Cardinals leaving Tempe Stadium on Winning Note

There's nothing better than going out a winner, which is exactly what the Arizona Cardinals did Saturday in their final game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.But as the team prepares for its move to Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, winning the last game at the stadium may not be enough to recoup 17 years of fan frustration."The new stadium looks nice, but a new stadium isn't enough," said Tony Moreno, 52, of Phoenix. "If the Cards do what they need do and start winning, we'll probably go and get some good tickets."
Like many Valley residents, Moreno became a Cardinals fan in 1988 when the team played its first game at Sun Devil Stadium. Since then, he has held season tickets and attended nearly every home game. Despite his loyalty, facing higher season ticket prices and another losing season has him wondering whether he will add another year to his long-standing dedication.Saturday's 27-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles marked the last time the Cardinals' mascot would do back flips in front of the southern section, always packed with Cardinals fans. There will be no more Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin jerseys worn with pride throughout the stands. Like other former Cardinal namesakes displayed on the backs of fans - Jake Plummer, Eric Swan and Chuck Cecil, to name a few - the team can now free itself from being the only professional football team to play in a college stadium."As long as I can remember, I would belittle the Cardinals for playing in a cheap stadium," said John Ferrera, 28, of Philadelphia. "I'd laugh at them because they're a professional team in a college stadium."Ferrera was in visiting relatives and to watch his hometown Eagles play the Cardinals.While Glendale businesses look forward to the team, those in downtown Tempe are facing a financial setback. They will be losing tens of thousands of customers who have helped boost sales during the eight yearly home games.At Fumbles, a bar and grill one block south of Sun Devil Stadium, the final Cardinals pre-game celebration was met with anticipation for the new stadium as the staff wondered about the future."It's going to take a chunk out of my profits," Fumbles owner Steve Spoor said. "I'm hoping that the city or ASU will do something to keep people coming into the area."From the large businesses to the very small, people are worried about how the Cardinals departure will affect profits, something they have relied on since the team arrived.Bicycle deliveryman Mark Wiley of Scottsdale has supplemented his income as a bicycle cab driver before and after games. On good days, he'll make nearly $400. Taking that out of his pocket has him concerned, especially because he has no plans to follow the team to Glendale."It's going to hurt, definitely," Wiley, 34, said. "It's been a great second job and now I just hope there's more going on next year."For many fans, however, the lure of the new, state-of-the-art, 63,000-seat stadium will bring them out west, at least for a few games."The first four games there will be filled to capacity because it's a new stadium," said Greg Phelps of Scottsdale. "But I think you need to put a winner on the field before you build a new stadium."The Cardinals have seen a boost in season-ticket interest, largely due to the stadium. Some are interested in seeing the retractable roof and rollout playing field, something never tried in any other stadium.Losing saguaro-covered mountains peeking over the top stands and the sprawling Arizona State University campus dotting the horizon to the south has some fans at a loss. But the ambiance of Sun Devil Stadium will be quickly forgotten when the new stadium features its first game, some said."I'm going to miss the downtown establishment around here," said Patty Petersen, 57, of Goodyear. "But I am absolutely excited about the new stadium, especially because it's so close to home."Jorge Linarez, 25, of Tucson may the happiest fan of all. After watching Cardinals games at Sun Devil Stadium since 1990, the University of Arizona fan will finally see a game with no mention of ASU."We've all really excited. We have the whole season planned out for next year," he said. "I'm glad we won't see any ASU stuff in the new place."
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