Before this year, the Arizona Cardinals always held their annual Fan Fest at their practice facility in Tempe, Arizona. It was a good experience, well attended and it was what fans wanted. However, the organization changed things up this year and held Fan Fest on Wednesday at University of Phoenix Stadium, where parking and admission were free, there was an autograph session for children, inexpensive concessions and a lot more space.
In years past, about 5000 fans would attend the event at the team's facility.
The tally this year? Estimates from the stadium turnstiles had over 15,000 in attendance.
It looks like the organization knows how to handle this even in future years.
Several players showed their appreciation on Twitter:
Thanks to all the fans that came out and showed support at our #CardsFanFest tonight... Great turn out... Makes us can't wait for the season
— Andre' Roberts (@ARob12_Cards) June 14, 2012
Thanks to all the fans who made it out to #CardsFanFest hope your as excited as we are. #birdgang
— Daryn Colledge (@DarynColledge71) June 14, 2012
Great job and lots of fun tonight at #CardsFanFest I can't wait til training camp! This season can't come fast enough! #BIRDGANG #allday
— Jeremy Bridges (@bigslab73) June 14, 2012
Yes, these are standard responses by players, but there seems to be one thing that worked this time around. It got both fans and players fired up about the upcoming season.
If there was any doubt the team had about doing the same thing in the seasons to come, yhose doubts were likely answered by the fan turnout. Expect to see it again in the stadium next year.
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