Who brought the sunscreen and the portable tv?
Written: Oct 30 '00
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Pros: Ticket cost, site lines, ticket availability
Cons: Parking, seating, food cost and selection, exits
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| Vikesfan80's Full Review: Sun Devil Stadium |
For the residents of the Valley of the Sun, there can't be a better way to spend a sunny 110 degree autumn afternoon than catching a Chicago...er....St. Louis...I...I mean Arizona Cardinals game in Sun Devil Stadium. That is, if you are about 4'5", and have a very well-padded back-side. A well-padded wallet wouldn't hurt, either. If you are planning to attend this college venue, prepare to embark on your journey to the stadium early. At least three hours (if you are within 10 miles of the stadium) ought to do it.
Access to the stadium is extremely limited. Your main access route from the west or north valley is by the Red Mountain Freeway (Loop 202). Exit onto Scottsdale/Rural Road, and prepare to wait in an endless line of cars. From the east or south, you are better advised to take Priest to Rio Salado or 5th Avenue. Attempting to park can be likened to venturing out to a mall on Christmas Eve to begin your holiday shopping...times 4. The availability of parking is nearly non-existent. You are best advised to park in one of the restaurant lots on Mill Avenue, or Rural Road, and walk. It will save you money, time, and patience. Parking costs can average $10 or more the closer you get to the stadium. If you choose to park in a restaurant lot, most only cost $5, and most give a $5 coupon good for food/beverage purchases in their facility for the day of the game.
Once you locate a parking space, venture to one of the sports bars just adjacent to the stadium to catch the early games. While you are at it, grab a bite to eat, as it will be cheaper and tastier than the fare you can expect at the stadium. The food and beverage selection is limited, and uninspiring. If you are a fan of a good cup of suds during the game, come prepared to accept a very limited selection, and expect to shell out $4 to $6 per beer for domestic, and $5 to $7 for imports. Your food selection is standard Pop Warner. Hot dogs, burgers, chicken breast sandwiches, popcorn, and pretzels are nearly it, save for a mexican food stand located behind the south end zone seating on the field level. Ice cream, lemon ice, and a few other snacks are available at independent vendor stands throughout the stadium.
Game time approaches, and you are excited to enjoy the game that you spent an average of $37 per ticket for, and you find your way to your seat. Be prepared to be packed in like a fine can of sardines, as your only seating selection is bench-style, unless you are fortunate enough to have the high-priced Loge-level seating. These are the ONLY seats in the house that have back and arm rests unless you carry press credentials. Please remember at the time of ticket purchase. Get your seating on the west side of the stadium. Even if you have to settle for upper-bowl seats, you will be rewarded as the game moves to the second half. The east side takes a pounding from the sun after 2:30pm, and seeing becomes difficult. The fortunate thing with this stadium is that if you are actually attending a Cardinals game, you will be in the minority, and you should have plenty of room to stretch, considering the attendance levels.
After a fine afternoon of NFL football, you get to experience the true charm of a college stadium retro-fitted to be an NFL venue. The exits. Get comfy, if you have any feeling left in your lower extremities, and hang out for a while. Let the masses filter out of the stadium before making your way to the parking lot. If you are brave enough to attempt escape directly after the game, be prepared to feel like a prized Black Angus, as you and the rest of the herd are stuck in the heaviest people-jam this side of an e-ticket ride at Disneyland. The exits are dramatically under-sized, especially if you are making your way down from the upper-bowl. I have literally been stuck on the ramps leading to the exits for 30 minutes after a well-attended game. Trust me, it is in your best interest to remain in your seat for as long as possible before exiting.
To be fair, Sun Devil Stadium has terrific site-lines from most any section in the house. The view of the city from the upper-deck is magnificent. The ticket prices are below NFL standard, and the scoreboards are well posted throughout the stadium. Proposition 302 is now nearing a vote, and hopefully for the Cardinals, as well as the city of Phoenix, it will pass, and the valley will finally have a great multi-purpose retractable dome stadium to house the Cards, as well as the Fiesta Bowl and the Super Bowl every 5 years. For the time being, however, this is all we have. Enjoy it as best you can. Bad football in a poor venue is better than none at all.
Recommended:
No
Parking Availability: What A Nightmare
Seat Location: Lower Level
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Epinions.com ID:
Vikesfan80
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Member: Doug Wilgar
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Free-lance writer, and corporate training manager
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