Cardinals to make NFL history in Mexico City

[Shane]

I agree that there are valid points against the idea.
But stuff like "Either they're lieing to us, or their stupid," are not valid points.

That I agree with!

 

[chickenhead]

I'm not decidedly against this, but the bottom line is, in a contact sport with only 8 home games, losing one of them to international travel is a distinct disadvantage. It's not the Niners in Mexico City I'm worried about: it's the 10/9 opponent who gets the upper hand. Enough teams have a post-MNF letdown, so I certainly hope that 10/9 is a home game (maybe this has been covered in the other threads). It's easy to say that they should win in Mexico if they're a playoff team, but is it fair to expect them to win that plus the following week?

 

[ANDY440]

Was there any outrage over playing home games at Sundevil with more Dallas/Pittsburg /Raider fans than Cardinal fans? Why diden't the NFL step in and make it fair?It was OUR home game after all.I think the Cards will be extremly pumped up for this game and have just as good a chance of winning there as at SDS.

 

[Rivercard]

The best way to teach someone to swim is to throw a person into the water. Swim or drown.

Actually it's probably best to wrap those inflatable tubes around their arms and let them bob around in the water for a while first.

 

[Rivercard]

It's not the Niners in Mexico City I'm worried about: it's the 10/9 opponent who gets the upper hand. Enough teams have a post-MNF letdown, so I certainly hope that 10/9 is a home game

Oh for goodness sakes. It's not like they will be flying to Japan or something. and it's a Sunday game - not a MNF game.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Was there any outrage over playing home games at Sundevil with more Dallas/Pittsburg /Raider fans than Cardinal fans? Why diden't the NFL step in and make it fair?It was OUR home game after all.I think the Cards will be extremly pumped up for this game and have just as good a chance of winning there as at SDS.

Its not just fans that make home games in your favor. Its sleeping in your own bed, practicing on your own field, playing on your own field, not having to travel (get jet lag). There are hundreds of little things that make a home game an advantage. You make it sound as if there are none.

 

[jmt]

Another positive is all the cheapskates in Phoenix who don't go to the game will get to see it free on TV.

 

[Scott MS]

You don't think this years team will be better than the one that's been on the field the last 2 years?

Don't you think that every year. Sure it SHOULD be, but will it? These are the Cardinals we're talking about.

 

[abomb]

I wish the opponents of this game would consider that it is a tradeoff. We as Cardinals fans are trading one home game for not only a Sunday Night game, but also the ability to develop hordes of Cardinals fans. Right this moment, there is some Mexican guy who is reading about the game and will attend in Mexico. Maybe he has watched a few NFL games on television there but has no alligence to any team, but after seeing the Cardinals in person (or through the personal appearances that will most certainly happen), we will have one more Cardinal fan. Think of all the folks from just across the border that would come to D-Backs games when Erubiel Durazo was here. Give a little to get a little.

A-Bomb

 

[chickenhead]

Hey, I never said that they were going Pacific Rim. The point is that nonstop to Mexico City plus customs is no different that traveling cross-country and extra time. Plus one week less in their home facility replaced by a week in a totally unfamiliar facility. It's a factor. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Scott MS]

I would have personally preferred moving the Philly game to Mexico City. Maybe the water would have got them before the game.

Everybody discredits the 49ers -- you know, the same team we lost to twice last year. But NO!! This is a new era, a new team, etc.

The rest of the world will think they are a new team when they start winning. Adding 5 players and a new OC doesn't make this an automatic playoff team. I hope they continue to do go things, but there's too much cool aid drinking here. This is the Cardinals, and as Belicheck said, "You can count on the Cardinals to screw things up."


I remember last season when the Cards lost to the 49ers in OT 31-27. I figured, we'll get them at home in a few weeks. But then we lost in OT 31-27. The same score and in OT. With the Cards, there are few things "for sure", but one thing is that they will show up each Sunday!!

 

[CaptTurbo]

Right this moment, there is some Mexican guy who is reading about the game and will attend in Mexico. Maybe he has watched a few NFL games on television there but has no alligence to any team, but after seeing the Cardinals in person (or through the personal appearances that will most certainly happen), we will have one more Cardinal fan.
A-Bomb

We can get just as many fans winning the superbowl. Not sure why I should be losing sleep over gaining more fans in mexico. Perhaps if we were the mexican cardinals it may interest me.

Whether or not the owners make more money really isnt much of a concern to me. If we go 6-10 for the next 3 years those fans will be gone anyway.

 

[ANDY440]

Its not just fans that make home games in your favor. Its sleeping in your own bed, practicing on your own field, playing on your own field, not having to travel (get jet lag). There are hundreds of little things that make a home game an advantage. You make it sound as if there are none.

I'd be willing to bet the players would prefer to play a road game with all the related inconviences you mentioned where their fans outnumbered the home team than the embarassment of the other way around.(not that the Niners game would have beenthat way)

 

[abomb]

We can get just as many fans winning the superbowl. Not sure why I should be losing sleep over gaining more fans in mexico. Perhaps if we were the mexican cardinals it may interest me.

Whether or not the owners make more money really isnt much of a concern to me. If we go 6-10 for the next 3 years those fans will be gone anyway.

Good points. I guess for me, I am reserving judgement on this whole thing until it happens and we see what the net effect is.

A-Bomb

 

[CaptTurbo]

I'd be willing to bet the players would prefer to play a road game with all the related inconviences you mentioned where their fans outnumbered the home team than the embarassment of the other way around.(not that the Niners game would have beenthat way)

Id take your money, I mean, bet you on that.

 

[RedViper]

I agree that there are valid points against the idea.
But stuff like "Either they're lieing to us, or their stupid," are not valid points.

I'll give you that to some degree, especially in that I'm sure the Organization recognizes the downsides to a longer road schedule. Given that however, when they call it a Great Opportunity, perhaps its not a lie, but its certainly propaganda or whats more commonly known as kool aid on this board. I understand, the deal was essentially the league saying, "you guys are going to Mexico City, and youre the home team-any questions?" From there we are stuck and its probably too much to expect the team won't try to put a happy face on it. And I'm sure the Organization is happy for the cash. But I get ill when they act like its a "great opportunity." Its not that.

My larger point, in whining (i'm done being mad about that term-baby steps) about it is, I'm going to try to call the team out when I don't believe their first priority is winning. I've watched too many losses and spent too much money to hold back. And I'm hoping they actually do look at these MBs for feedback. Probably I'm dreaming on that score. But just in case, if they read my posts they'll see I want justification on every move this team makes on how does it help us win. I'm sorry its getting tiresome. But honestly, I don't really post that much and usually I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. They've hit a nerve here with me this time.

 

[Lex]

Hey, look at it this way:

The 9ers, instead of flying all the way from SF to Az, will need to keep going south, twice as far away from home.

We WILL BE the home team, so instead of 15,000 Cardinal fans VS 15,000 9er fans dualing it out at SDS, we'll be in old Mexico with 100,000 fans cheering for us. We have the only Mexican born NFL player on our roster.

It would be like some major world Soccer match, two teams from Europe playing a regular season game for the first time in America, and the only American player on either team was a backup goal tender named Section 11. Of course, that fact would be big news here, and even though Section 11 is just the backup, we would pull for that team just because it had "one of us."

And if the coach put him in the game ...the crowd would go nuts, and the home field advantage would increase.

 

[SECTION 11]

I'll give you that to some degree, especially in that I'm sure the Organization recognizes the downsides to a longer road schedule. Given that however, when they call it a Great Opportunity, perhaps its not a lie, but its certainly propaganda or whats more commonly known as kool aid on this board. I understand, the deal was essentially the league saying, "you guys are going to Mexico City, and youre the home team-any questions?" From there we are stuck and its probably too much to expect the team won't try to put a happy face on it. And I'm sure the Organization is happy for the cash. But I get ill when they act like its a "great opportunity." Its not that.

My larger point, in whining (i'm done being mad about that term-baby steps) about it is, I'm going to try to call the team out when I don't believe their first priority is winning. I've watched too many losses and spent too much money to hold back. And I'm hoping they actually do look at these MBs for feedback. Probably I'm dreaming on that score. But just in case, if they read my posts they'll see I want justification on every move this team makes on how does it help us win. I'm sorry its getting tiresome. But honestly, I don't really post that much and usually I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. They've hit a nerve here with me this time.

That's an outstanding post. And I agree that the question of "How does this help us win?" is valid.

And you're right, I shouldn't have called it whining. That was over the top.

 

[RedViper]

Thanks Section 11. I've got to stop being so prickly on this whole issue. Its turning me into an idiot. Maybe since I'm usually behind this team when they make questionable moves, and drink the Koolaid, I'll be wrong here too and we'll not only win this game, but end up with a great road record next year. I'd love it. I'd love to add this to the list of all the other predictions I've made, eg "Tommy Knight will be a shutdown corner" "Andre Wadsorth will anchor this defense for the next decade" "Tommy Jones will lead the legue in rushing" We can put "Our mexico trip will work out badly" right into that list to prove my cluelessness for all time.

 

[Scott MS]

Hey, look at it this way:
we'll be in old Mexico with 100,000 fans cheering for us.

I think we need to wait and see what happens at the game. They played a soccer game there and the crowd chanted "Bin Laden" or something like that. Sure, the U.S. team was playing the Mexican team, but I don't think anybody can predict right now how the crowd will react and who they will cheer for.

Knowing the typical NFL, half the crowd will probably show up with Cowboys and Steelers gear, but hopefully they'll cheer for the Cards.

 

[pete]

That's an outstanding post. And I agree that the question of "How does this help us win?" is valid.

And you're right, I shouldn't have called it whining. That was over the top.

It is pretty simple how it helps the Cards win. This is all part of a marketing campaign targeting hispanics. What teams have hispanics traditionally followed? The Cowboys and the Raiders. This is a jab at the Cowboys because anyone knows Jones would have taken this game. I bet Al Davis or any other owner would have too. Can you imagine the increase in revenues if the Cards could gain a larger portion of this fan base? It is worth millions and that is why Michael Bidwill is making this play.

Hard to believe that fans are whining about losing one home game, when in the long run, this could be a major boost for the franchise.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Hard to believe that fans are whining about losing one home game, when in the long run, this could be a major boost for the franchise.

Winning accomplishes this. No need for theatrics. They follow the cowboys and Raiders because they WIN. Say we miss the playoffs, Denny gets the boot and we go 6-10 for the next 15 years. Think that 1 extra mexican kid paying 30 pesos for a cards hat is helping you? Maybe the owner. Are you the owner? If not why are you so concerned about whether or not the owner makes an extra mil?

 

[Scott MS]

If you owned a team that won 63% of their home games and 12.5% of their away games would you rather play A) 8 home games and 8 away games, or B) 7 home games and 9 away games, or C) who cares, we needs lots of Mexican fans because they'll help fill up the Glendale stadium??

National exposure is great, but local perception is more important to fill the stadium. Locals watching the game on National TV may spark an interest in showing up to the games, but after all, for those of us who live in Phoenix, don't all locals watch every AWAY game anyways (or choose to not watch them and go to a sport bar) because their have no choice due to NFL blackout regulations.




.

 

[Scott MS]

Winning accomplishes this. No need for theatrics. They follow the cowboys and Raiders because they WIN. Say we miss the playoffs, Denny gets the boot and we go 6-10 for the next 15 years. Think that 1 extra mexican kid paying 30 pesos for a cards hat is helping you? Maybe the owner. Are you the owner? If not why are you so concerned about whether or not the owner makes an extra mil?

I would agree. In the end, they need to focus on obtaining a winning record, not discovering more gimmicks to pad their pockets and get on national TV . . . and Jerry Jones and Al Davis would have never done this deal. They probably couldn't have due to suite owners and their contractual obligations to their high paying customers.

 

[pete]

Winning accomplishes this. No need for theatrics. They follow the cowboys and Raiders because they WIN. Say we miss the playoffs, Denny gets the boot and we go 6-10 for the next 15 years. Think that 1 extra mexican kid paying 30 pesos for a cards hat is helping you? Maybe the owner. Are you the owner? If not why are you so concerned about whether or not the owner makes an extra mil?

They are not going for the peso spending fans in Mexico, Einstein! If you lived in Phoenix, you would know that the number one TV station in this city is a spanish speaking channel. That is the Cardinals target with this move. To try and get the losers in this town who are Cowboy and Raider fans to convert and be Cardinals fans. That was the whole reason they overpaid Emmitt Smith too. Where do you think the Cowboy's money has come from all these years? This could be a merchandising and ticket sale bonanza for the Cards if they can make some progress in this market. With more money from merchandising, they have more cash to spend on obtaining better players. Get it?