The Cardinals revealed to AZ Gov. Jane Hull's stadium
task force yesterday what kind of facility they are looking
for -- a $329M, 67,000-seat stadium with movable grass, a
retractable roof and 94 luxury suites, according to Pat
Flannery of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. However, the task force
"did not talk about how the stadium would be paid for or
discuss any potential sites," as those issues are "expected
to be taken up in later meetings." The $329M cost estimate
"does not include" the acquisition of land for the stadium
or for parking. Nothing was voted on during yesterday's
session, but there was "general agreement" among members of
the task force that their main priority should be "to
recommend a facility that keeps the Cardinals" in AZ, gets
the state into the NFL's rotation of Super Bowl sites and
"presents an attractive option" for the Fiesta Bowl. The
panel "also agreed to do a quick marketing survey to
determine whether there were other uses for the stadium,"
such as hosting MLS games or certain convention events.
There was also "consensus to abandon" a proposal for AZ
State Univ. (ASU) and the Cardinals to share a stadium,
"either by overhauling ASU's Sun Devil Stadium or moving
both teams to a new site." Financing options "are expected
to be discussed" at the task force's next meeting on
December 2 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/23).
