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The University of Phoenix Stadium, with its retractable roof and field, is unlike any other stadium in North America and a marvel of design, engineering, and technology. The stadium is located in Glendale, Arizona and opened in August of 2006 and occupies more than 25 acres. University of Phoenix Stadium is home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, as well as the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the newly created BCS National Championship game, concerts, trade/consumer shows, corporate events and special occasions of all kinds.
The University of Phoenix Stadium was designed to be a truly multi-purpose facility with the ability to host football, basketball, soccer, concerts, consumer shows, motorsports, rodeos and corporate events. Designed by world-renowned architect Peter Eisenman, in conjunction with HOK Sport, Hunt Construction Group and Urban Earth Design. A fun fact about the stadium is that the exterior skin represents a barrel cactus. The building features alternating sections of shimmering metal panels intended to reflect the shifting desert light alongside magnificent vertical glass slots allowing patrons a spectacular view of the horizon from any level of the exterior. There are 21 vertical slots on the exterior wall of the stadium.
Stadium amenities:
Approximately 63,400 permanent seats, expandable to 73,000 seats. There are 88 luxury suites, approximately 7,400 club seats, Two (2) 39,000 square foot club lounges, 160,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 20,000 square feet of meeting room space, two (2) high resolution video scoreboards, 77 public restrooms (30 Men’s, 35 Women’s and 12 Family), and 47 concession stands.
Operational advantages and features:
The stadium encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space. The stadium features the first fully retractable natural grass playing field in North America.There is a slab on grade with utility floor boxes spaced on 30 x 60 increments throughout stadium floor. Direct stadium floor access for consumer and trade show event patrons. Restroom and attendee amenities on floor and exhibit hall level for added luxury. The stadium is fully air conditioned for ultimate comfort. There are 14,000 on-site parking spaces and 12,000 adjacent spaces including over 2,000 disabled parking spaces.
Information about the field and the roof:
The field
The grass field rolls out of the stadium on a 18.9 million pound tray, residing outside of the stadium except for football and soccer events, is the first of its kind in North America. Excavation will take field down to 26 feet below the present grade. The field lies 39 feet below the main concourse level because 13 feet of berming has been added around the stadium. The grass field remains outside the stadium in the sun until game day getting the maximum amount of sunshine and nourishment, eliminating humidity problems inside the stadium and providing unrestricted access to the stadium floor for events and staging. The roll out playing field weighs 17.9 million pounds and will travel at a speed of 11.5 feet/minute (1/8 mph); it will take 75 minutes to travel approximately 741 feet. The field is 234 feet wide x 403 feet long and 39 inches tall. Field tray rests on 13 rail tracks and moves in and out of the stadium on 546 steel wheel assemblies (42 rows). The field supports approximately 94,000 square feet (over 2 acres) of natural grass.
The Roof
The translucent “Bird-Air” fabric roof will allow the stadium to have an open, airy feel even when the roof is closed. The roof has two large retractable panels that will uncover the entire playing field while providing maximum shading for fans. The roof can be closed and the facility air conditioned in the hot months, while the roof can be opened to take advantage of the Valley’s world-famous climate in cooler months. The roof is supported by two 700-foot long trusses. Each truss is 87 feet high at its tallest point and weighs about 1,800 tons. The top of the roof is 206 feet above grade. Each roof panel weighs 550 tons.
The University of Phoenix Stadium Address
One Cardinals Drive
Glendale, Arizona 85305
Telephone: 480-505-0533
The University of Phoenix Stadium Website
  
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