Cardinals to make NFL history in Mexico City

[Scott MS]

Cards are in a big hole in the Phoenix market due to their own moves over the last 14 years. They may look like heros if they can turn this ship around, but many of the problems they brought on themselves. I run into lots of people and they tell me they "used to have season tickets". They have churned through enough season ticket holders to fill the stadium twice.

 

[CaptTurbo]

They are not going for the peso spending fans in Mexico, Einstein! 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?

Sorry if you think this is the route we should go over actually winning and getting our fans that way or think this is a better way then your just too far gone to be saved.

 

[pete]

Cards are in a big hole in the Phoenix market because most of the people who have moved here are losers who only support the local teams if they win. This isn't Pittsburgh, New York, or Boston where you are a ticket holder for life and you support the hometown team no matter what. This is Phoenix, home of the frontrunner!

 

[Scott MS]

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?

And all the Telemundo watching people are going to come and pay a minimum of $35 per game to see the Cards in the new stadium? Cards are raising prices again next season and pricing out the market they are trying to gain by this move. I don't know about you, but I may have second thoughts paying $90 a game in the new stadium if I continue to see a loser.

Add to it the $30 in beer and food I end up consuming . . .

 

[pete]

Sorry if you think this is the route we should go over actually winning and getting our fans that way or think this is a better way then your just too far gone to be saved.

No, I think this is just one step in a marketing campaign that is designed to make the team better in the long run. More money to work with = better players = better teams, generally speaking.

 

[CaptTurbo]

No, I think this is just one step in a marketing campaign that is designed to make the team better in the long run. More money to work with = better players = better teams, generally speaking.

Making the playoffs this year will accomplish the same thing. And does the right thing by existing fans.

This plan does neither.

 

[Scott MS]

No, I think this is just one step in a marketing campaign that is designed to make the team better in the long run. More money to work with = better players = better teams, generally speaking.

More money is made by winning and reaching the playoffs. It happened in the past and will happen again in the future. Playoff teams sell more season tickets and more merchandise.

 

[pete]

Right. And how do you make the playoffs? By getting better players. Better players require more money. If you are an NFL team, you need to get money from as many different sources as possible. That is the game and the Cowboys and Raiders have played it very well over the past decade or two, making millions and millions of dollars off of merchandising. It is time the Cards start doing the same. Can't hurt!

 

[Scott MS]

I would argue that the Raiders and Cowboys made money off winning Super Bowls and building their fan base that way.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Right. And how do you make the playoffs? By getting better players. Better players require more money. If you are an NFL team, you need to get money from as many different sources as possible. That is the game and the Cowboys and Raiders have played it very well over the past decade or two, making millions and millions of dollars off of merchandising. It is time the Cards start doing the same. Can't hurt!

They all make an equal share off of merchadise. It seems from your post you were not aware of that.

Also please explain how every other team manages to go from bottom to top every 5 years or so? They playing in canada or Germany or something? Even more important are they giving up home games to bring the precious income in?

 

[Renz]

The Cardinals are playing a game in Mexico. The season is doomed!

- Chicken Little

 

[CaptTurbo]

The Cardinals are playing a game in Mexico. The season is doomed!

- Chicken Little

ok lets play a little game. What if next week the cards said they would play 1 home game in hawaii.

How will you feel?

After answering that how about if they said they would help out the NFL and play 1 home game in Japan. All three in the same year. Please tell me how you feel.

Then please tell me how many homes games do you think a team must forfeit before they are losing the "home field advantage" Or losing the "level playing field" with the other teams in the league?

1? 2? 3? 4? all?

 

[pete]

They all make an equal share off of merchadise. It seems from your post you were not aware of that.

Also please explain how every other team manages to go from bottom to top every 5 years or so? They playing in canada or Germany or something? Even more important are they giving up home games to bring the precious income in?

Equal share my ass. You think Jerry Jones is sharing all his marketing dollars? Get real. Notice Michael Bidwill referred the dollar questions about the game to the NFL. It won't be hard to out do the revenue that they get from the loyal 20 - 30K that show up for one home game in Phoenix.

Yeah, playing a home game in SDS with limited TV exposure against a crappy Niner team is going to make a big difference in making the Cards go from bottom to top.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Equal share my ass. You think Jerry Jones is sharing all his marketing dollars? Get real. Notice Michael Bidwill referred the dollar questions about the game to the NFL. It won't be hard to out do the revenue that they get from the loyal 20 - 30K that show up for one home game in Phoenix.

Yeah, playing a home game in SDS with limited TV exposure against a crappy Niner team is going to make a big difference in making the Cards go from bottom to top.

That is stadium revenue which is different than merchandise. The way I understand it, and I think everyone else does is that all merchandise (ie the stuff you are saying these mexicans will buy) is equally shared throughout the league. Stadium sales (stuff the mexicans wont be buying) is what goes to the owner.

So to say it short, your wrong.

Winning will fill the stadium which will fill the owners pockets since that excites you so much. Which is beyond me while you do. The cards are never in the bottom teams in spending.

 

[chickenhead]

I'm still with SWD on this one. How many locals bought Cardinals gear or went to a game or two in 1988, never to return? A lot, many of whom I grew up with. A novelty is exactly that: a novelty. If they start winning this year and stay competitive, then many in Mexico may look fondly at this game. If not, many will remember it about as well as folks remember seeing the odd game in 1988.

Anyway, if they win the game and win the next week, then it's a wash. I'll be cheering for them either way.

 

[DKCards]

And all the Telemundo watching people are going to come and pay a minimum of $35 per game to see the Cards in the new stadium? Cards are raising prices again next season and pricing out the market they are trying to gain by this move. I don't know about you, but I may have second thoughts paying $90 a game in the new stadium if I continue to see a loser.

Add to it the $30 in beer and food I end up consuming . . .

..

I think this shows your bias thinking. Just because someone watches Telemundo they can not afford to go to a game? My brother in law came from Mexico and became a US Citizen. He watches Telemundo, Has 6 season tickets to the Cardinals and makes well over $300K per year. Both of his children are mortgage officers making a good living. But I guess since they speak Spanish they can’t afford things.

 

[pete]

That is stadium revenue which is different than merchandise. The way I understand it, and I think everyone else does is that all merchandise (ie the stuff you are saying these mexicans will buy) is equally shared throughout the league. Stadium sales (stuff the mexicans wont be buying) is what goes to the owner.

So to say it short, your wrong.

Winning will fill the stadium which will fill the owners pockets since that excites you so much. Which is beyond me while you do. The cards are never in the bottom teams in spending.

Yeah, Jerry Jones paid out those huge signing bonuses this season because the league has parity through merchandising. To say it short, you have a very limited understanding of how NFL marketing works and how expanded merchandising plays into other revenue streams and opportunities.

Fortunately for the Cards, Michael Bidwill has more vision than the average Joe Fan!

 

[Scott MS]

..

I think this shows your bias thinking. Just because someone watches Telemundo they can not afford to go to a game? My brother in law came from Mexico and became a US Citizen. He watches Telemundo, Has 6 season tickets to the Cardinals and makes well over $300K per year. Both of his children are mortgage officers making a good living. But I guess since they speak Spanish they can’t afford things.

Let me say that I did not intend any bias or disrespect. There are people of all races, colors, and creed that can and cannot afford the tickets. My point is that if the Cards are going to charge the prices they charge for tickets, they needs to better focus their marketing to their target demographics. I would guess that the Spanish channel would not be the best avenue, although I could be wrong.

 

[DKCards]

The only thing that is going to bring in more fans is winning. So if the Cards have a winning season the fans will come and if they have a loosing season the fans will not, period. See 1998 and 2002.



So what will this game in Mexico do?



If they have a loosing season nothing. Win or loose in Mexico. They will not have lost anything more then they would have lost with out it. They will get a bigger payday for that one game. But the worst thing is it will upset a few season ticket holders.



If they have a winning season and make the playoffs? It will give them one more game on National TV (possibly only game). It displays them in front of a Mexican audience that might have never paid attention to them before. Many of whom have relatives in the Phoenix area that can more then afford to go to the games. It not will only sell more tickets but will gain a large community of followers that used to be Cowboys or Raider fans. It will give then a bigger payday for that one game. It will help the NFL in there quest to expand outside the US. The Cards are doing this for the NFL. The NFL is very much an I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine league. The gesture will not be forgotten when the next Superbowl rotation or similar perks come up.



Also it is not just another road game. It is a neutral sight game. And if Cantu is still on a team it will be like a home game that the Cards have never experienced.



So it comes down to if they loose they upset a few loyal fans that will be back anyways because they are sick and addicted to the Cards. If they make the playoffs the reward is great. If they win and don’t make the payoffs some new fans will be in the waiting. If they Lose and don’t make the payoffs by one game everyone will say “it’s the same old Cardinals” and be very upset (rightly so) then start debating who they should pick in the draft next year.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Yeah, Jerry Jones paid out those huge signing bonuses this season because the league has parity through merchandising. To say it short, you have a very limited understanding of how NFL marketing works and how expanded merchandising plays into other revenue streams and opportunities.

Fortunately for the Cards, Michael Bidwill has more vision than the average Joe Fan!

Like I said. Your fantasy. The cards total payout is just as high as everyone elses.

 

[pete]

If the Cards lose any local fans as a result of this game in Mexico, they were pretty piss poor fans to begin with.

 

[CaptTurbo]

If the Cards lose any local fans as a result of this game in Mexico, they were pretty piss poor fans to begin with.

geez got nothing to do with losing fans. Has to do with losing a home game.

No one answered my question. How many home games does a team have to lose before you will admit they are losing an advantage?

 

[DKCards]

geez got nothing to do with losing fans. Has to do with losing a home game.

No one answered my question. How many home games does a team have to lose before you will admit they are losing an advantage?

They are loosing some advantage by moving this one game. There is no disputing that fact and I agree with you on that. How much is hard to tell because it will be a neutral sight game not an extra game played at another team’s home field. As I stated before if Cantu is still on the team it might be a home game like the Cards have never seen with over 100,000 fans. Regardless they are giving up a home game.



The more you give away the more chance there is it will hurt you. It is a Risk/Benefit question. Does the benefit of moving this one game outweigh the risk? The Cards management must think it does otherwise they wouldn’t do it (I hope). I think they picked SF on purpose because they feel it is a team they should be able beat away from home. (And yes I do know what happened last year – Home field didn’t help much did it) It is their least amount of risk. This could come back to haunt them but I don’t think it will.

 

[CaptTurbo]

They are loosing some advantage by moving this one game. There is no disputing that fact and I agree with you on that. How much is hard to tell because it will be a neutral sight game not an extra game played at another team’s home field. As I stated before if Cantu is still on the team it might be a home game like the Cards have never seen with over 100,000 fans. Regardless they are giving up a home game.



The more you give away the more chance there is it will hurt you. It is a Risk/Benefit question. Does the benefit of moving this one game outweigh the risk? The Cards management must think it does otherwise they wouldn’t do it (I hope). I think they picked SF on purpose because they feel it is a team they should be able beat away from home. (And yes I do know what happened last year – Home field didn’t help much did it) It is their least amount of risk. This could come back to haunt them but I don’t think it will.

Agree. Hope it works out!

 

[Scott MS]

Hope it does work out for the Cardinals and everybody comes back alive!! And going to Mexico is ALWAYS good for the sport!!



NASCAR: Trip has costs, danger for teams

YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF IT IS WORTH ALL THE TROUBLE
Author: Ernie Saxton Date: 3/3/2005 3:26:49 PM

MEXICO CITY - It took a lot for Jay Robinson to make Sunday's Telcel-Motorola 200, the first race off American soil in NASCAR Busch Series history, a reality.
He had to figure out a way to survive a five-week stretch of races that started in Daytona Beach, Fla., moved to Southern California, then to Mexico and Las Vegas before winding up in Atlanta.

"It's a matter of putting the cars on the trucks and getting them to the races, just like we do every week," he said.

Robinson had two teams at last Saturday's race at California Speedway. From there, they joined a massive convoy at a UPS warehouse in Laredo, Texas, where his teams were joined by trucks from North Carolina carrying road-course cars and equipment.

"Once we got to Texas, we had to take everything off one truck and replace it with our road-course stuff," Robinson said. "Everything is different for a road course."

Everything also is different for a trip to Mexico.

While marketing gurus are hailing Sunday's race as a milestone for stock-car racing, many inside the garage area wonder if it's worth the effort. To make it happen, many teams had to build special cars, rent new haulers or stay behind an extra day in California to get cars ready.

"It's a pain in the butt is what it is,"driver David Stremme said.

NASCAR is sending a couple thousand team members to a country where Americans are being targeted for kidnapping and murder. Race organizers already have warned teams not to leave their hotels or the raceway. It's a message some members from Richard Childress Racing won't have to be told twice.

Six members of the crew who tested with driver Jeff Burton in February were extorted out of more than $750 the night before their return flight home.

They ordered six beers at a local bar and were told the tab was $750. Their decision was simple: Either pay the money, face time in a Mexican jail or, even worse, get shot by local thugs.

The Childress bunch now has team orders to stay inside their hotel rooms. The team also has local bodyguards under contract.

Mike Dillon, a team manager for Childress, said he's still eager to go.

"It's going to be good for the sport to go down there," he said. "I just hope everyone comes back safe."

The Mexican government is getting a nice cut of the action, charging each transporter more than $3,000 for insurance.