Cardinals to play Super Bowl champs in stadium debut
The Arizona Cardinals' first-ever preseason home game in the team's new football stadium in Glendale has all the makings of being a sellout.
In addition to opening the new 63,000-seat stadium, the Cardinals have announced that they will host the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Aug. 12.
"We couldn't think of a better team to open up against in our new home," said Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel.
The game will feature an afternoon kickoff, which was not possible for previous preseason games in Arizona due to the extreme summer heat.
"With the air conditioning at the new Cardinals Stadium we are able to do a lot of things that we couldn't do previously," added Bidwill.
Cardinals Stadium will not only feature air conditioning and a retractable roof, but will also be the first in the United States to feature a fully retractable grass playing surface.
The Cardinals and Steelers have quite a history. The patriarchs of both football families -- Charles Bidwill and Art Rooney -- are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and currently both families have third generation leadership with Art Rooney II and Michael Bidwill following in the footsteps of their fathers Dan and Bill.
And because of the manpower shortage during World War II, the teams merged in 1944 to form Card-Pitt.
Because of the unique history between the two teams, Michael Bidwill wanted the Rooneys and the Steelers to be part of the historic opening of the Cardinals new home in the West Valley.
"I started talking to the Rooneys last season," added Bidwill. "We are very excited about the historic opportunity in this cutting-edge stadium."

Team has re-signed four players
The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has re-signed four players to contract extensions. Fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo signed a two-year deal while running back Damien Anderson, linebacker Isaac Keys, and defensive end Anton Palepoi all signed one-year contracts. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed. Anderson (5-11, 211) appeared in the final five games of 2005, collecting two yards on seven carries. Anderson was re-signed on November 29 after being released in the team’s final roster cut on September 3. He originally was signed by the Cardinals as a rookie free agent in 2002 out of Northwestern and has appeared in 35 games with 50 carries for 137 yards, nine receptions for 72 yards, and 14 kickoff returns for 258 yards. Ayanbadejo (6-2, 233) appeared in all 32 games (seven starts) at fullback over the past two seasons for the Cardinals after signing as a free agent in 2004. During the past two seasons, Ayanbadejo has had 52 carries for 168 yards and three touchdowns while collecting 53 receptions for 402 yards and a touchdown. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1997 out of San Diego State, Ayanbadejo has appeared in 87 career games (18 starts) with 114 carries for 476 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 113 receptions for 746 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Keys (6-3, 247) appeared in six games last season recording six special teams tackles. He was released and re-signed to the active roster three times during the 2005 season. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001 out of Morehouse, Keys was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals in 2004 and appeared in the final three games of the 2004 season for the after spending the first 13 games of that season on the practice squad. Palepoi (6-3, 283) played in three games last season for the Cardinals after signing as a free agent on November 15. In his three seasons before joining the Cardinals, Palepoi appeared in 35 career games (one start) with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks collecting 45 tackles (28 solos), 4 sacks, 5 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble. Originally drafted by Seattle in the second round (60th overall) of the 2002 draft out of UNLV, Palepoi played two seasons in Seattle appearing in 20 games. He was released by the Broncos on September 4, 2005.