On March 15, 1988 National Football League owners approved the request by the St. Louis Cardinals football franchise to relocate from St. Louis Missouri to the Phoenix area. The vote ended nearly three decades of the team’s tenure in St. Louis after years of unsuccessful negotiations for a modern stadium and improved financial terms. Owner Bill Bidwill had announced his intention to move the franchise earlier that year and the league’s approval cleared the way for the team to begin play in Arizona for the upcoming season.
Team officials confirmed that the Cardinals would play home games in Tempe at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium beginning in the fall of 1988. The arrangement was expected to be temporary while discussions continued regarding a long term stadium plan. The organization initially adopted the Phoenix Cardinals name to reflect the location of the new home field before later transitioning to the Arizona Cardinals name.
The relocation followed a lengthy period of limited attendance and stadium issues in St. Louis. The team played at Busch Memorial Stadium but faced challenges related to facility design and revenue opportunities. Bidwill stated that the franchise needed improved financial conditions and a football specific facility to remain competitive. With no agreement reached in St. Louis the relocation to Arizona became the chosen path for the organization.
The approval on March 15, 1988 marked the beginning of a new era for the franchise as it shifted operations to Arizona. The Cardinals opened their first season in Tempe that fall while continuing to evaluate options for a permanent stadium site. The move established the team’s long term presence in Arizona and remains a notable example of franchise relocation within the National Football League.
