Cardinals Stadium GlendaleEveryone Wins at
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| Cardinals Football Stadium in west Glendale, AZ |
If you drive south on the Loop 101, you can't miss the shiny, massive Cardinals Stadium.
We'd driven past it many times and had heard all about its unique design and construction.
So, we decided to see for ourselves what all the excitement was over the stadium by taking an Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour.
Although it is officially known as University of Phoenix Stadium, this huge, state-of-the-art facility is in the city of Glendale, AZ and is the permanent home of the NFL Arizona Cardinals football team.
Most famously, the stadium was host to the 2008 Super Bowl XLII. Cardinals Stadium Glendale also hosts the annual college football Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Plus every four years, the stadium hosts the NCAA's BCS National Championship football game.
From a distance, Cardinals Stadium Arizona looks like a giant silver UFO.
Designed by architect Peter Eisenman, it's meant to resemble a barrel cactus with a snake wrapped around its base.
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| The inside of Cardinals Stadium Glendale |
It's not until you get up close that you realize how just how massive the Cardinals Stadium is.
The complex occupies over 25 acres, has 63,400 permanent seats and 88 luxury lofts.
The total cost for Arizona Cardinals Stadium Glendale was $455 million.
It also has the distinction of being the first stadium in the United States to have both a retractable roof and a roll-out natural grass field.
The roof is an engineering marvel.
Its two large, retractable panels are made out of translucent "Bird-Air" fabric that lets in light much the way a skylight does. Although strong, it is delicate, so it takes about 15 minutes to open.
The natural grass field is another engineering wonder. The mobile field is over 2 acres and sits in a 18.9 million pound tray that is moved in and out of the stadium through an opening at one endzone.
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| Phoenix Stadium’s grass field sits outside when not in use Courtesy of © Global Spectrum, Gene Lower/AZ Cardinals |
This clever design has several benefits.
The natural grass surface is able to receive sunlight when the playing field is outside.
When the grass field is not needed, it is moved outside where the turf will not be damaged, thereby exposing the stadium's indoor floor.
Cardinals Stadium Glendale is a multi-purpose facility and host to much more than football games.
You can see all kinds of major events here including soccer, basketball, trade shows, concerts, rodeos and motor sports.
What's in a Name?
When Cardinals Stadium Glendale opened in August 2006, it was simply called Cardinals Stadium.
However, in September 2006 the University of Phoenix purchased the naming rights to the stadium for 20 years for $154.5 million.
With campus locations across the United States and online course work, The University of Phoenix offers classes geared towards working adults. The University is a for-profit school and it does not have intercollegiate sports teams.
Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour
Although you can only see the Arizona Cardinals play during football season, you can tour Cardinals Stadium all year long. |
| The Cardinals Stadium Glendale press box |
The Cardinals football stadium tour offers a "behind the scenes" peak into the world of football and the inner workings of a stadium.
The tours are provided by Global Spectrum, the management company for the stadium.
Tours of Arizona Cardinals Stadium Glendale leave from Gate 2 and begin with watching a short but interesting video about the stadium that includes footage of the roof raising and moving of the grass field.
Our tour group was a fun and interesting mix that included people from across the United States and two from England.
Once we stepped inside, the giant size of the stadium was truly amazing.
Being in Cardinals Stadium for the first time is the only way to truly get a feel for how big it is.
We had a great tour guide and she did an excellent job of presenting lots of detailed information about the stadium in a lively and entertaining dialogue. She even told us fascinating insider stories of working during the 2008 Super Bowl.
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| One of the AZ Cardinals Stadium luxury lofts |
Among the Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour highlights were visits to the press room and the visiting team locker room, which is more spacious than most people's apartments.
We even got to see all the amenities in the plush luxury lofts.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals team locker room is off-limits.
The 75-minute tour has at least one mile of walking and it is wheelchair accessible.
There were elevator rides taking us to some of the stops on the tour, but not to worry, there are no stairs to climb.
Tours at Cardinals Stadium Arizona are conducted year round. However, there are no tours on event dates at the stadium.
The tour ends at the gift shop where you can buy just about anything with the Arizona Cardinals football team logo on it.
After our experience we can say that the stadium tours are good for football fans and nonfans alike.
We thought the tour was enjoyable and interesting. You really can't go wrong given the inexpensive price of the tour and it makes a great family-friendly outing.
Stadium Tour Tips:
- Be sure to wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes for the tour.
- When purchasing your tour tickets online at Ticketmaster.com, you can choose to pick up your tickets at the stadium's will call window - which will save you money - instead of printing them out at home.
Click here to find out more about Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour tickets
Fast Facts: Arizona Cardinals Stadium, Glendale AZ
Arizona Cardinals Stadium Location and Directions: West Glendale. From Exit Glendale Avenue from Loop 101 Freeway. The stadium is between the Loop 101 and 91st Ave., Maryland Ave. and Bethany Home Road.Arizona Cardinals Stadium Address: 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale AZ 85305
Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.
Phone: 623-433-7100
Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour Admission:
Adults: $6.00
Children: $4.00
Seniors ages 65 and older and Military with identification: $4.00
No charge for children three and under.
Purchase Arizona Cardinals Stadium Tour tickets from Ticketmaster.com
Extra Fees: There is a fee when you print out your tickets at your home or office when purchasing tickets online. You can avoid this fee by choosing to pick up your tickets at the stadium's will call window. You can make this selection when purchasing your tickets online.
Good for Kids: We would not recommend the Cardinals Stadium tour for children under 10, unless they are really big sports fans, as they may get bored.
Arizona Cardinals Stadium Parking: There is plenty of stadium parking as tours take place on non-event days at the stadium. There are about 14,000 parking spaces, so park close to Gate 2 where the tours begin on the north side of the stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Season: September - December
Note: This information was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the facility before making reservations and/or travel plans.
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