I experienced the opportunity to enter the overall game inside the Mexico and you may debut indeed there

ROLANDO CANTU, CARDINALS Offensive LINEMAN (2004-06) And Local From MONTERREY, MEXICO: I found myself to the habit team inside the 2004, got slash, and they signed me again. This new agenda to have 2005 ended up being put-out, and that i remember perfectly that we had a great education go camping that year and additionally they told me I became undertaking very really. I did so wonderfully. I didn’t [play], however, I had the ability to be present.

WILSON: I give the Cardinals a great amount of borrowing to take the brand new difficulties and you can doing it. Individuals during the category during the New york most must drive the effort to find out and therefore group and you can just who to speak in order to as far as the control communities. Logistic some thing came into gamble as well, particularly time areas, take a trip — how far will they be gonna have to travelling — that is why I think Mexico was eg a nice-looking nation, it was not planning to must be a huge travel. Relatively easy out of a time area angle. Loads of you to ran on calculus, at committed, new [Cardinals] decided that they had feel ready to quit a italian wife house online game for as long as it produced feel in their mind financially ahead down and you may enjoy. Geographically, they truly are fairly intimate.

In the event the last 53-guy rosters have been revealed, they reduce myself but informed me they’d indication myself straight back to the habit team

The latest 2005 Cardinals-49ers video game inside the Estadio Azteca lay a routine-year attendance checklist out-of 103,467 admirers, which stood for nearly five 12 months. Robert Laberge/Getty Photo

MIKE NOLAN, 49ERS Advisor (2005-08): From the we had a conference, [group proprietor] John York and i also regarding the fulfilling. He said, “Do you need to play during the Mexico Area or do you really must play regarding the Hallway out of Magnificence online game?” And i told you . I really don’t need an additional game regarding the preseason my first 12 months. I’d as an alternative just have fun with the inside the-year game from inside the Mexico Town. And that i envision away from an enthusiast standpoint, the fresh new 49ers keeps a lot of fans down indeed there. I didn’t learn during the time which we had enjoy, however, we finished up to relax and play Arizona. Which is how i think about they began.

Very in my experience it had been, ‘Hey, take it to the

BERTRAND BERRY, CARDINALS Protective Prevent (2004-09): First thing I remember was a good amount of all of our men did not have passports. To ensure, in the first place, are things I discovered quite interesting. Challenging people we’d towards squad, there’s a long line to acquire passports and i also just think of considering such as for instance, ‘Man, i had not already been anywhere. I hadn’t over one thing apart from play football the entire life.’

GONZALEZ: elizabeth were to end up being stored, try a night out together that within the Mexico we must simply take with great regard, due to the historic situations (Tlatelolco Massacre) at which we are conscious here, however, that we was required to make clear to our acquaintances during the the usa. Sure, the advantages and you may downsides were considered, however it try decided we had to go-ahead as the we had to simply accept that individuals provide a show and you will good factor in fun. So, rather than concentrating on brand new not-so-positive situation of the meaning of this new go out, i decided to provide an alternative and you will say, ‘Today, Oct. dos, there are even things about celebrating.’

The new NFL had done multiple “American Bowl” preseason games when you look at the Mexico before believe a regular-12 months game here. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

BERRY: I just got a good perception concerning entire question. We was not one of those people apprehensive about it. I was delighted. I always preferred doing stuff that nobody had actually ever over. Let us wade shine inside Mexico. Let’s go render some Cardinals fans right back around out-of around the the fresh edging.’