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Fans enjoy the action during Cardinals Training Camp in Flagstaff Wednesday. (Photo: Vince Marotta/Arizona Sports)
It will be a sad day when the Arizona Cardinals and the City of Glendale announce a 15-year agreement for the professional football team to host its training camp in the West Valley city.

Training camp in Flagstaff at the campus of Northern Arizona University has been a great Arizona tradition, just like Camp Tontozona is for Arizona State. The Cardinals have held training camp in Flagstaff every year since 1988 except one, when they moved to Prescott.

Having training camp in Flagstaff creates $10 million in economic revenue, but the reason this is not a great idea has little to do with money.

Having training camp in Flagstaff is a great bonding experience for families. Over the 16 years I have been to Flagstaff to cover training camp, I have encountered hundreds of fathers taking their sons and/or daughters out for a week or a weekend. For a father it's a great way to spend time with your children, allow them to meet the players up close and personal, spend precious time going out to breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Maybe going on a hike, hitting a movie etc…

Those are experiences of a lifetime for young children, and I just don't see heading over to Glendale for a couple of hours being comparable.

John Gambadoro, Co-host of Burns & Gambo
16 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    SafteyE wrote...
    Couldn't agree more.
    March 4, 2013 1:53 pm
    Moving to TC to Glendale is a horrible idea. This franchise has grown tremendously since they moved here in 88. Unfortunately this is not a part of that. It's a step back.
  • Abuse
    AJ1 wrote...
    Dead on
    March 4, 2013 3:45 pm
    Gambo is totally right on this one. It won't be as good if it is down in the valley. I'll be sad to see if it is moved.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    Right On Gambo
    March 4, 2013 4:03 pm
    You nailed this one. I really don't give a flip about whatever squabbles exist between the Cards and Flagstaff/NAU, having training camp up there was special for all of us who want to get close to the players and get far away from the Valley heat. I certainly won't be attending any preseason camp workouts in Glendale.
  • Abuse
    AZ Hope wrote...
    I would
    March 4, 2013 4:17 pm
    attend if the camp was in Glendale. But I have liked going up north and having an excuse to get out of the heat. The real question is why? Why would the Cards consider this? Maybe Flagstaff is not willing to give the Cards what they want. I don't know why. Its great for their economy. What is the real story?
  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    It really isn't any mystery
    March 4, 2013 4:33 pm
    It is the Cardinals just being the Cardinals. Anyone who thinks that this tiger has changed its stripes simply does not get it. No charge for training camp now but give it another year and lo and behold, parking will cost, admission will cost, and concessions will be as expensive as during a real game. Count on it. Bend over folks. Here comes the surprise.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    @AZ Hope
    March 4, 2013 4:35 pm
    You probably know as much as I do but I've heard about issues between the Cards and NAU over locker room usage, dorm usage and other (in my mind) petty stuff which for me is meaningless but then I don't pay the training camp bills. I still don't understand the day to day advantage if there is only one field - the one inside UPS - for them to use during camp versus the three grass fields they have available at NAU, plus the Skydome field? OK they can use the UPS locker rooms and the players can go home at night but otherwise, there's only so much space on a single 100 yard field for practicing.
  • Abuse
    Cards67 wrote...
    Right On
    March 4, 2013 5:09 pm
    Gambo, You are right on I have taken my kids there every year and we have always had a great time and got to meet the players up close and hang with other fans. If it is in the mismanaged City of Glendale in the stadium it will not offer fans the chance to get up close and even see them out to dinner after practice. Bad idea by the cards
  • Abuse
    Tony F. wrote...
    Im officially a FORMER cardinal
    March 4, 2013 5:41 pm
    Supporter. It is absolutely mind boggling how this football team ever made it this far with all the stupid, ridiculous, money grubbing decisions they have made. Flagstaff has been nothing but accommodating to these losers. I absolutely agree this year might be free but they will charge an arm and a leg just to walk onto that white elephant they call a stadium. I certainly hope Flagstaff People and supporting stores burn and throw out anything resembling cardinals crap. Glendale has about as much night life as a cemetery. This is down right WRONG.
  • Abuse
    AndyStandsUp wrote...
    Change Is Hard To Accept
    March 4, 2013 6:02 pm
    And believe me when I say that. I live in Northern AZ and rent a Flagstaff-area cabin every training camp. So, I'll still go to the cabin and probably make a trip down for the Red-White scrimmage. Will it still be the same - heck, no. But just like the Cards management - you have to do what you have to do.
  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    AndyStandsUp
    March 4, 2013 6:36 pm
    "You have to do what you have to do". PLEASE. I cannot believe you said that. Pocketbook rules. Enough said. High Altitude training is one of the things Flagstaff is famous for. To discount the value of training at altitude is to discount the value of training period.
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