Remember two weeks ago, when it took two extensions and a healthy dose of traveling Falcons fans to sell out University of Phoenix Stadium for the Cardinals’ first playoff home game since moving to Arizona? Well, if you thought that was a pretty sure sign that their fans aren’t worth plaudits, this will just make you crazy: Now, with the help of Eagles fans, they’ve already nearly sold out the NFC Championship Game.
(Don’t mind Duece Lutui, he’s a seat-filler when he’s not on the field.)
Of course, crazy Eagles fans could have something to do with that. After all, Philadelphia is notorious for “traveling well”. Still, within 20 minutes the game was all but sold out on TICKETMASTER, with only pricey singles left. As of this minute, the range in ticket prices on STUB HUB has a floor of $200 and reaches all the way to, unbelievably, $150,000. Yes, $150,000. What recession?
So who’s to blame for this ticket price/availability debacle? We’re pointing firmly at Arizona fans, who actually may have hurt their reputation more by actually showing up for the NFC Championship Game after sandbagging the Wild Card round. If they didn’t show up for a game with a Super Bowl berth on the line, then hey, Arizonans just don’t like pro football. No shame in that, it’s just the breaks. But nearing a sell-out within 20 minutes of the release of tickets? That’s a whole different type of shameful.
(A cold day in Hell indeed; they’re actually selling seats now.)
In the interest of both legitimacy and justice, we’re hoping that this scenario unfolds: The game sells out by 10 p.m. tonight, and Eagles fans snatch up all the singles that are available. Then they buy out half the seats on STUB HUB, and the whole crew from Philadelphia raises hell whenever anything happens next Sunday. After all, it’s probably not hard; half the Arizona fans in attendance won’t know when to cheer. Hey, we’re not Philly fans here, we just root for what’s right. And that, unequivocably, is what Cardinals fans deserve.
8:05 pm on January 11th, 2009
One of the more recent dirty little secrets out there when it comes to attendance at Denver Broncos games is the large number of visiting teams' fans that show up @Invesco Field. It's something that is played down by both local media and Broncos management whenever it's discussed. The environment there is a far cry from the Elway days.
So I'm not going to get too hard on fans from a place that is as transient as metro Phoenix is. Especially since I suspect that there are more than enough Eagles fans within easy driving distance of UofP Stadium (cough, LA, cough).
9:51 pm on January 11th, 2009
@Brad S:
I think there will be a sea of red at the stadium come Sunday… but only because of the "bandwagonner effect".
Both Denver and Phoenix are towns where most people come from somewhere else, and they bring their home team allegiances with them. A lot of "fans" for the local teams (Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Coyotes, Suns) are the bandwagonning type.
@Cameron:
If you think that StubHub is bad, you should check the local Craigslist Tickets listings.
4:25 am on January 12th, 2009
I live in Arizona. I am a Cowboys fan first, but I am a big Cards fan whenever they're not playing the Cowboys. Fans here have been through a lot. It can be hard to believe in the Cards. Its been a horrible history. Even radio announcers were calling everything after the first playoff win a bonus. A playoff win was like the turning point. The dominant win in Carolina was the eye opener. We as Cards fans can finally enjoy this. We are hosting the game that sends 1 team to the Superbowl. We can finally get our hopes up without feeling the let down. With the final few games of the season, how do you expect fans to be with a team that has a history like the Cardinals? Watch them get blown out and rush out in hopes they can flip a switch in the playoffs? That Atlanta game was a turning point. The whole look on the Cards changed with that. Everyone was backing the Cards going into Carolina. Now it's ridiculous.
This town just didn't want a let down. The Suns have been so close only to fall short. Even when the DBacks won, they were only here for a few years. There was no history. Cards fans have a reason to be optimistic. FINALLY, they're making a turn… and it only took, I don't know, 60 years?
8:36 am on January 12th, 2009
I'm crazy Eagles Fan….
6:21 pm on January 12th, 2009
Luke, I'm from AZ, too and I hate you. With your comment, you validated everything SbB just posted. Being a Cowboys fan first, but a "big" Cards fan whenever they're not playing the Cowboys is THE definition of fairweather/bandwagoner/douche.
And the part about "This town just didn't want a let down". .. Who the f*** ever WANTS a let down?! (maybe the Lions) Way to show faith in your OTHER team, Douche.