Phoenix, AZ – Michael Bidwill, owner of the Arizona Cardinals, has been named one of eight new inductees into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor comes after a significant contribution to Arizona’s sports landscape and continued leadership with the Cardinals franchise.
Bidwill’s commitment to the team and community has made a lasting impact. Under his ownership, the Cardinals have not only flourished on the field but also invested in the growth of local sports culture. He played a pivotal role in the construction of State Farm Stadium, which has hosted numerous events, including Super Bowl XLIX and the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Additionally, Bidwill was recognized with a prestigious award from Netflix for his innovative leadership in sports entertainment. This accolade highlights his efforts to merge traditional sports with modern media, creating new platforms for fans to connect with their teams.
Bidwill joins seven other honorees in this year’s class, marking another milestone in his remarkable career. The induction ceremony will take place later this year, where he will officially be enshrined alongside other Arizona sports legends.
Arizona sports fans and organizations have rallied behind this well-deserved recognition, celebrating his legacy and continued influence on the state’s vibrant sports community.
Bidwill joins former Olympic and Arizona State swimmer Melissa Belote Ripley, former University of Arizona and NBA basketball player Mike Bibby, former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player and Mesa native Julie Ertz, former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., former University of Arizona football standout Ricky Hunley, former Major League Baseball player and Scottsdale Chaparral alum Paul Konerko, and the late Matt Shott, former Senior Director of Amateur Hockey Development for the Arizona Coyotes who died after a battle with cancer in late 2021.
The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, administrators and others who have made exceptional contributions to sports in Arizona.
Bidwill is to be the sixth member of the Cardinals organization to be elected to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. He joins his late father, Bill Bidwill, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, safety Pat Tillman, safety Adrian Wilson and quarterback Jake Plummer.
Fitzgerald delivered the news of his induction to Bidwill in person.
Bidwill, a former ball boy for the St. Louis Cardinals before they moved west, was the Cardinals team president from 2007 to 2019. He took over as owner in 2019, keeping the Cardinals in the Bidwill family since 1933.
Bidwill, who has served on several influential NFL committees, oversaw the creation and construction of State Farm Stadium, which opened in 2006 and has hosted three Super Bowls and a Pro Bowl plus numerous major international soccer matches and the Final Four in 2017.
Garagiola Jr. was the Diamondbacks’ first GM and served until 2005. He also was an MLB executive for several years. Hunley was the first Wildcat to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and played seven NFL seasons, including 1988 with the Cardinals. Konerko was a six-time All-Star who played 17 MLB seasons, mostly with the Chicago White Sox, and hit 439 career home runs.
Shott’s work growing and coaching Arizona youth hockey endeared him to many in that community.
This year’s Arizona Sports Hall of Fame class will be honored at an induction ceremony on April 10 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix.
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