The Arizona Cardinals are in first place in the NFC West, but a swath of their most ardent supporters are not happy.
The organization sent out a season ticket renewal request last week, and with it came a significant price hike for the second straight year.
Many longtime season ticket holders are looking at potential increases of 30-40% per regular season game from 2024, and even with the excitement surrounding the team’s trajectory, the new charge has many wondering if they will renew.
Carrie Marino has been attending games with her mom, dad and brother for decades, but said the 2024 season may be their last.
“(My dad) is 80 years old and on a fixed income now, so this price hike has hit hard,” Marino said. “He actually told me he lost sleep over it last (week), because he thinks it’s finally time he’ll have to give them up. My 76-year-old mom is a super fan, and this will break her heart.”
Here is a look at some of the spikes that season ticket holders are facing for 2025. The percentage increase was calculated based on regular season games only, since preseason tickets are just a few bucks on the secondary market.
The Cardinals have nine regular season home games this season and only eight in 2025. Parking passes are included in the pricing.
Cardinals spokesperson Mark Dalton did not respond to a request for comment about the significant increase in season ticket prices.
Cardinals’ Regular Season Game Ticket Prices*
Section | 2024 | 2025 | Increase |
---|---|---|---|
127 | $210.00 | $297.19 | 41.5% |
108 | $243.61 | $342.50 | 40.6% |
109 | $273.61 | $382.50 | 39.8% |
112 | $218.00 | $295.63 | 35.8% |
106 | $229.44 | $310.94 | 35.5% |
112 | $217.78 | $294.69 | 35.3% |
122 | $117.50 | $158.75 | 35.1% |
126 | $218.80 | $294.69 | 34.7% |
102 | $140.00 | $188.44 | 34.6% |
117 | $125.28 | $168.13 | 34.2% |
EZ | $125.28 | $167.50 | 33.7% |
120 | $125.28 | $167.50 | 33.7% |
112 | $217.78 | $294.69 | 33.7% |
102 | $210.00 | $280.78 | 33.7% |
UL | $106.11 | $130.31 | 22.8% |
431 | $107.22 | $131.56 | 22.7% |
* ticket prices courtesy of Cardinals season ticket holders
Numerous season ticket holders said they may not renew next season, and claimed that others around them are deliberating the same decision.
“With the recent turn around, we were planning to renew in hopes for a great year next year, but they have priced us out,” said Lisa Kirkeby, a season ticket holder since the team moved to Glendale. “And we are some of the few loyal fans that don’t sell their tickets or change their jersey when certain teams come to town. Maybe it would be different if we got more than a $10 hat (not even a nice one) for our loyalty. By the way, we were only given one hat for our two tickets and told we couldn’t have another.
“I realize our prices have been cheaper than other teams around the league, but that was my justification for the increase last year. Now it just feels like greed, especially after adding the ridiculous suites in the end zone and behind the players. We are done.”
The newly-added casitas and premium seating behind the players are both points of contention for longtime season ticket holders.
“We used to interact with the players because of where the seats were,” said George Macrides. “Now they put the new expensive field level seats in front of us. We can’t even yell at the players. They also took out the bar that was in the basement where we would go to watch the morning games so that they could make an expensive bar for the new field seats. It’s such a joke. I have had tickets for 16 years and I’m considering not buying next year.”
Leadership taking in those new casita views. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dGY2xWc9Do
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 11, 2024
Some season ticket holders have received notice that they are being displaced in 2025, as the team plans to add more premium seating within State Farm Stadium.
“I was already on the edge of not renewing because the team has been awful and the game experience has gone downhill,” said Miriam, a season ticket holder since 1998 who requested her last name not be used. “I, along with several friends who have been going for 20+ years as well, will not be renewing. The Cardinals seem to be catering to the wealthy with their fancy upgrades that your regular game attendee will never be able to afford. Our tickets went up around $500. That is on top of the $300 we had for this season. No thanks.”
Marino has always kept her season tickets in the hands of Cardinals fans when other obligations surface, but with the prices continuing to increase, she no longer blames those who sell to opposing fanbases.
“We’ve been loyal fans for all these years, and this price hike feels like a personal betrayal for some reason,” Marino said.