What happened to AZ Cardinals Training Camps in Flagstaff Arizona?

I will always remember making the trips up the I-17 to Flagstaff in the middle of the unbearable Phoenix summer heat to see the start of Arizona Cardinals Training Camp. While the drive to Flag is approximately 2 hours, it goes by very quickly! - Especially if I am behind the wheel! As soon as you arrive you are taken aback by the plush green landscape and Ponderosa Pine forests that surround this small town. With a population of around 68,000 people, this city has the feel of a back woods country town when compared to the concrete jungle of Phoenix that I call home. The best part is walking onto the fields at Northern Arizona University and seeing so many Cardinals fans, tailgates, kids throwing footballs, dogs walking the hills with their owners and you would even run into a player or two on the side fields throwing the ball around. (I was once able to just walk up to Jay Feely and ask for an autograph and a picture.) This set up was very intimate and gave everyone that attended a V.I.P. feel because it was so warm and inviting.

While I was thinking back on those days at Flagstaff, I started to ask myself why the Cardinals do not have training camps there any longer. The Arizona Cardinals had held their Training Camps at NAU in Flagstaff since the team moved to Phoenix in 1988 and it had long since become a tradition to make the trip for fans. I wanted to find out why that tradition was broken and why Cards Camp was moved down to University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale Arizona. This is what I discovered.

Initially, the story was reported that the AZ Cards would stop holding camp at NAU because the facilities that they used were not equipped to handle the team’s needs. More specifically, the locker rooms, training equipment and storage units were inadequate. Team president Michael Bidwill spoke to the media and said, “The facilities that NAU had moved us into over the last couple of years were completely substandard for a professional football team. I was not going to let the team be at a competitive disadvantage by continuing to use those facilities" (Fox Sports Arizona). However, it was also reported that the issues were closer related to money than to “substandard” facilities.

According to Fox Sports Arizona’s Craig Morgan, “The Cardinals believed they were paying too much for what they were getting.” From what I understand after reading a few different articles is that the Cardinals were paying top dollar for the use of NAU to hold Training Camps and when the time came to negotiate a better deal, things just fell through. Northern Arizona University flatly turned down a 1-year deal that would have kept the camp in Flagstaff. The President of the school, John Haeger, was looking for a longer commitment from the team so the short term proposal from the Cardinals just wasn’t going to cut it (SB Nation).

The Cardinals were then moved to University of Phoenix Stadium and hosted their first camp in 2013. UofP Stadium is the Cardinals home field so the move there was logical. The move provided a closer commute, an air conditioned field and so many more fans are able to attend practices like the popular “Red & White Practice”. With regards to the camp now being held at their home field, Michael Bidwill stated, “We also see it as very important from a fan engagement perspective and we are committed to making training camp as enjoyable an experience for fans as we can”(Darren Urban).

                                

There is free admission and free parking for fans, along with an interactive kid zone, autograph sessions, concessions, plenty of seating, team shop and more! The Cardinals organization puts on a superb event for Cards Camp every year at ‘The Nest'.    

While many of us can cherish our memories of fun and football in Flagstaff, one thing is for sure and that is, Cards Camp is the first sign that we are once again ‘Back to football’ folks!  

(Here is a little slideshow- I wanted to show some of my personal pictures from Cards Camp in Flagsatff)

Girls who love football..

Girls who love football.. by arizonaladybirds featuring nars cosmetics

I can't keep calm....

Hello All! Here are my little takeaways on upcoming Camp and the Tyrann Mathieu extension talk.

July 20th, 2016

Today is around 53 days left until NFL Kickoff 2016 and I am so excited! Plus today the announcement was made that Arizona Cardinals single game tickets will go on sale THIS Saturday! July, 23rd. EEeeek! Training Camp is just around the corner here in Arizona and while it is still extremely hot outside and we are in our monsoon season, I expect there to be record crowds at each practice just because of how well and at the level that the Cards have been playing the last few seasons. It doesn't hurt to have obtained new additions to the roster such as the veteran Chandler Jones OLB that came to us from NE as well as the rookie Robert Nkemdiche DT that we picked up during the draft. (These are two that I am looking forward to seeing)

Anticipation is building moreover to see the Return of Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu S who since arriving on the team has become a Fan Favorite and one of faces of the organization. Tyrann will be returning from his 2nd injury (knee) and is also in the last year of his contract. Here is a snapshot of Honey Badger's notable plays in 2015 from NFL Media Analyst- Bucky Brooks. "In 2015, Mathieu tallied 89 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble as the Cardinals' designated playmaker in the back end. Most impressively, he snagged five interceptions and registered 17 passes defensed in 14 games on the way to earning serious consideration for the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year award."

Since Mathieu is in the last year of his rookie deal, there's no doubt in my mind that he will negotiate a contract extension. General Manager Steve Keim has publicly stated on azcardinals.com that, "We’ll just continue to stay aggressive. That’s the one thing I’ve said earlier: Whether it’s signing players, whether it’s readjusting guys who need to be signed for extensions, we’ll continue to stay aggressive and try to keep our foot on the gas pedal.” I don't see Tyrann going anywhere. He's too dynamic and valuable to not be paid as a "top defender".

Welp, that's my 2 cents as we head into Training Camp next week-- I hope to see some of you there in person as I will try to make more practices this season. Have a Great Day!

Here is a copy of the Training Camp dates and times:

Arizona Cardinals Jello Shots!

 Greeting Fellow Football Fans!

 The 2016 Football season will be here before we know it- Woo Hoo! This is the time of year that I attempt to plan as much in advance as possible for tailgates, home viewing parties, and any other get together. Here I will give the ingredients and directions to make your own AZ Cards festive Jello Shots.-(You can also change the colors for any team). I found this how-to from the good folks over at Delish dot com and it was too fun not to share! OK, here we go!

INGREDIENTS:

• 24 plastic shot glasses
• 3 1/2 tbsp. grape Jell-O powder
• 3 1/2 tbsp. lime Jell-O powder
• 3 envelopes Knox plain gelatin, divided
• 2 1/2 c. Cold vodka
• Black food coloring
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/8 c. granulated sugar
• 3 oz. box cherry Jell-O

DIRECTIONS:

1.) 

1. Before starting, line up all shot glasses on one or two cookie sheets that will fit nicely in your fridge.

2.) 

1. For black layer: In a medium saucepan, mix together 1 cup water with grape Jell-O and lime Jell-O and sprinkle 1 envelope of gelatin on top. Allow mixture to sit for 1 minute, then whisk everything together and heat on medium until it reaches a simmer. Add 1 cup vodka and whisk together. Add several drops of black food coloring and mix well. Place 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of black Jello mixture into each plastic shot glass and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

3.) 

1. For white layer: In a medium saucepan, sprinkle 1 envelope gelatin over milk and allow mixture to sit for 1 minute. Add sugar and whisk everything together; heat on medium until it reaches a simmer. Add 1/2 cup vodka and whisk again. Wait for the white gelatin mixture to cool down to room temperature before layering (it can cause the colors to melt and bleed otherwise), then add about 2 teaspoons of white mixture to each shot glass. Refrigerate for another 30 minutes.

4.) 

1. For red layer: In a medium saucepan, mix together 1 cup of water with cherry Jell-O and sprinkle 1 envelope of gelatin on top. Allow mixture to sit for 1 minute, then whisk everything together and heat on medium until it reaches a simmer. Add 1 cup of vodka and whisk together. Allow mixture to cool down to room temperature, then top off each shot glass with 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons of the red Jell-O. Refrigerate again for at least 3 hours before serving so the Jell-O shots are completely set.

There you have it! I hope you have a Blast making these and they impress all of your guests! Please feel free to share your pics with me on Instagram @arizonaladybirds or use the hashtag #AZLadyBirds Til next time-- GO CARDINALS!