NFL Notes: Cards Visit Tucson; Saints Ticket Sales Lagging

The NFL Cardinals today will complete a two-day goodwill tour and minicamp in Tucson, according to Greg Hansen of the ARIZONA DAILY STAR, who examined the team's plan to increase its fan base. Hansen wrote that the Cardinals' marketing staff "whipped up this goodwill tour of Tucson, a valley of almost 900,000 in which, at last estimate, there were 17 Cardinals fans. This is apparently more popular than holding a minicamp in Mesa, where political leaders recently rustled up more than 9,000 signatures in an attempt to keep the Cardinals from building their $350 million stadium on their turf." Hansen added, "The Cardinals are making a sincere gesture to rally support in this remote pocket of civilization. They went as far as to produce a wonderful logo to celebrate their stay in Tucson, incorporating the Mission at San Xavier del Bac and an 'A' logo from [the Univ. of AZ]" (AZ DAILY STAR, 6/13).

SAINTS: The AP noted as of Wednesday, the Saints had sold 32,700 season tickets, down from last year's total of 44,000. But the team has "not begun its heaviest advertising, ... and they expect to see sales rise after that and as the season approaches." Saints Dir of Administration Arnold Fielkow said that the team "needs to attract more help from businesses, both as ticket buyers and as sponsors." Fielkow: "In a city of this size, we've got to have 90[%] of the top 200 businesses with us" (AP, 6/13).