Cardinals asked for '98 relief from ASU
Team wanted rent reduced, records say
Craig Harris
The Arizona Republic
May. 6, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals sought financial concessions from Arizona State University as early as 1998, saying the team needed more revenue to be competitive in the NFL.
Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel, wrote former ASU Athletic Director Kevin White asking for a reduction in rent, all of the concession and parking revenue during NFL games and naming rights to Sun Devil Stadium.
The team, which is seeking up to $21 million in damages from ASU in a more recent dispute over stadium signage, has had a contentious relationship with the university since it began playing in ASU's stadium in 1988.
The three-page letter dated March 11, 1998, obtained in a public records request from ASU, also asked for increased advertising and sponsorship rights, revenue from ASU's ads shown at Cardinals games and the ability to sell beer beyond halftime.
"Some other NFL teams had received concessions like that," Bidwill said Monday. "These were things we asked for in order to help improve our competitiveness. . . . This was a wish list, and we didn't expect to get all of it."
Bidwill said the Cardinals were seeking additional revenue to help sign free agents.
He said he wrote his 1998 letter at White's request after the two had discussed a joint marketing agreement. White, now athletic director at Notre Dame, declined to comment.
ASU turned down every request except to give the Cardinals the ability to sell wine and beer into the third quarter, said Paul Ward, ASU's attorney.
On Monday, Bidwill questioned ASU's claims that the university has netted slightly more than $6.1 million since the team moved to the Valley in 1988.
Bidwill said the team has paid ASU more than $32 million in rent, parking and concession revenue, and that the Cardinals have made contributions for a parking garage and suites.
ASU's audited records confirm the $32 million gross figure. The records also show, however, that operational costs of hosting NFL games netted ASU just one-fifth of that. The school said it lost $35,283, after expenses, to host 10 NFL games in 2002.
Bidwill's letter to White came after the Cardinals went 4-12 in 1997. The team made nearly $4.4 million in profits that year, according to financial records that were disclosed in a 2001 lawsuit between the NFL and the Oakland Raiders.
Although the Cardinals typically have made money since moving here in 1988 from St. Louis, the team has been among the bottom third in profitability in the NFL, according to records from the NFL-Raiders lawsuit.
The Cardinals have had just one winning season (1998) since moving to Arizona.
Last week, The Arizona Republic reported that the Cardinals were seeking up to $21 million in damages from ASU in a dispute involving revenue from sponsorship signs. Bidwill said the Cardinals would use any money it receives to improve the team.
An arbitrator last year sided with the Cardinals, who contended that ASU breached a 1994 contract that said both sides must agree to changes regarding sponsor signs. A monetary decision could occur in the summer or fall.
Gene Smith, current ASU athletic director, has said that if the Cardinals prevail, he will have to lay off staff and possibly cut sports programs.
The school installed 31 new sponsorship signs in 1999 in order to pay for $8 million in renovations at Sun Devil Stadium and Wells Fargo Arena. A dozen have been added since.
The Cardinals have said they were prohibited from selling certain sponsorships that conflicted with ASU's sponsors, and that ASU benefited at the Cardinals' expense by having ASU's signs on display during NFL games, even though no money was given to the Cardinals.<p><font color=blue>So in other words, this arbitration case that ASU people have said was only filed after Prop 302 passed, has actually been in the negotiating stage since this letter was written in 1998. Kinda blows that theory out of the water, doesn't it. Wonder what else is going to come out?</font
Team wanted rent reduced, records say
Craig Harris
The Arizona Republic
May. 6, 2003 12:00 AM
The Cardinals sought financial concessions from Arizona State University as early as 1998, saying the team needed more revenue to be competitive in the NFL.
Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel, wrote former ASU Athletic Director Kevin White asking for a reduction in rent, all of the concession and parking revenue during NFL games and naming rights to Sun Devil Stadium.
The team, which is seeking up to $21 million in damages from ASU in a more recent dispute over stadium signage, has had a contentious relationship with the university since it began playing in ASU's stadium in 1988.
The three-page letter dated March 11, 1998, obtained in a public records request from ASU, also asked for increased advertising and sponsorship rights, revenue from ASU's ads shown at Cardinals games and the ability to sell beer beyond halftime.
"Some other NFL teams had received concessions like that," Bidwill said Monday. "These were things we asked for in order to help improve our competitiveness. . . . This was a wish list, and we didn't expect to get all of it."
Bidwill said the Cardinals were seeking additional revenue to help sign free agents.
He said he wrote his 1998 letter at White's request after the two had discussed a joint marketing agreement. White, now athletic director at Notre Dame, declined to comment.
ASU turned down every request except to give the Cardinals the ability to sell wine and beer into the third quarter, said Paul Ward, ASU's attorney.
On Monday, Bidwill questioned ASU's claims that the university has netted slightly more than $6.1 million since the team moved to the Valley in 1988.
Bidwill said the team has paid ASU more than $32 million in rent, parking and concession revenue, and that the Cardinals have made contributions for a parking garage and suites.
ASU's audited records confirm the $32 million gross figure. The records also show, however, that operational costs of hosting NFL games netted ASU just one-fifth of that. The school said it lost $35,283, after expenses, to host 10 NFL games in 2002.
Bidwill's letter to White came after the Cardinals went 4-12 in 1997. The team made nearly $4.4 million in profits that year, according to financial records that were disclosed in a 2001 lawsuit between the NFL and the Oakland Raiders.
Although the Cardinals typically have made money since moving here in 1988 from St. Louis, the team has been among the bottom third in profitability in the NFL, according to records from the NFL-Raiders lawsuit.
The Cardinals have had just one winning season (1998) since moving to Arizona.
Last week, The Arizona Republic reported that the Cardinals were seeking up to $21 million in damages from ASU in a dispute involving revenue from sponsorship signs. Bidwill said the Cardinals would use any money it receives to improve the team.
An arbitrator last year sided with the Cardinals, who contended that ASU breached a 1994 contract that said both sides must agree to changes regarding sponsor signs. A monetary decision could occur in the summer or fall.
Gene Smith, current ASU athletic director, has said that if the Cardinals prevail, he will have to lay off staff and possibly cut sports programs.
The school installed 31 new sponsorship signs in 1999 in order to pay for $8 million in renovations at Sun Devil Stadium and Wells Fargo Arena. A dozen have been added since.
The Cardinals have said they were prohibited from selling certain sponsorships that conflicted with ASU's sponsors, and that ASU benefited at the Cardinals' expense by having ASU's signs on display during NFL games, even though no money was given to the Cardinals.<p><font color=blue>So in other words, this arbitration case that ASU people have said was only filed after Prop 302 passed, has actually been in the negotiating stage since this letter was written in 1998. Kinda blows that theory out of the water, doesn't it. Wonder what else is going to come out?</font
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