| Stadium Name: | State Farm Stadium |
| Nickname: | The Big Toaster |
| Logo Image: | State_Farm_Stadium_logo.svg |
| Address: | 1 Cardinals Drive |
| Location: | Glendale, Arizona, United States |
| Pushpin Map: | Arizona#United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of State Farm Stadium in Arizona##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Label: | Glendale |
| Mass Excavation Began: | July 31, 2003 --> |
| Broke Ground: | April 12, 2003 |
| Renovated: | 2014, 2017 |
| Owner: | Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority |
| Operator: | ASM Global[1] |
| Surface: | Natural grass: Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda |
| Construction Cost: | $455 million[2] ($ in dollars) |
| Architect: | Eisenman Architects Populous (then HOK Sport) |
| Structural Engineer: | TLCP Structural, Inc. (bowl)[3] Walter P Moore[4] and roof designed by Walter P Moore[5] |
| Services Engineer: | M-E Engineers, Inc.[6] |
| General Contractor: | Hunt Construction Group[7] |
| Former Names: | Cardinals Stadium (August–September 2006) University of Phoenix Stadium (2006–2018) |
| Tenants: | Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 2006–present Fiesta Bowl (NCAA) 2007–present |
| Parking: | 14,000 on-site parking spaces |
| Suites: | 88 |
| Seating Capacity: | 63,400 (expandable to 72,200; standing room to 78,600[8] [9]) |
| Field Dimensions: | 134x --> |
State Farm Stadium is a multi-purpose retractable roof stadium in Glendale, Arizona, United States, west of Phoenix. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) and the annual Fiesta Bowl. It replaced Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe as the home of the Cardinals, and is adjacent to Desert Diamond Arena, former home of the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League.
The stadium has been the host of the Fiesta Bowl since 2007. It hosted two BCS National Championship games in 2007 and 2011 respectively. It hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2016, three Super Bowls (2008, 2015, and 2023), as well as the Pro Bowl in 2015. For soccer, it was one of the stadiums for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup also the first semi-final of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa América Centenario in 2016. For basketball, it hosted the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2017 and 2024.
The stadium opened in 2006 as Cardinals Stadium. Later that year in September, the University of Phoenix acquired naming rights, renaming it University of Phoenix Stadium, in what was then a 20-year agreement. It was renamed in September 2018 for insurance company State Farm, which has an 18-year naming rights deal.[10] [11]
Since moving to Arizona from St. Louis in 1988, the Cardinals had played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe. The Cardinals planned to play there for only a few years, until a new stadium could be built in Phoenix. The savings and loan crisis derailed funding for a new stadium during the 1990s. Over time, the Cardinals expressed frustration at being merely tenants in a college football stadium. The lack of having their own stadium denied them additional revenue streams available to other NFL teams. The Cardinals campaigned several times in the years prior to its construction for a new and more modern facility.
In 2000 and 2001 as the Cardinals began exploring places to build their new stadium, numerous cities began to bid for it. The Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority oversaw construction of the stadium and were responsible for finding the stadium’s location. Tempe and Avondale were front runners, with other sites in downtown Phoenix, the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation, and near Fountain Hills also being considered. The Tempe site would be close to the Cardinals’ training facility but would cost the authority $30,000 monthly in water expenses. The Avondale land would be a donation by developer John F. Long, who would also assume the risk for the $26 million infrastructure cost.[12] By 2002, Mesa and Glendale has also submitted bids and had taken over as top choices. Ultimately, Mesa residents would vote to not approve the building of the stadium and Glendale was with its promised $36 million in infrastructure improvements and 11,000 parking spots near the stadium.[13]
The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium in 2003 was held on April 12, and after three years of construction, the 63,400-seat venue opened on August 1, 2006. It was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport (now Populous).[14] The stadium is considered an architectural icon for the region and was named by Business Week as one of the ten “most impressive” sports facilities on the globe due to the combination of its retractable roof (engineering design by Walter P Moore) and roll-in natural grass field,[15] similar to the GelreDome and the Veltins-Arena.[16]
LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season at the new stadium.[17]
The cost of the project was $455 million, which included $395.4 million for the stadium, $41.7 million for site improvements, and $17.8 million for the land. Contributors to the stadium included the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority ($302.3 million), the Arizona Cardinals ($143.2 million), and the City of Glendale ($9.5 million).
The stadium has 88 luxury suites – called luxury lofts – with space for 16 future suites as the stadium matures.
The surrounding the stadium is called Sportsman's Park (the team had previously played in a venue of the same name in St. Louis from 1960 to 1965). Included within the Park is an 8acres landscaped tailgating area called the Great Lawn. The approximate elevation at field level is above sea level.
The stadium seating capacity can be expanded by 8,800 for "mega-events" such as college bowls, NFL Super Bowls, the NFC Championship Game, and the Final Four[18] by adding risers and ganged, portable "X-frame" folding seats. The end zone area on the side of the facility where the field tray rolls in and out of the facility can be expanded to accommodate an additional tier of seating which slopes down from the scoreboard level.
The roof is made out of translucent Birdair fabric and opens in 12 minutes. It is the first retractable roof ever built on an incline.
In 2024, the Cardinals announced renovations to add two luxury clubs to both endzones: Casitas Garden Club on the South end and Morgan Athletic Club on the North end.New tunnel seats and field seats will also be added.[19]
Events held at the stadium include Arizona Cardinals home games; public grand opening tours held August 19–20, 2006 (attended by 120,000 people); various shows, expositions, tradeshows and motor sport events; and international soccer exhibition matches.
The multipurpose nature of the facility has allowed it to host 91 events representing 110 event days between August 4, 2006, through the BCS National Championship January 8, 2007.
The first preseason football game was played August 12, 2006, when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21–13. The first regular season game was played September 10 against the San Francisco 49ers (the Cardinals won 34–27). The stadium's air-conditioning system made it possible for the Cardinals to play at home on the opening weekend of the NFL season for the first time since moving to Arizona in 1988.
On October 16, 2006, the stadium hosted a notable game between the Cardinals and the undefeated Chicago Bears where the Bears came back from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Cardinals. The Bears would later go on to play in Super Bowl XLI.
University of Phoenix Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, in which the New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots 17–14 with a paid attendance crowd of 71,101. This was the second time the Phoenix area hosted a Super Bowl, the other being Super Bowl XXX held in nearby Tempe at Sun Devil Stadium in 1996 when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17.
The Cardinals' first home playoff game since 1947 took place at the stadium on January 3, 2009, with Arizona beating the Atlanta Falcons, 30–24. The stadium also hosted the 2008 NFC Championship Game between the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles on January 18, 2009, which the Cardinals won 32–25 in front of over 70,000 fans in attendance and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII.
The 2015 Pro Bowl was the first Pro Bowl to be held at the same location as the same year's Super Bowl since 2010. The Pro Bowl returned to Hawaii in 2016.[20] On February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28–24 in Super Bowl XLIX held at the stadium.
On November 30, 2020, it was announced that because of Santa Clara County's new COVID-19 rules barring contact sports, the 49ers could not play at their home Levi's Stadium; the 49ers were subsequently forced to play their final three home games against the Buffalo Bills, the Washington Football Team, and the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Including the road game against the Cardinals, the 49ers played four straight games at State Farm Stadium to end the season.
Super Bowl LVII was held at the stadium on February 12, 2023, featuring the NFC Conference Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the AFC Conference Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Rihanna performed during the halftime show. The Chiefs won the contest 38–35.
Super Bowls
| Super Bowl | NFC Team | AFC Team | Score | Halftime Show | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl XLII | New York Giants | New England Patriots | 17–14 | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | 71,101 | |
| Super Bowl XLIX | Seattle Seahawks | New England Patriots | 28–24 | Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band | 70,288 | |
| Super Bowl LVII | Philadelphia Eagles | Kansas City Chiefs | 38–35 | Rihanna | 67,827 |
The stadium was the new venue for the Fiesta Bowl since 2007, replacing Sun Devil Stadium. The first Fiesta Bowl at the stadium was held on January 1, 2007, featuring the Boise State Broncos vs. the University of Oklahoma Sooners, with Boise State winning 43-42 in overtime. It also hosted the BCS National Championship on January 8, 2007, between the (1) Ohio State Buckeyes and the (2) University of Florida Gators, which the Gators won 41–14.
On January 10, 2011, the stadium hosted the 2011 BCS National Championship Game between the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks, which had an attendance record setting 78,603 on hand for the game.
On January 11, 2016, University of Phoenix Stadium hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship Game featuring the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 1 ranked Clemson Tigers.
On December 31, 2022, as part of the College Football Playoff's semifinal games, State Farm Stadium hosted the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, featuring the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs and No. 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines.
Bowl Game Results
| Winning Team | Losing Team | Bowl Game | Score | Attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style= | No. 9 Boise State | style= | No. 7 Oklahoma | 2007 Fiesta Bowl | 43−42 (OT) | 73,719 | |
| style= | No. 2 Florida | style= | No. 1 Ohio State | 2007 BCS National Championship Game | 41−14 | 74,628 | |
| style= | No. 11 West Virginia | style= | No. 3 Oklahoma | 2008 Fiesta Bowl | 48−28 | 70,016 | |
| style= | No.3 Texas | style= | No. 10 Ohio State | 2009 Fiesta Bowl | 24−21 | 72,047 | |
| style= | No. 6 Boise State | style= | No. 3 TCU | 2010 Fiesta Bowl | 17−10 | 73,227 | |
| style= | No. 9 Oklahoma | style= | No. 25 UConn | 2011 Fiesta Bowl | 48−20 | 67,232 | |
| style= | No. 1 Auburn | style= | No. 2 Oregon | 2011 BCS National Championship Game | 22−19 | 78,603 | |
| style= | No. 3 Oklahoma State | style= | No. 4 Stanford | 2012 Fiesta Bowl | 41−38 (OT) | 69,927 | |
| style= | No. 5 Oregon | style= | No. 7 Kansas State | 2013 Fiesta Bowl | 35−17 | 70,242 | |
| style= | No. 15 UCF | style= | No. 6 Baylor | 2014 Fiesta Bowl (January) | 52−42 | 65,172 | |
| style= | No. 21 Boise State | style= | No. 12 Arizona | 2014 Fiesta Bowl (December) | 38−30 | 66,896 | |
| style= | No. 7 Ohio State | style= | No. 8 Notre Dame | 2016 Fiesta Bowl (January) | 44−28 | 71,123 | |
| style= | No. 2 Alabama | style= | No. 1 Clemson | 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship | 45−40 | 75,765 | |
| style= | No. 3 Clemson | style= | No. 2 Ohio State | 2016 Fiesta Bowl (December) (CFP Semifinal) | 31−0 | 70,236 | |
| style= | No. 9 Penn State | style= | No. 12 Washington | 2017 Fiesta Bowl | 35−28 | 61,842 | |
| style= | No. 11 LSU | style= | No. 7 UCF | 2019 Fiesta Bowl (January) | 40−32 | 57,246 | |
| style= | No. 3 Clemson | style= | No. 2 Ohio State | 2019 Fiesta Bowl (December) (CFP Semifinal) | 29−23 | 71,330 | |
| style= | No. 12 Iowa State | style= | No. 25 Oregon | 2021 Fiesta Bowl | 34−17 | 0* | |
| style= | No. 9 Oklahoma State | style= | No. 5 Notre Dame | 2022 Fiesta Bowl (January) | 37−35 | 49,550 | |
| style= | No. 3 TCU | style= | No. 2 Michigan | 2022 Fiesta Bowl (December) (CFP Semifinal) | 51−45 | 71,723 | |
| style= | No. 8 Oregon | style= | No. 18 Liberty | 2024 Fiesta Bowl (January) | 45−6 | 47,769 |
Before 2018, the venue was known as University of Phoenix Stadium. It hosted the Final Four, the semifinals and championship game of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, in 2017. The 2017 Final Four featured South Carolina, Gonzaga, Oregon and North Carolina. Gonzaga defeated South Carolina in the first semifinal game 77–73 and North Carolina defeated Oregon in the second semifinal game 77–76. North Carolina defeated Gonzaga for their 6th national title, 71–65.
The stadium hosted the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The 2024 Final Four featured UConn, Alabama, NC State and Purdue. Purdue defeated NC State in the first semifinal game 63-50 and UConn defeated Alabama in the second semifinal game 86-72. UConn then defeated Purdue in the championship game 75-60 to become the first team since the 2007 Florida Gators to repeat as national champions.
Additionally, it hosted the West Regional semifinals and finals in 2009.
On February 7, 2007, the stadium hosted a soccer match attended by 62,462 fans. The United States men's national soccer team defeated Mexico, 2–0. On January 21, 2012, the U.S. played against Venezuela and won the match 1–0.
On January 30, 2013, Mexico played against Denmark,[21] a game that was broadcast on Televisa Deportes, UniMás, and TV Azteca. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.
On November 19, 2015, the stadium was one of the sites selected for the 2016 Copa América Centenario.[22] [23] [24] The stadium hosted three matches, including Mexico vs. Uruguay on June 5, and the third-place match (United States vs. Colombia) on June 25.
In club soccer, Real Madrid battled MLS side LA Galaxy in August 2013. The Spanish side defeated the Galaxy 3–1.
The stadium has hosted the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the first semi-final of the 2019 Gold Cup.
| Date | Winning Team | Result | Losing Team | Tournament | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 7, 2007 | 2–0 | International Friendly | 62,462 | ||
| July 12, 2009 | 4–0 | 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C | 23,876 | ||
| 2–0 | |||||
| November 19, 2011 | women | 1–1 | women | Women’s International Friendly | 18,482 |
| January 21, 2012 | 1–0 | International Friendly | 22,403 | ||
| December 1, 2012 | women | 2–0 | women | Women’s International Friendly | 11,570 |
| January 30, 2013 | 1–1 | International Friendly | 43,345 | ||
| August 1, 2013 | Real Madrid | 3–1 | LA Galaxy | 2013 International Champions Cup | 38,922 |
| April 2, 2014 | 2–2 | International Friendly | 59,066 | ||
| July 12, 2015 | 0–0 | 62,910 | |||
| 2–0 | |||||
| December 13, 2015 | women | 2–0 | women | Women’s International Friendly | 19,066 |
| June 5, 2016 | 3–1 | Copa América Centenario Group C | 60,025 | ||
| June 8, 2016 | 2–2 | Copa América Centenario Group B | 11,937 | ||
| June 25, 2016 | 1–0 | Copa América Centenario third place match | 29,041 | ||
| July 20, 2017 | 2–1 | 37,404 | |||
| 1–0 | |||||
| January 27, 2019 | 3–0 | International Friendly | 9,040 | ||
| July 2, 2019 | 1–0 | 62,363 | |||
| July 24, 2021 | 3–2 | 64,211 | |||
| 3–0 | |||||
| June 2, 2022 | 3–0 | International Friendly | 57,735 | ||
| April 19, 2023 | 1–1 | International Friendly | 55,730 | ||
| June 29, 2023 | 1–1 | 34,517 | |||
| 3–1 | |||||
| June 28, 2024 | 3–0 | 2024 Copa América | 27,386 | ||
| June 30, 2024 | 0–0 | 62,565 | |||
| July 6, 2024 | 5–0 | 39,740 | |||
The stadium hosted the WWE professional wrestling event WrestleMania XXVI which took place on March 28, 2010, with 72,219 fans in attendance.[25] This was the first WrestleMania since WrestleMania XI with a non-title match as a main event, the first WrestleMania to be held in the state of Arizona and the third to be held in an open-air venue,[25] [26] after WrestleMania IX and WrestleMania XXIV. The event grossed $5.8 million in ticket sales, making the event the highest grossing and attended entertainment event held at the University of Phoenix Stadium.[27]
| width=12% style="text-align:center; ;" | Date | width=12% style="text-align:center; ;" | Artist | width=10% style="text-align:center; ;" | Opening act(s) | width=15% style="text-align:center; ;" | Event | width=10% style="text-align:center; ;" | Attendance | width=10% style="text-align:center; ;" | Revenue | width=18% style="text-align:center; ;" | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2006 | 41,772 / 41,772 | $3,286,121 | |||||||||||
| November 26, 2007 | Gym Class Heroes Plain White T's Cute Is What We Aim For Doug | ||||||||||||
| May 31, 2008 | Poets and Pirates Tour | 40,098 / 47,132 | $3,151,970 | ||||||||||
| October 20, 2009 | 50,775 / 50,775 | $4,912,050 | |||||||||||
| September 16, 2014 | 56,524 / 56,524 | $5,035,880 | |||||||||||
| August 15, 2016 | 44,110 / 48,914 | $4,257,189 | [28] | ||||||||||
| August 4, 2017 | 52,926 / 52,926 | $5,246,586 | |||||||||||
| September 19, 2017 | 42,814 / 42,814 | $4,169,215 | [29] | ||||||||||
| May 8, 2018 | Reputation Stadium Tour | 59,157 / 59,157 | $7,214,478 | Before the tour began, Swift invited 2,000 foster and adopted children to a private dress rehearsal.[30] | |||||||||
| September 19, 2018 | 37,174 / 37,174 | $4,426,568 | |||||||||||
| March 23, 2019 | 77,653 / 77,653 | $6,499,556 | This was the highest-attended indoor concert in Arizona history. | ||||||||||
| August 26, 2019 | 52,726 / 52,726 | $9,747,170 | This concert was originally scheduled to take place on May 7, 2019, but was postponed due to Mick Jagger recovering from a heart procedure.[31] | ||||||||||
| May 12, 2022 | Coldplay | H.E.R. Kacy Hill | Music of the Spheres World Tour | 42,849 / 42,849 | $3,542,528 | Originally scheduled for May 3, 2022, but rescheduled for logistical reasons. | |||||||
| August 25, 2022 | Mötley Crüe Def Leppard | Poison Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Classless Act | The Stadium Tour | 45,131 / 45,131 | $6,379,829 | [32] | |||||||
| August 30, 2022 | The Weeknd | Kaytranada Mike Dean | After Hours til Dawn Tour | 53,969 / 53,969 | $6,200,909 | ||||||||
| March 17–18, 2023 | Taylor Swift | Paramore Gayle | The Eras Tour | — | This is the first act in the stadium's history to sell out two shows on a single tour. Glendale symbolically renamed itself to "Swift City" to honor the fact that the stadium kicked off the tour.[33] [34] | ||||||||
| May 6, 2023 | George Strait | Chris Stapleton Little Big Town | 57,843 | $16,300,000[35] | [36] | ||||||||
| May 14, 2023 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | The Strokes Thundercat | The Global Stadium Tour | — | — | [37] | |||||||
| August 24, 2023 | Beyoncé | Renaissance World Tour | 54,705 / 54,705 | $8,226,165 | [38] | ||||||||
| September 1, 2023 | Metallica | Pantera Mammoth WVH | M72 World Tour | 133,060 / 133,060 | $14,013,497 | No repeat weekend. 2 different nights, 2 different sets, 2 different opening acts.[39] | |||||||
| September 9, 2023 | Five Finger Death Punch Suicidal Tendencies | ||||||||||||
| May 7, 2024 | The Rolling Stones | Carín León Electric Mud | Hackney Diamonds Tour | ||||||||||
| May 31, 2024 | Luke Combs | Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour | |||||||||||
| June 1, 2024 | |||||||||||||
The stadium has also hosted other events, including the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship High School Marching Band competition and several high school graduations.
On August 1, 2009, the stadium hosted Monster Jam Summer Heat, with Maximum Destruction defeating Captain's Curse in the racing finals and Grave Digger winning the freestyle event.
The stadium hosted the inaugural Stadium Super Trucks race on April 6, 2013.[40]
On January 30, 2016, Monster Jam returned to the stadium for the first time since 2009, with 16 of the best trucks. On February 6, the AMA Supercross Championship raced for the first time, after visiting Chase Field from 1999 to 2015.
On February 10, 2019 Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to an audience of 68,000, a capacity larger than many events due to the majority of the field space being filled with seats.
On January 11, 2021, the stadium began to be used for administering COVID-19 vaccines 24/7,[41] averaging 7,000 vaccinations per day with the assistance of 500 volunteers.[42]
On September 26, 2006, the University of Phoenix acquired the naming rights to the stadium totalling $154.5 million over 20 years.[43] On April 11, 2017, the University of Phoenix terminated the naming rights just over halfway into the 20-year deal, citing financial woes. The university kept its name on the stadium until a replacement sponsor was found. On September 4, 2018, State Farm reached a deal securing the rights through 2036. University of Phoenix will remain involved as a sponsor with the team in a reduced capacity as the Cardinals' "official education partner."
The stadium has approximately 14,000 on-site parking spaces (plus 12,000 adjacent spaces),[44] located in numerous lots that surround the stadium's 2,000 disabled parking spaces. The design improvement, featured for example in a Discovery program about this stadium, is zoning. Parking spaces for guests are zoned with preferred leaving directions, to achieve the fastest possible movement of traffic.[45]