<P> The University of Phoenix acquired the naming rights in September 2006, shortly after the stadium had opened under the name Cardinals Stadium . The "University of Phoenix" name is applied as a corporate sponsor, and not as the home stadium of the university, which has no intercollegiate athletics program . </P> <P> Since moving to Arizona in 1988, the Cardinals had played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University . The Cardinals had only planned to play there until a new stadium could be built in Phoenix . However, the savings and loan crisis derailed funding for a new stadium . Over time, the Cardinals expressed frustration at being merely tenants in a college football stadium . Lack of having their own stadium denied them additional revenue streams available to other NFL teams . The Cardinals campaigned several years for a new and more modern facility . </P> <P> The 63,400 - seat stadium opened on August 1, 2006 after three years of construction . The stadium was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport (now Populous). The stadium is considered an architectural icon for the region and was named by Business Week as one of the 10 "most impressive" sports facilities on the globe due to the combination of its retractable roof (engineering design by Walter P Moore) and roll - in natural grass field, similar to the GelreDome and the Veltins - Arena . The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12, 2003 . </P> <P> LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season . </P>

Who paid for the university of phoenix stadium