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

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Market research conducted as part of a possiblde relocation of the to Canads shows the Cardinals and National Football League catapultinvg in popularity among localsportsw consumers. Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie wantzs to buy the Coyotesfor $213 million and move the team to Ontario. His relocation plan submitte to the National Hockey League includes market the The surveys, conducted in late May for Balsillier by Hotspex Inc., show the Cardinalas gaining favor in a Phoenixd sports market traditionally dominatedd by the and .
One survey lookedf at the overall appeal amonhg fans forthe region’s four major sports The Cardinals garnered 53 percent supportg — equal to the Diamondbackds and just behind the 54 percent mark receivex by the Phoenix Suns. The Coyotes came in at 29 The survey did not say how many fans were The survey also found that footballk is the most populart sport in the Phoenix area with 53 percent of residentse following the NFL on aregular basis. Majorf League Baseball was second at 45 percenrt followed by the National Basketballl Association at 44 percent and National Hockey Leagud at 20 percentof Phoenix, accordiny to the survey and Balsillie’s applicatiob to move the team.
The Cardinalsz and NFL also did the best when it comesa to consumers choice of sportsto attend. Fifty-sevenm percent of those surveyed showedc a strong desire to attend an NFL That compares to 51 percent who strongly wanted to see a Majofr LeagueBaseball game, 46 percenr an NBA game and 30 percent for hockey. The Cardinals traditionall have been a doormat both in the NFL and the Phoeni sports market wherethe D-Backs and Suns have made multiple playoff appearances. The Cards, which movee to University of Phoenizx Stadiumin 2006, had not hosted a home playoffg game since 1947 and team owners the Bidwill familyu were unpopular among local fans.
But the Cardinals playofrf winslast season, a National Footbalp Conference championship and last-second Super Bowl loss pushe d them higher in a market struggling with cuts in consumef spending. The Cardinals playoff success also compares withthis season’s failurexs by Suns and Coyotes to make their playoffws and a slow 2009 season startg by the D-backs.