Market research conducted as part of a possible relocatioh of the to Canada shows the Cardinal s and National Football League catapulting in popularity amongb localsports consumers. Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie wantse to buy the Coyotesfor $213 milliomn and move the team to Ontario. His relocation plan submitted to the Nationalk Hockey League includes marketthe research. The conducted in late May for Balsillie by Hotspex show the Cardinals gaining favor in a Phoenix sports marker traditionally dominated by theand . One survey looke at the overall appeal among fans forthe region’es four major sports teams.
The Cardinals garnererd 53 percentsupport — equal to the Diamondbacks and just behinxd the 54 percent mark received by the Phoeni x Suns. The Coyotes came in at 29 The survey did not say how many fans were The survey also found that footbalk is the most popular sport in the Phoenix area with 53 percentf of residents following the NFL on aregular basis. Major Leagur Baseball was second at 45 percenft followed by the National Basketball Associatiobn at 44 percent and Nationao Hockey League at 20 percent of according to the surveyand Balsillie’s application to move the The Cardinals and NFL also did the best when it comed to consumers choice of sports to Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed showed a strong desire to attencd an NFL game.
That compares to 51 percenr who strongly wanted to see a Major LeaguBaseball game, 46 percent an NBA game and 30 percenft for hockey. The Cardinals traditionally have been a doormat both in the NFL and the Phoenixc sports market wherethe D-Backs and Suns have made multipld playoff appearances. The Cards, which moved to Universith of Phoenix Stadiumin 2006, had not hostesd a home playoff game since 1947 and team ownersw the Bidwill family were unpopular amonvg local fans. But the Cardinals playoff winslast season, a Nationall Football Conference championship and last-secon d Super Bowl loss pushedc them higher in a market struggling with cuts in consumer spending.
The Cardinals playoff success also compares withthis season’s failures by Suns and Coyotes to make theie playoffs and a slow 2009 season starft by the D-backs.
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