State Farm Stadium

State Farm Stadium, formerly known as University of Phoenix Stadium, is a multi-purpose football stadium located 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. It replaced Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium 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.

General information

Official website: https://www.statefarmstadium.com/

Arena capacity: 63,400 spectators

Address: 1 Cardinals Dr, Glendale, AZ 85305, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 33°31′39″N 112°15′45″W

Year of construction: August 1, 2006

Construction cost: $565 million

Field: Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda Grass lawn

Seating plan of the State Farm Stadium

Features & Amenities

Club level ticket holders at Cardinals games will enjoy access to lounges, private entrances, full service bars, cushioned seating, superior leg room, individual cup holders, and access to Club Level guest services personnel.

Club level sections are much smaller than most other sections in the stadium, featuring no more than 12 rows in each section.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Sections 114, 424 and 432:

• Designated family section;
• Cannot consume or bring alcohol into this area.

Recommended Seats for Impressing a Guest

Sections 210, 211, 212 and 213:

• Amazing views from an ideal elevation to see all areas of the field;
• Exclusive club level amenities at Cardinals home games;
• Comfortable padded seats.

Recommended Seats for Partying and Socializing

Sections 425, 426, 427 and 428:

• Very small sections, easy to get to the concourse and the concessions;
• Cheaper seats located on the highest level of the stadium.

Recommended Seats for Great Views of the Field

Rows 30-41 in Sections 106, 107, 108 and 109:

• Excellent sideline views near the midfield;
• Ideal seating height for being able to see over the sidelines;
• Close to the entry tunnels near the top of the sections.

Premium Seating

Designed to offer first-class amenities and personal service in an exclusive environment, State Farm Stadium’s Premium Seating areas provide the perfect upscale setting to entertain a client, potential investor, or enjoy an evening out with family and friends.

State Farm Stadium plays host to a variety of different events including concerts, international soccer, football games and motorsports, and Premium Seating areas offer amazing sight lines to it all. The stadium offers four different Premium Seating options: Private Lofts (suites), Party Lofts (shared suite), Club Cabanas and Field Boxes.

Club Cabanas

Newly renovated premium spaces for pre-event gatherings.

Modern appointments create a luxurious atmosphere for 8 or 12 guests. These semi-private Cabanas, located inside the glass on the Stadium’s Club Level, are the perfect space to enjoy refreshments prior to an event while allowing guests the opportunity to obtain Club Level event tickets to watch the event as a group.

Party Lofts

Party Lofts can host a crowd!

Overlooking the Stadium Floor, each of the three Party Lofts are ideal for corporate outings or large groups looking for a great space to take in an event together. Party Lofts offer upgraded stadium-style seating with an ideal vantage point for concerts and sporting events, a congregation area with open lounge space, a dedicated restroom and Loft Attendants to personally assist throughout the event.

Field Boxes

Get closer to the action.

Located on the Main Concourse Level and surrounding the 50-yard line or midfield, Field Boxes feature semi-private spaces for 8 guests. Upgraded premium seats coupled with a dedicated attendant and access to all of the amenities on the Gila River Club Level, these seats have the perfect view for concerts, motorsports and soccer matches.

Where to buy tickets?

Location

1 Cardinals Drive
Glendale, AZ 85305

• Located near Gate 2 (Northeast corner of stadium campus);
• Free parking available on non-event days in North Preferred Carpark (95th Avenue & Maryland).

Hours

• Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm;
• Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm.

To place ticket orders by phone please call Ticketmaster or purchase online at: www.ticketmaster.com. The Stadium Ticket Office does not accept phone orders.

Ticketmaster

• Ticketmaster is the exclusive ticket seller for events at State Farm Stadium;
• Tickets should be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone.

The Cardinals do not offer any tickets below $30, so it can be pricey to bring the family to see a game. You can find the entire pricing and seating chart here. No real in-game promotions or giveaways for fans either. You can get a free jumbo jack when you buy a large drink at Jack in the Box when the Cardinals get a sack.

You can also get a free medium coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts on their mobile app after a Cardinal win. Also with food prices inside the stadium being fairly high, a game day could cost a small fortune. State Farm Stadium is by far the nicest and most modern venue in Arizona though, so everyone should go at least once. It’s worth it to walk around the entire stadium, inside and out, just to see all the bells and whistles.

How to get there?

State Farm Stadium is located in the Glendale Sports & Entertainment District off the AZ Loop 101 Freeway between Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and Glendale Avenue. Over 14,000 parking spaces in numerous car parks are available.

From The South

Take AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

From The North

Take the AZ Loop 101 South. Exit at Glendale Avenue and make a right onto Glendale Avenue. Make first left onto 99th Avenue and then a left onto Maryland Avenue and continue over the bridge. State Farm Stadium will be on the right.

From The East Valley Using I-10 Freeway

Follow the I-10 West towards Los Angeles. Take the AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

From The East Valley Using Surface Streets

Take Glendale Avenue West to 91st Avenue. Turn left onto 91st Avenue. State Farm Stadium will be on the right.

From The West Valley Using I-10 Freeway

Follow the I-10 East toward Phoenix. Take the AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road / Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

From The West Valley Using Surface Streets

Take Glendale Avenue East to 95th Avenue. Turn right on 95th Avenue and follow it South. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

Daily Public Parking

On non-event days, complimentary public parking is available for those visiting the Stadium Ticket Office and Arizona Cardinals Team Store and ticket holders for Behind the Scenes or Private Tours.

Parking is located in North Preferred Carpark located at the corner of Maryland and 95th Avenues.

Event Parking

Guests with prepaid parking or parking hangtags/passes should follow the directions listed on the back of the pass. Guests are encouraged to check event information webpages for event-specific parking maps and directions.

Prepaid parking is encouranged for events at State Farm Stadium.

ADA Parking

All Sportsman’s Park carparks event day carparks have signed ADA parking spots.

On Cardinals game days vehicles must have a valid Cardinals parking hangtag to enter Sportsman’s Park or offsite gameday parking areas. A valid state-issued hangtag or license plate is required to park in a signed ADA spot. Please contact the Arizona Cardinals Ticket Office for more information on gameday ADA parking.

Non-Cardinals stadium events require a valid paid parking ticket along with a state-issued hangtag or license plate is required to park in a signed ADA spot. For mega-events, including the Fiesta Bowl, please contact the respective organization in charge of the event or visit our upcoming events page and click the desired event.

Ride Share

Black Lot is the designated Ride Share pick-up and drop-off location for most State Farm Stadium events. Black Lot is located South of State Farm Stadium across Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way.

Directional Apps

It is encouraged that fans do not use directional apps like Google Maps, Waze or Apple Maps when approaching the stadium on event day as they do not take into account special road closures, traffic patterns and access routes allocated to specific carparks. In the end, using these apps will result in a longer commute.

Access

UOP Stadium is located just east of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy, in between the Bethany Home and Glendale Rd. exits. There are parking lots that require passes that are off of these exits, as well as the ones just north (Northern Ave.) and south (Camelback Rd.). There are electronic signs all along the 101 clearly telling you where to get off for which color pass you have. The signs don’t tell you where to go if you don’t have a parking pass through.

If you don’t have a specific parking pass, the best option is to get off at Glendale and park at the Tanger Outlets. You will want to stay in the right lane when you get on to Glendale to get in this lot, even though the line is really long and slow moving. This parking lot is $10, and there are signs for it once you get on Glendale Ave. There is also a parking garage option near the Renaissance Hotel, but that costs $20. It may be worth it early in the year when it’s still hot out, but not when the weather is really nice. It’s not much closer to the stadium than the open air lot, and it’s more difficult to get out of.

The security checks are outside of the main entrance gates but are not close to where they check the tickets. This is good for people without bags because they can skip the bag check and not be delayed by it. It’s also nice that they do the bag check this way with the NFL clear bag policy because fans are still somewhat close to their car in case they have to go back and put stuff away. Some parking attendants all along the walk from the parking lots to the stadium also tell people if their bags will be allowed in or not.

After entering the stadium, you enter the main concourse. For fans going to the upper concourse, there are escalators and elevators on each side to take you up there, with plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction. The upper concourse does not allow access to the other side through the south end, so either use the escalator on your side or make sure to use the north end zone walkway on the upper concourse.

That upper walkway also has a team shop, a DJ, and offers various concession stands for fans walking through there. There are also team shops found throughout both concourses called the “AZone.” The main team shop is located in the northeast corner of the stadium off of the main concourse near section 123.

The entire concourse is lined along the outside by either concession stands or restrooms, so you are never too far away from either one. And with the concession stands to have so many cashiers, the lines for food never get too long. The bathrooms are enormous as well, and there are 50 of them.

The interior design of the stadium is very fan friendly. The lower and upper concourses have field views, though they are limited. Both end zones have tons of room where you can just stand and watch the game, and many people take advantage of this.

Where to eat?

State Farm Stadium has many food options all along the main concourse and the upper concourse. “Red Dogs” has the most typical stadium food. Hot dogs are $5 or $6, as well as sodas. You can get a hamburger or chicken tender combo meal, which each come with chips and a small drink for $10. “Gridiron Grill” offers a lot of options for those who are looking for something a little different. They have the same items as “Red Dogs,” as well as chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and fries. All of these items are between $6 and $9. UOP Stadium is a Coca-Cola serving stadium.

Other stands include: “Sportsman’s Café” (Kettlecorn), “Mr. B’s Bowtie” (Street Tacos), “Pizzaz” (Papa John’s Pizza), “Touchdown Tortillas” (Mexican), “Desert Breeze” (Specialty Drinks) and “Grande Rojo” (Chicken). You’ll find them in this order when walking from Section 136 to Section 124. Pretty much everything is priced somewhere between $5 and $9.

The upper concourse has all of the same stuff as the main concourse as far as options are concerned. If you’re sitting up top, you’ll probably want to wait on buying your food until you get to the upper concourse, as the lines tend to be shorter.

The main concourse is designed in a way that separates the permanent concession stands with the rest of the walkway. This allows for there to be smaller carts set up all around the stadium, closer to the main seating area. These offer a wide variety of treats and drinks. In addition to everything that’s found at the main concession stands, there are more Mexican stands (Salty Senorita), craft beer, dessert options, and a few other small things. Everything at these is in the same price range of $6-$12.

In the south end zone, there is a catering station set up for all fans.

It’s more of a buffet-style serving and has more high-end food. It does cost more ($12-$18), but if you’re looking for something different than your typical stadium food, this is an area you need to check out.

In the lower level of the south end zone is the Bud Light Game Zone. You can buy tickets to access this area for $40. There’s food, drinks, and even pool tables for people that are looking for an alternative to traditional tailgating. They also offer NFL Sunday Ticket, and it opens three hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, which allows you to watch the early games while waiting for the Cardinals to play in the 4 PM ET slate.

You can’t really go wrong with any of the food options offered around the stadium. You can pretty much find whatever you might be in the mood for. The only food items you are allowed to bring in are one factory-sealed, non-frozen 16.9 fl. oz. plain bottle of water, and food and beverage items for infants two years of age or younger.

Atmosphere

The stadium itself is incredible visually, both inside and out. In the north end zone, there are the NFC West division and NFC conference championship banners. Behind those banners is a mural of Cardinal legends. The south end zone is the “Redzone,” where there are removable stands because the playing surface moves out that direction so it can get sun during the week. Most fans enter the stadium through gate 3, which is the north entrance.

Just outside the stadium is the “Flight Deck,” where fans can enjoy some pregame food and drinks without having to enter the stadium. You can also win free prizes throughout the day before the game. All general entrance gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.

The logo at midfield faces the west stands, and the Cardinals bench is on the west sideline. Many visiting fans, and it is many, sit on the east side behind the visiting bench (sections 126-133).

The north end zone scoreboard and video board are very small, but the south one is much larger and easier to read and see. This makes sense because the majority of the seats in the stadium face the south end zone. Out of town scores are shown on banner scoreboards in each corner of the stadium throughout the game. Interestingly though, one of the corners is reserved for only showing fantasy stats. A good way to keep track of your fantasy team on Sunday afternoons.

The concourses are very easy to get around. There is a lot of space between the seating area and the concession stands and restrooms. Both sides of the stadium are almost identical with what they offer fans as far as amenities, but when the roof is open, the sun does shine on a huge chunk of the east side for most of the game.

There are tons of suites in State Farm Stadium. The club seating areas cost anywhere between $455 and $185 depending on location.

There is also a public Wifi network available in the stadium, but it can be a little spotty.

Neighborhood

State Farm Stadium was the central piece of the City of Glendale’s sports arenas project. That expansion of the city included the building of Gila River Arena and Camelback Ranch in addition to State Farm Stadium. They have turned the entire Glendale chunk of the Loop 101 into a booming entertainment district.

Right across the street from the stadium on the west side is Sportsman’s Park, where most of the tailgating occurs prior to and after Cardinals games. There is a stage set up for pregame concerts and entertainment, as well as tons and tons of tents set up by the fans. There’s tailgating everywhere though, not just at Sportsman’s Park.

Just north of the stadium is Westgate City Center, which offers an enormous amount of dining and shopping choices before and after the game. Some of the food choices include Margaritaville, McFadden’s, Saddle Ranch, Hell’s Half Acre, and so much more. On game days though, it is much more difficult to get to because all of the parking lots in the area are changed from the regular free parking to pass-specific and paid lots for the game and tailgaters.

The closest general public parking lot for Cardinal games is located at the Tanger Outlet Mall, which is in between the Loop 101 and Westgate City Center. Here you’ll find even more shops and places to eat before and after the game. If you park at the outlet mall, you receive a $10 off coupon for any store, so it sort of balances out the parking cost. If you’re parking in general parking, get off the 101 at the Glendale Ave. exit, then head east of the highway. Getting off at any of the other exists only goes to reserved parking lots, and they will all turn you away.

The closest hotel is the Renaissance, which is right next to Gila River Arena on the north side of UOP Stadium. It can get a bit pricey though, so it’s recommended staying somewhere along Loop 101. Every major hotel chain has a property somewhere along the 101 on the west side of the Phoenix area.

In addition to restaurants, Westgate also offers a movie theater and an art gallery. There are also various shops. As you go farther north on the 101 from UOP Stadium, you’ll run into all kinds of golf courses, and many other things surrounding Peoria Sports Complex.

Fans

The state of Arizona is full of transplanted fans from all over the country, and this is most apparent at Cardinals games. When you go to a Cardinals game, you may think you’re actually at the visiting team’s stadium based on the jerseys you see. Sure, you’ll see a majority of red and black out there, but it’s a very slight majority. Having transplanted football fans in the Valley has resulted in a less than ideal home atmosphere for the Cards. Having the crowd split 60/40 makes for an interesting dynamic though since there is always a large group of fans cheering no matter what happens.

The Cardinals do enjoy a little bit of a home field advantage, but not a big one.

Extras

Going to a Cardinals game is a great experience for any football fan. The tailgating has a great atmosphere to it. The retractable roof provides comfort for the fans in any weather once the game starts, and just like Diamondback games, it can be nice to escape the heat for an afternoon. The design of the stadium is definitely unique. The open concourse in the end zones is good for fans that choose to stand and watch the games. The exterior design is definitely one that people will remember…either good or bad. It also makes it very easy to find, being visible for miles and miles along the 101.

The surrounding area deserves an extra point as well. There’s always something to do before and after Cardinal games without having to get in your car to find it.

In the upper concourse of the north end zone, you can find the Cardinals Hall of Fame, which has information on all the legends that have been honored by the team. Also, on the wall of the lower concourse in the southeast corner, there’re pictures of the stadium as it was being built. In addition, each level of the stadium has its own theme of Arizona, portrayed in murals. The upper concourse is the sky, honoring the observatories throughout the state. The other levels feature the state’s rivers, mountains, canyons, and deserts.

The Cardinals have a ring of honor, which features players such as Dan Dierdorf, Ernie Nevers, Aeneas Williams, and of course the late Pat Tillman. Tillman is a legend in Arizona, having played his entire football career in Sun Devil Stadium as a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils in college, and then the Cardinals in the NFL.

His story is well-known to most, leaving the Cardinals to join the Army Rangers after 9/11, and then being killed in action, followed by enormous amounts of controversy and conspiracy surrounding his death.

His legacy lives on at State Farm Stadium, as well as the entire Phoenix area. There is a statue in his honor on the north side of the Cardinals’ stadium, and the plaza that surrounds it is named Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza. Each spring, the Pat Tillman Foundation puts on Pat’s Run, which occurs at Arizona State.

Facility information and history

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12, 2003, and the 63,400-seat stadium opened on August 1, 2006 after three years of construction. The stadium was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport (now Populous). The stadium is considered an architectural icon for the region and was named by Business Week as one of the 10 “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, similar to the GelreDome and the Veltins-Arena.

LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed prior to Arizona’s first game of the season at the new stadium.

The cost of the project was $455 million. That total 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 interior of State Farm Stadium with field removed. To protect the stadium’s grass playing surface, non-sporting events are always held with the facility in this configuration.

The stadium has 88 luxury suites — called luxury lofts — with space for 16 future suites as the stadium matures.

The 25 acres (10 ha) surrounding the stadium is called Sportsman’s Park. Included within the Park is an 8-acre (3.2 ha) landscaped tailgating area called the Great Lawn.

There are no obstructed view seats in the stadium. There are visible areas in the upper deck of the end zone where seats could have been put in but were not due to the giant super columns supporting the roof structure.

The stadium seating capacity can be expanded by 8,800 for “mega-events” such as college bowls, NFL Super Bowls, and the NFC Championship Game by adding risers and ganged, portable “X-frame” folding seats. The endzone area on the side of the facility where the field tray rolls in and out of the facility can be expanded to accommodate the additional seats.

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.