Airizona Attendance Compared to 2003

[john h]

Segment on Washington Nationals on ESPN yesterday talked about how NFL was too smart to let a team move to a city without stadium deal in hand. Those analysts obviously dont remember the Cardinals move from St. Louis. Bidwill's decision to move to Phoenix without stadium deal was in my opinion one of the most boneheaded strategic decisions made in sports history. The Cards were not this consistently bad in St. Louis. He defintely needed to get new stadium in St. Louis or picked a market that would give him a stadium. At that time there were more suiters than just Arizona. Bidwill's mistake set the organization back 20 years and may have damn near killed the organization. I am still not sure this team will survive in present form owned by same family.

Coryell. What a bad memory you bring back! One of the great offensive minds in football and he quits because of Mr. B. He went on to create one of the really great offenses in San Diego

 

[Lex]

The Cardinals moved here 17 years ago.

Seventeen years ago.

Times have changed, but the view of st louis cards fans have not changed. Every time I hear an old st louis card fan talk about how stupid it was for Bidwill to move here without a stadium deal, I remember back to how happy we were to GET the NFL here. To us, the city of st louis looks stupid to force Bidwill to leave by not building a facility, then building a facility just to get ANY NFL team back.

Pardon me, but I couldn't care less what happened with the Cardinals 20-30-40, or 50 years ago.

People like Bill Bidwill and his peers, are the very reason the NFL is the #1 sport in America today. The old school owners keep it that way.

John-

How many Super Bowls did "st louis" win before they built an NFL facility?

 

[WizardOfAz]

Since the Cards left St Louis they have won a super bowl and never lost money.

Who has never lost money?

 

[NickelBack]

2004 total up about 4% over last year.

2003 - 36,062 per game
2004 - 37,533 per game

 

[Rocco]

2004 total up about 4% over last year.

2003 - 36,062 per game
2004 - 37,533 per game

somewhat improved considering that last year's number was skewed by the big turnout for the Green Bay game. Would have been much worse otherwise - about 32k IIRC.

 

[Scott MS]

somewhat improved considering that last year's number was skewed by the big turnout for the Green Bay game. Would have been much worse otherwise - about 32k IIRC.

Last year's number were skewed due to big turnout for both the Green Bay and Minnesota games. We did have decent turnout for the Patsies, this year though.

Also, I remember the Rams and 49ers fans coming in strong force in years past than this season. The "bandwagon" seems to be getting lighter for those teams after a few losses.

 

[WizardOfAz]

2004 total up about 4% over last year.

2003 - 36,062 per game
2004 - 37,533 per game

People getting on board for 2006 as well?

 

[john h]

Last year's number were skewed due to big turnout for both the Green Bay and Minnesota games. We did have decent turnout for the Patsies, this year though.

Also, I remember the Rams and 49ers fans coming in strong force in years past than this season. The "bandwagon" seems to be getting lighter for those teams after a few losses.

Regardless of our record by the end of the year I was most impressed by our defense and our defensive coach. We are perhaps 2 players away from being a defensive force if we stay healthy. It looks like we are going to have a difficult time putting together a passing game of any consequence even with great receivers unless we get lucky and find a QB. I continue to think we should look to develop a powerhouse running attack as that is going to be easier than finding a QB in the near future. Get a strong RB who can gain 1400 yds and improve the offensive line. A caretaker QB who want make many mistakes and you can pattern yourself after the Bears in the Ditka days. I think this is the quickest way to the playoffs. If Green is stuck on being a big offensive force he can never do it until we have a Peyton,McNabb type QB and I do not see one in our sights at the moment. Leinhart has about convinced me he can be a very good QB but he will be gone very early as probably will the Utah QB. Getting one in the lower rounds would be pur luck. Our defense probably won more games than our offense this year.

 

[nationsrj]

The most interesting thing about the attendance figures for me is that there were 4 games under 30K in 2003 and only 1 game in 2004.

I see this as having a new coach that is perceived(sp) by the country(not just arizona) as a winning(or good) coach.

I do not know if the increase is due to increased season ticket holders or walk up.

 

[chickenhead]

I'm not sure I would say that visitors skew the attendance. Ticket sales for a product are ticket sales period, in a way. If we get to the point where Cardinals fans can nearly fill the stadium themselves, the visitors will simply increase demand. It's just too bad that the Bidwills have counted on visiting fans to an unhealthy extent.

 

[BigRedMO]

To fans of other teams talking about only so many games under 30,000 would be regarded as a disaster. My friends who are fans of other teams who do not see the Cards much are amazed when they see how empty the stadium is. Minor college teams draw 30,000. To find comfort in only so many games below 30,0000 really shows how much needs to do to create fan support. Last game in STL for a team that was known to be moving was 29,600.

 

[Sandan]

Washington is by far and away the leader in attendance with an average attendance of around 90,000. This with a not so good team. They do have a history of being a very good team.

The Skins is a special case (Brighteyes is from DC and used to be a Skins fan).

Apart from a large population base to sell tickets to they have one huge advantage. Many corporations block buy vast numbers of season tickets to than out to elected and non federal officals.

It's a lock for permenant sell outs.

 

[Sandan]

John, I agree with you about the mistakes the Cardinals have made in moving etc but disagre on one point.

Pre FA, the Cardinals just did not have the $$ to compete. Since FA the issue has been cash flow.

The reason the Rams started winning in SL, is cash flow from a new stadium, plain and simple. Cash flow lets you mortgage the future cap by paying $$ now for signing bonuses.

In the long run you have to 'pay it back' to the cap but in the short term you need the pure cash to do it. This is something the Cardinals have never had in the past. When you add that to bad choices and poor business management you get the mess you have been watching for 60 years.

Maybe this era is over now with MB running the show.