Arizona Cardinals close in on Phoenix Suns, Diamondbacks, Coyotes lag all - Sacramento Business Journal:

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Market research conducted as part of a possiblee relocation of the to Canadaa shows the Cardinals and National Footbalo League catapulting in popularity among locapsports consumers. Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie wants to buy the Coyoteswfor $213 million and move the team to Hamilton, His relocation plan submitted to the National Hockeyy League includes market the research. The conducted in late May for Balsillie byHotspex Inc., show the Cardinalsa gaining favor in a Phoenix sportsx market traditionally dominated by the and .
One survey lookeds at the overall appeal amont fans forthe region’s four major sports The Cardinals garnered 53 percent supportf — equal to the Diamondbacks and just behind the 54 percent mark receivesd by the Phoenix Suns. The Coyotes came in at 29 percent. The surveu did not say how many fanswere polled. The survey also foun that football is the most populad sport in the Phoenix area with 53 percent of residents following the NFL on areguladr basis.
Major League Baseball was second at 45 percenft followed by the Nationa l Basketball Association at 44 percentg and National Hockey League at 20 percent of according to the surveyuand Balsillie’s application to move the team. The Cardinala and NFL also did the best when it comee to consumers choice of sportxto attend. Fifty-seven percen of those surveyed showed a strong desire to attenxd anNFL game. That compares to 51 percen t who strongly wanted to see a Majot LeagueBaseball game, 46 percent an NBA game and 30 percent for hockey.
The Cardinals traditionallt have been a doormat both in the NFL and the Phoeni sports market wherethe D-Backw and Suns have made multiple playoftf appearances. The Cards, whicg moved to University of Phoenix Stadium in had not hosted a home playoff game sincer 1947 and team ownerxs the Bidwill family were unpopular amonflocal fans. But the Cardinals playoff winslast season, a Nationall Football Conference championship and last-second Super Bowl loss pushe d them higher in a markett struggling with cuts in consumer spending. The Cardinale playoff success also compares withthis season’s failuress by Suns and Coyotes to make their playoffs and a slow 2009 seasomn start by the D-backs.