Current Owner and Ownership Structure
The Arizona Cardinals are currently owned by the Bidwill family trust, with Michael Bidwill serving as the controlling owner and chairman. Michael Bidwill inherited operational control of the team from his father, Bill Bidwill, who passed away in 2019. The Bidwill family has maintained ownership since 1972, when they purchased the franchise from the previous ownership group. The team operates as a privately held entity, and detailed financial breakdowns are not publicly disclosed in full, though Forbes estimates the franchise value at approximately 4.85 billion dollars as of the latest NFL valuations. For more details on NFL franchise valuations and the Bidwill ownership structure, see the Forbes NFL Valuations page.
The ownership entity is structured through a combination of family trusts and holding companies that manage the football operations, stadium agreements, and media rights. Michael Bidwill also serves as president of the franchise, overseeing day-to-day business decisions and strategic direction. The Cardinals are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL, having been founded in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club before relocating to Arizona in 1988. The team plays its home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, under a lease agreement managed by the city and the team's ownership group.
Franchise Value and Financial Overview
According to Forbes, the Arizona Cardinals rank among the lower-valued franchises in the NFL, with an estimated worth of 4.85 billion dollars in the most recent valuation cycle. This places the team roughly in the middle of the league's 32 franchises, below powerhouses like the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. The franchise generates revenue from ticket sales, broadcast rights, sponsorships, and stadium concessions, with State Farm Stadium hosting major events beyond NFL games. For additional context on NFL franchise financials and the Cardinals' standing, see the Forbes NFL franchise value overview.
The Bidwill family has invested in stadium upgrades and facility improvements over the years, including the naming rights deal with State Farm Insurance. The team's revenue streams also include significant local television deals and partnerships with regional broadcasters. Unlike publicly traded sports franchises, the Cardinals do not release detailed financial statements, so exact revenue figures remain estimates based on league-wide data and Forbes modeling. The ownership group has not announced any major sale or restructuring of the franchise as of the latest available public records.
Historical Ownership and Key Transactions
The Cardinals franchise has changed hands multiple times since its founding, with the Bidwill family acquiring the team in 1972. Prior to that, the franchise was owned by Charles Bidwill, who purchased the team in 1933 when it was still based in Chicago. The team moved to St. Louis in 1960 and then to Arizona in 1988, maintaining continuous ownership by the Bidwill family throughout these relocations. The transition from Bill Bidwill to Michael Bidwill as the controlling owner was a gradual process, with Michael taking on an increasingly prominent role in franchise operations before assuming full control.
While the Cardinals have not been involved in high-profile sale rumors in recent years, the NFL's overall franchise values have risen sharply, driven by media rights deals and league expansion. The league's collective bargaining agreement and revenue-sharing model ensure that even lower-valued franchises like the Cardinals benefit from national broadcast income. For information on NFL ownership rules and transaction disclosures, see the relevant SEC filings and NFL ownership policy pages.