Columnist Ron Kantowksi: NFL’s Cardinals want to feather a nest in Las Vegas

By Ron Kantowski

Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 10 a.m.

Ron Kantowski is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-4088.

The Arizona Cardinals want to be Las Vegas' team.

I know, I know. We're a town that loves winners, so why should we want to hold a perennial 7-9 team close to our pro football bosom?

Well, I suppose the only answer is that the Cardinals are better than what we've got now on the NFL front. Besides, if we adopt the Cards and Paul Tagliabue ever revises his Cro-Magnon era approach to pro football and legalized gambling, we'll be protected when the Bengals try to relocate to Henderson. Then we can just say 'No, thanks, we've already got a team."

The Cardinals first made inroads into our untapped NFL market a couple of years ago, when they cut a deal to add KLAV 1230-AM to their radio network. The next step comes Friday, when the traveling Cardinals Caravan makes it first visit.

Local fans will have a chance to meet and get an autograph from Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis, and members of the broadcast team and marketing department (if you're looking for the latter, they'll be the guys twirling their thumbs at an empty table with unused Sharpies).

Several former NFL players and personalities who reside in Las Vegas are also expected to be on hand. A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Red Hawk restaurant, located near the northwest corner of Horizon Ridge and Eastern in Henderson.

"This is something we have definitely wanted to do, to get into areas outside of Phoenix," said Cardinals spokesman Chris Melvin, as the caravan loaded up for the oasis in Lake Havasu before heading here.

In addition to shaking as many hands and signing as many autographs as they can here, the Cardinals will have a little news to announce. For the first time, all of Arizona's preseason games will be available in Las Vegas, as WB/Gold 33 has agreed to become one of the Cardinals' TV partners.

Again, that's a good deal for Las Vegas, because if there's one thing we can't get enough of in this town, it's televised pro football. Even televised pro football that doesn't count in the standings.

Should the Cardinals succeed in becoming our team of choice, it would be a first. Because in 15 years, they still haven't become the team of choice in their own backyard. Although attendance was up slightly last year, the Cardinals averaged only 44,051 in a stadium (Sun Devil, on the Arizona State campus) that seats nearly twice that many. Three of their eight home games failed to attract 30,000.

The Cardinals remain a distant second to ASU in terms of popularity at home, but in their two years under the colorful McGinnis, at least they've managed to move past Tempe's McClintock High in season ticket holders.

But help is on the way. A new stadium that will be ready for the 2005 season should help the Cardinals establish more of an identity in their hometown and add to their modest fan base. Until then, perhaps reaching out to regional population centers like ours is the best way to attract new fans.

"Phoenix is similar to many other markets in the Southwest and West, in that there are a lot of other (entertainment and leisure) options," said Joe Caster, a Cardinals consultant who along with Alex Shelton of the Nevada Sports Network were instrumental in negotiating Arizona's media deals here. "It's just the nature of the city.

"Of course, winning also has a lot to do with it. We've had one winning season in 15 years and 1998 was absolutely incredible (in sustaining fan interest). We're not too far removed from that, and the team was very active in the off-season (adding household names such as Emmitt Smith and Jeff Blake) so hopefully we can get back there."

Caster said the Cardinals and Las Vegas are a good fit, if for no other reason than geography and Southwest Airlines' abundant Super Savers.

"With the close proximity of our two cities, and with such affordable flights ... combined with the many NFL fans in the Las Vegas market, there's certainly a chance for this to evolve," he said. "We'd love for them to become Cardinals fans, to come up to Flagstaff for training camp."

Now that's an idea worth considering. The cool pines of Flagstaff in August sure beat the sizzling sage of Las Vegas in May, June, July, August, September, etc. Moreover, the Grand Canyon is right up the road.

Maybe you'll even bump into Emmitt Smith on the South Rim. After going through two-a-days with the Cardinals, he may need a reminder of what a big hole looks like.