From all accounts, it seems like the Cardinals will move their training camp from NAU in Flagstaff, Ariz., to the city of Glendale, Ariz., which would be a great move for all parties involved, except for the people of Flagstaff and the university, who would lose camp, plus about $10 million a year for their economy.
Team president Michael Bidwill recently met with Glendale mayor Jerry Weiers and a few hundred Glendale residents to set the wheels in motion for the move.
Bidwill said moving training camp to the West Valley would be easier for the fans, who wouldn’t have to make the long journey up to Flagstaff, Ariz., just to see the team at work.
The team has trained at NAU ever since they arrived in Arizona back in 1988, so it would clearly break a long-standing tradition. However, something had to be done, because the team’s contract with the University expired last year.
If the deal does go through, the Cardinals would train at University of Phoenix Stadium, the place where they’ve played all their home games (and sold them all out) since 2006. There’s been talk of the team also building new air-conditioned facilities for camp as well, in order to combat the summer heat in the Valley.
It’ll be just a little slice of home and familiarity for the team.
The deal isn’t quite finalized, but from all accounts, when it does go through, that would be a big boom for the city of Glendale, Ariz., which is already strapped for cash. The city would benefit greatly from having the Cardinals set up shop for this coming summer and for many more summers after that.
