a series of cables wound around drums and was designed by Uni-Systems. In order to open the roof the cable is unwound and to close the roof the cable is recoiled. The process takes 15 minutes to open or close the roof.
The facility also features the first fully retractable natural grass playing surface built in the United States. Designed by CMX Sports Engineers, the retractable playing field is situated on a 19 million pound tray that sits on 13 rails. The tray is layered starting with the grass on top which sits on a foot of sand. Under the sand is the plumbing for the grass and under the plumbing is the tray liner that prevents the water for the field from leaking into the wheels and engines. The tray is driven by 76 one horsepower engines and it takes the engines approximately 65 minutes to move the tray. An opening on the southeast side of the stadium allows the playing field to move to the exterior of the building so the entire natural playing surface can be exposed to daylight when it is not in use. This unique design element prevents the problems that have plagued the grass at Chase Field and saves an estimated $50 million in cost. With the field in the outboard position, the 158,000-square foot floor is unencumbered by the turf and features a built-in utility grid.
The stadium also features oversized 30 foot tall parking lot identifiers outside of each parking lot. This was done to differentiate the stadium from others that use multiple small signs within each parking lot.
Award winning architect Peter Eisenman, in collaboration with HOK Sport, designed the facility, which is said to resemble an abstracted coiled rattlesnake or barrel cactus. Structural engineering and structural design was provided by Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants.
A plaza surrounding the stadium is named the Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza in memory of the former Cardinals defensive back who was killed in action by friendly fire while serving with the United States Army in Afghanistan.
On September 8, 2006, Alltel Wireless announced the activation of the only cell site located directly within the stadium. The cell site, located on the Service Level of the stadium, provides service to all levels of the facility through an antenna built into the structure.
Facility Information
The stadium has 88 luxury suites.
The stadium has a built-in tailgating lawn, called Sportsman's Park, directly outside the stadium.
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 pillars supporting the roof structure.
The roof is made out of fabric and opens in twelve minutes. It is the first retractable roof ever built on an incline.
Naming Rights
Pink Taco, a Mexican restaurant known for its controversial name, has indicated interest in buying the naming rights.[1] However on August 21, 2006 Cardinals spokesman Mark Dalton stated "We're in serious discussions with companies about naming rights, and Pink Taco is not one of them". [2]
External links
- Super Bowl XLII website
- Arizona Cardinals' website for stadium
- Global Spectrum’s website for stadium
- Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority
References
| Preceded by Sun Devil Stadium 1988–2005 |
Home of the Arizona Cardinals 2006– |
Succeeded by Current |