State Farm Stadium, officially named Arizona Cardinals Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is used mostly for American football matches, hosting the home games of the Arizona Cardinals, its owner.
Opened on 1 August 2006 with a pre-season game between the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it replaced the Sun Devil Stadium, which had a seating capacity of 73,379. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 63,400, expandable up to 72,200. The stadium was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport (now Populous) and had a construction cost of $455 million.
This state-of-the-art venue has a retractable roof and field, and has hosted several significant events, including two Super Bowls (XLII and XLIX), the 2015 Pro Bowl, the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship, three Fiesta Bowls, and WrestleMania XXVI. It was also a site for the 2021 NCAA Final Four. The stadium was named one of the top 10 stadiums by Time Magazine in 2012. By its fifteenth birthday, State Farm Stadium had welcomed millions of spectators. The stadium is one of the potential venues for future Super Bowls and major sports events.
While the previous Arizona Cardinals stadium was also officially named 'Cardinals Stadium', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, State Farm Stadium. State Farm is the name of the insurance company that holds the naming rights for the stadium, located in Glendale, Arizona. This unofficial name caught on soon after the stadium's construction; the locals and fans alike used to simply call it State Farm. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'State Farm Stadium'. This stadium is notable for its innovative design and features. Unlike the 'Estádio da Luz' in Portugal, which is commonly anglicized to 'Stadium of Light', the State Farm Stadium has no such translation, as it is named after a corporate entity rather than a geographical or cultural feature.
The State Farm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, with a retractable roof and a roll-out grass field, which was a first-of-its-kind in North America when the stadium was completed in 2006. It is home to the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) and hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl. The stadium has also hosted numerous high-profile events such as Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLIX, the 2015 Pro Bowl, and the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. With a seating capacity of 63,400, which is expandable to 72,200, it is one of the largest in the NFL. The stadium is also known for its iconic exterior design which is said to resemble a barrel cactus, a common plant in the Arizona desert.
Just as Luz in 'Estádio da Luz' refers to the original address of the stadium: Estrada da Luz ('Road of Light'), the State Farm Stadium address is 1 Cardinals Drive, which holds no particular significance other than being the physical location of the stadium. In the end, though the names and histories of the Estádio da Luz and the State Farm Stadium are different, they both serve as beloved homes to their respective football teams, providing a venue for thrilling matches and unforgettable moments.
An adequate site, with excellent accessibility and enough space for future expansion, was identified in the western part of the Glendale city. Being located near several major highways, the new stadium was at first known as 'Arizona Cardinals Stadium'.
It was always the objective of the club to have both the stadium and the surrounding area, though initially, a lease was made on the municipal lands, with a final buy-out occurring only after some years. The plans for the sports complex had been drawn up as early as the late 1990s by Peter Eisenman, a renowned architect.
Driven by the club's president, Michael Bidwill, the associates coped with an increased fee for supporting the building costs for the new stadium, offered large donations, and some went as far as to work themselves on the construction site on holidays or weekends. There was even a 'seat campaign', whereby large quantities of seat licenses were offered to the club.
The construction officially started on 12 July 2003. Less than three years after, and at a cost of $455 million, on 12 August 2006, a 63,400-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
State Farm Stadium, formerly known as University of Phoenix Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Glendale, Arizona, west of Phoenix. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) and the annual Fiesta Bowl. State Farm Stadium replaced Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe as the Valley of the Sun's main stadium. The stadium is adjacent to the Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes NHL team.
The stadium has been recognized for its innovative design and has become a significant symbol of the city of Glendale. The exterior skin of the stadium is made up of metallic panels, with the panels at the base of the structure being perforated and backlit to create a glowing effect at night. The roof is made up of two large panels that can be opened to allow the natural grass playing field to receive sunlight when it is not in use. The field itself is built on a tray system, and can be slid out of the stadium to allow it to receive additional sunlight or to accommodate other events within the stadium.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 63,400, not including the 88 luxury lofts, which are called luxury boxes. It can be expanded to seat 72,200. It is one of the few stadiums in the NFL to have a retractable roof and a rollout grass field. The stadium was officially renamed State Farm Stadium in September 2018 after insurance company State Farm acquired the naming rights.
'State Farm Stadium (2006)' (in English). Arizona Cardinals. Archived from the original. This reference provides the history and details of State Farm Stadium, including its construction and significant events hosted. $url1
'State Farm Stadium (The Bird's Nest) – until 2006'. StadiumDB.com. This reference provides further information about the stadium before it was renamed to State Farm Stadium. $url2
The Bird's Nest doesn't fade, Preface, Prime Books, 2006 (ISBN 972-8820-07-0). This book gives a detailed account of the stadium's history and its significance in American football. $url3
Arizona Cardinals 100 glorious years - The History 1, Edition and Contents, S.A., 2006 (ISBN 989-554-099-X). This book provides a comprehensive history of the Arizona Cardinals, the home team of State Farm Stadium. $url4
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