PHOENIX — The Arizona Cardinals celebrated the groundbreaking of their new headquarters and practice facility in north Phoenix on Thursday, marking a major milestone for the franchise and the city’s growing sports and business corridor.
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The new complex will be part of a 217-acre mixed-use development purchased for $136 million at auction through the Arizona State Land Department. The land, located just west of Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 Pima Freeway, is expected to eventually include additional businesses and commercial partners, which will be announced at a later date.
The Cardinals’ practice facility will sit on 30 acres and span more than 250,000 square feet. By comparison, the team’s current performance center in Tempe covers 14 acres and 156,000 square feet. The new headquarters will more than double the land footprint and provide nearly 100,000 additional square feet for football operations, training and administrative functions.
The facility is designed to elevate every aspect of player preparation and organizational operations. Plans call for three outdoor natural-grass fields, one full-size indoor field, expanded athletic training and sports medicine areas, a modern locker room, player lounge, meeting rooms and upgraded office space.
Team owner Michael Bidwill emphasized the long-term impact of the investment, both for players and for Arizona as a whole.
“I wanted to make sure it was player first, performance first and we leverage the Cardinals headquarters to have the most greater good for the state of Arizona and the city of Phoenix as possible,” Bidwill said.
Bidwill also described the move as a “multigenerational decision,” underscoring the organization’s commitment to building sustainable infrastructure that will serve the team for decades.
Beyond football operations, the development is expected to stimulate additional economic activity in north Phoenix. Construction alone will generate jobs, and the eventual mix of businesses could bring new retail, hospitality and corporate opportunities to the area.
Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix, said during the ceremonial groundbreaking that the broader vision for the mixed-use site is to create a hub for “global and national partners in sports, innovation, medicine and more.”
Gallego added the development will “fit” with nearby destinations such as the Mayo Clinic and Desert Ridge Marketplace at Tatum Boulevard and Loop 101, which already hosts a wide range of retailers and restaurants. The proximity to established commercial anchors is expected to accelerate interest from corporate tenants and complementary industries.
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, echoed that sentiment, describing the area as a future center of innovation.
“This world-class development will turbocharge those efforts, catalyzing additional high-profile corporate relocations and accelerating the state’s economic momentum,” Watson said. “That’s how we won the last decade, and that’s how we will win the next.”
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Current Cardinals players Trey McBride, Budda Baker, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Elijah Higgins were also in attendance, highlighting the direct connection between the facility and the athletes it is designed to serve.
Bidwill said the expectation is that the team will move into the new headquarters following the conclusion of training camp in August 2028, positioning the franchise in a state-of-the-art environment ahead of the 2028 NFL season.
As north Phoenix continues to grow, the Cardinals’ investment signals confidence not only in the organization’s competitive future but also in the region’s long-term economic trajectory.
Originally reported by Payne Moses, KTAR News Editor in KTAR News.
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