Each season, the Arizona Cardinals uses its most popular games to do two things -- try and get more Cardinals fans at those games, and also make it easier to sell out games that might not be quite so popular.
In years past, those games included the Bears, the Cowboys and the Steelers.
This year, it will be the Thursday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks and the December 29 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
In years past, the package would include a second regular season game and a preseason game. This year, though, it will include just one other game.
To see the Cards host Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Thursday October 17, it will require the purchase of the August 17 preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. That is the "White Plan."
To see the Week 17 season finale against Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers, as part of the "Red Plan" you must also purchase the October 6 game against Cam Newton and the Panthers.
The two game plans start as low as $60 per seat plus applicable facility use fees.
Season-ticket holders will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase the "Protect the Nest" plans starting Wednesday, July 17 at 10:00 AM via the Account Manager function at www.azcardinals.com.
The plans will go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 19 at 10:00 AM and again only through the team's official website, www.azcardinals.com. Starting Monday, July 22, they can be purchased at the Cardinals Tempe training facility box office (8:30 AM-5:00 PM) and at University of Phoenix Stadium (10:00 AM-6:00 PM).
The change to only two games must be due to increased interest this year with the new coaching staff and energy around the team.
The ticket plans are met by some fans with some ire because, while it either discourages rival fans from buying tickets or takes more of their money, it also forces Cardinals fans to spend more money than they can, so they are actually kept from going to the game.
However, since it continues to happen, it must accomplish the goal it has in mind -- sell more tickets.
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