ROLANDO CANTU, CARDINALS Offensive LINEMAN (2004-06) And you will Local Away from MONTERREY, MEXICO: I was to the behavior group in the 2004, got clipped, and so they finalized myself back. The new agenda getting 2005 ended up being put-out, and i also remember very well that we got a beneficial studies go camping one seasons as well as said I found myself doing extremely really. I did so ingeniously. I did not [play], but I got the chance to be present.
WILSON: We allow the Cardinals plenty of borrowing for taking the issue and you may doing it. Men inside league for the New york extremely was required to drive the hassle to find out and that group and you can whom to speak in order to as far as the fresh ownership groups. Logistic one thing arrived to play also, like go out areas, take a trip -- how long will they be planning to must traveling -- that is why I do believe Mexico is actually eg an appealing nation, it wasn't going to need to be a massive travels. Relatively easy from a period region position. An abundance of that ran on the calculus, at committed, the new [Cardinals] felt like they'd be prepared to throw in the towel a home online game for as long as it generated experience in their mind economically to come down and you can enjoy. Geographically, these are typically pretty close.
The new 2005 Cardinals-49ers games within the Estadio Azteca place a consistent-season attendance number off 103,467 fans, hence stood for pretty much four seasons. Robert Laberge/Getty Photographs
MIKE NOLAN, 49ERS Coach (2005-08): I recall we'd a conference, [party manager] John York and that i in the fulfilling. He told you, "Do you want to gamble during the Mexico Urban area or are you willing to have to play on Hall out of Magnificence video game?" And that i said . I really don't need an additional game regarding preseason my first year. I might instead merely have fun with the during the-year game during the Mexico Area. And that i envision from a fan viewpoint, the newest 49ers has numerous admirers down indeed there. I did not discover at the time which we had play, but i ended up playing Arizona. That is the way i contemplate they first started.
BERTRAND BERRY, CARDINALS Defensive End (2004-09): The initial thing From the try a lot of all of our males did not have passports. In order for, before everything else, was things I found very interesting. Challenging members we'd to your team, there can be a long line to acquire passports and i merely think of thinking such as for example, 'Man, we hadn't started anyplace. I hadn't done some thing aside from enjoy recreations our very own entire lifetime.'
GONZALEZ: elizabeth would be to become kept, was a romantic date you to definitely in Mexico we must bring with higher respect, because of the historical events (Tlatelolco Slaughter) from which we have been conscious here, however, that we was required to simplify to our acquaintances for the the us. Sure, the huge benefits and you may disadvantages was indeed weighed, it are felt like that individuals was required to just do it once the we'd to simply accept we provide a tv series and you can an excellent factor in enjoyable. So, instead of concentrating on new not-so-advantageous procedure because of the concept of the big date, we made a decision to bring an option and say, 'Today, Oct. dos, there are also things about celebrating.'
The new NFL got complete numerous "American Pan" preseason online game in the Mexico in advance of believed a normal-12 months online game indeed there. AP Photos/Jose Luis Magana
BERRY: I just had an excellent perception regarding entire situation. We wasn't those types of boys apprehensive about they. I happened to be thrilled. I always preferred carrying out stuff nobody got ever complete. Why don't we wade stand out into the Mexico. Let's go offer particular Cardinals admirers back with our company catholic match california out of round the this new edging.'
