Arizona To Open Preseason Against Steelers In First Game At Cardinals Stadium
The Arizona Cardinals Football Club will open its inaugural preseason at the new Cardinals Stadium by hosting the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, August 12, 2006.
“We couldn’t think of a better team to open up against in our new home,” commented Cardinals Vice President and General Counsel Michael Bidwill.
The game will feature an afternoon kickoff which was not possible for previous preseason games in Arizona due to the extreme summer heat.
“With the air conditioning at the new Cardinals Stadium we are able to do a lot of things that we couldn’t do previously,” Bidwill stated.
Cardinals Stadium will not only feature air conditioning and a retractable roof, but will also be the first in the United States to feature a fully retractable grass playing surface.
Both the Cardinals and Steelers have a rich history in the National Football League. The Cardinals are the oldest continuously run professional football franchise and the Steelers are the fifth-oldest.
"The Rooney family and the Bidwill family have enjoyed a great relationship over almost 75 years of NFL football," said Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney. "That is why we're excited that the Steelers are coming to Arizona to play in the first game in the Cardinals beautiful new stadium and help kick off a new chapter of NFL football in the Phoenix area."
The patriarchs of both football families – Charles Bidwill and Art Rooney – are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Currently both families have third generation leadership with Art Rooney II and Michael Bidwill following in the footsteps of their fathers Dan and Bill.
Because of the man-power shortage during World War II, the teams merged in 1944 to form Card-Pitt. Co-coached by the Cardinals' Phil Handler and the Steelers' Walt Kiesling, a former Cardinal guard, the team split its home games between Comiskey Park and Forbes Field.
Because of the unique history between the two teams, Michael Bidwill wanted the Rooneys and the Steelers to be part of the historic opening of the Cardinals new home in the West Valley.
“I started talking to the Rooneys last season,” added Bidwill. “We are very excited about the historic opportunity in this cutting-edge stadium.”
The preseason game will mark Pittsburgh's first visit to Arizona since 1997 when the Steelers earned a 26-20 overtime victory. Additionally, it will be just their fourth visit to Arizona to play the Cards (1988, '94 and '97). Also, the Steelers faced the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium following the 1995 season.
The 2006 preseason opener will mark just the second time since the 1970 merger the Cardinals will meet the Steelers in the preseason (1985 was the other) and Pittsburgh's first-ever preseason visit to Arizona.
The Steelers will return to Arizona during the 2007 season when they play the Cardinals in a regular season game.
Season tickets for the inaugural campaign at Cardinals Stadium are on-sale now. To join the growing list of deposit holders waiting to select seats, call (602) 379-0102 or place a deposit online at www.azcardinals.com.
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The Arizona Cardinals Football Club will open its inaugural preseason at the new Cardinals Stadium by hosting the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, August 12, 2006.
“We couldn’t think of a better team to open up against in our new home,” commented Cardinals Vice President and General Counsel Michael Bidwill.
The game will feature an afternoon kickoff which was not possible for previous preseason games in Arizona due to the extreme summer heat.
“With the air conditioning at the new Cardinals Stadium we are able to do a lot of things that we couldn’t do previously,” Bidwill stated.
Cardinals Stadium will not only feature air conditioning and a retractable roof, but will also be the first in the United States to feature a fully retractable grass playing surface.
Both the Cardinals and Steelers have a rich history in the National Football League. The Cardinals are the oldest continuously run professional football franchise and the Steelers are the fifth-oldest.
"The Rooney family and the Bidwill family have enjoyed a great relationship over almost 75 years of NFL football," said Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney. "That is why we're excited that the Steelers are coming to Arizona to play in the first game in the Cardinals beautiful new stadium and help kick off a new chapter of NFL football in the Phoenix area."
The patriarchs of both football families – Charles Bidwill and Art Rooney – are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Currently both families have third generation leadership with Art Rooney II and Michael Bidwill following in the footsteps of their fathers Dan and Bill.
Because of the man-power shortage during World War II, the teams merged in 1944 to form Card-Pitt. Co-coached by the Cardinals' Phil Handler and the Steelers' Walt Kiesling, a former Cardinal guard, the team split its home games between Comiskey Park and Forbes Field.
Because of the unique history between the two teams, Michael Bidwill wanted the Rooneys and the Steelers to be part of the historic opening of the Cardinals new home in the West Valley.
“I started talking to the Rooneys last season,” added Bidwill. “We are very excited about the historic opportunity in this cutting-edge stadium.”
The preseason game will mark Pittsburgh's first visit to Arizona since 1997 when the Steelers earned a 26-20 overtime victory. Additionally, it will be just their fourth visit to Arizona to play the Cards (1988, '94 and '97). Also, the Steelers faced the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium following the 1995 season.
The 2006 preseason opener will mark just the second time since the 1970 merger the Cardinals will meet the Steelers in the preseason (1985 was the other) and Pittsburgh's first-ever preseason visit to Arizona.
The Steelers will return to Arizona during the 2007 season when they play the Cardinals in a regular season game.
Season tickets for the inaugural campaign at Cardinals Stadium are on-sale now. To join the growing list of deposit holders waiting to select seats, call (602) 379-0102 or place a deposit online at www.azcardinals.com.
