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."