2008 Woodie Awards
Arizona Cardinals to rain in Flagstaff
Michael Hamann
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: News
Officials from the City of Prescott confirmed on Mar. 3, 2006 that the Arizona Cardinals will hold their training camp in Flagstaff during the summer of 2006, and not Prescott.
Rod Graves, Cardinals' vice president for football operations said that Flagstaff submitted a "very attractive bid."
Following an outbreak of the norovirus at Northern Arizona University, the City of Prescott opened its doors to the Arizona Cardinals for their training camp in the summer of 2005 with one week's notice.
Training camps for the Cardinals were held at Ken Lindley field and other facilities around Prescott while the players were housed in the dorms at Embry-Riddle.
Workers at the Cardinals camp said coach Dennis Green was pleased with the facilities Embry-Riddle had to offer and commented frequently on the compliance with the team's request on such a short notice.
According to past Dean's Council meeting minutes, the issue of the Arizona Cardinals training camp moving to Prescott became the center of numerous scheduling concerns. If the Cardinals did choose Prescott as its training camp location, the academic calendar would have to have been revised due to a conflict between the end of training and the beginning of the academic semester.
A partnership among the City of Prescott, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and Embry-Riddle managed to respond to all items in the bid proposal and presented the city to team decision makers.
"The most important thing to us was providing our team with the best possible environment to prepare for the season," said Graves.
According to Dean of Students, Jim Kula, the team was looking for practice fields, locker rooms, and fitness facilities as well as eating and living quarters. The team also requested that space be set aside for their audio/visual and public relations team.
"I think the main thing they were looking for was the co-location of facilities and football equipment. With NAU, since they have a NCAA team, they have that sort of equipment," said Kula.
"I'm disappointed in the Cardinals' decision, but very proud of the team effort that went into our bid," said Prescott Mayer Rowle Simmons in a press release. "This was a chance for the Cardinals to break with tradition and start a new relationship with Prescott."
The Cardinals expect to finalize a three-year contract in the near future.
Graves said the Cardinals are, "very appreciative of the efforts of everyone in the City of Prescott who not only put together a very attractive bid for training camp but have welcomed us so graciously and enthusiastically in the past, particularly last year when we had to relocate on short notice."
"Now we can focus on doing other things with our residence halls and facilities," said Kula.
Rod Graves, Cardinals' vice president for football operations said that Flagstaff submitted a "very attractive bid."
Following an outbreak of the norovirus at Northern Arizona University, the City of Prescott opened its doors to the Arizona Cardinals for their training camp in the summer of 2005 with one week's notice.
Training camps for the Cardinals were held at Ken Lindley field and other facilities around Prescott while the players were housed in the dorms at Embry-Riddle.
Workers at the Cardinals camp said coach Dennis Green was pleased with the facilities Embry-Riddle had to offer and commented frequently on the compliance with the team's request on such a short notice.
According to past Dean's Council meeting minutes, the issue of the Arizona Cardinals training camp moving to Prescott became the center of numerous scheduling concerns. If the Cardinals did choose Prescott as its training camp location, the academic calendar would have to have been revised due to a conflict between the end of training and the beginning of the academic semester.
A partnership among the City of Prescott, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and Embry-Riddle managed to respond to all items in the bid proposal and presented the city to team decision makers.
"The most important thing to us was providing our team with the best possible environment to prepare for the season," said Graves.
According to Dean of Students, Jim Kula, the team was looking for practice fields, locker rooms, and fitness facilities as well as eating and living quarters. The team also requested that space be set aside for their audio/visual and public relations team.
"I think the main thing they were looking for was the co-location of facilities and football equipment. With NAU, since they have a NCAA team, they have that sort of equipment," said Kula.
"I'm disappointed in the Cardinals' decision, but very proud of the team effort that went into our bid," said Prescott Mayer Rowle Simmons in a press release. "This was a chance for the Cardinals to break with tradition and start a new relationship with Prescott."
The Cardinals expect to finalize a three-year contract in the near future.
Graves said the Cardinals are, "very appreciative of the efforts of everyone in the City of Prescott who not only put together a very attractive bid for training camp but have welcomed us so graciously and enthusiastically in the past, particularly last year when we had to relocate on short notice."
"Now we can focus on doing other things with our residence halls and facilities," said Kula.