GLENDALE, Ariz. — Thousands of Cardinals fans showed up to the Great Lawn outside of State Farm Stadium Thursday afternoon for a free draft party to celebrate the team's newest players.
“We started in Tempe," said Matti Barone, a season ticket holder since the Cardinals first arrived in Arizona in 1988. "Whoever they pick, that's alright with me."
The Great Lawn hosted food, activations, booths, and a kid's zone equipped with games and a zipline. It was all for Cardinals fans to celebrate the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I like the organization and what they're doing. They're bringing in young people, the guys that have been backups and so forth, giving them two-year deals. They're hungry. They're going to play hard and they've bought into what Jonathan Gannon is doing and that's a great thing," said Rodney and Karen Roth.
Fans wanted to be together as they watched the future of the franchise unfold.
“You could feel the new sense of energy that we have as a team, said Jason Murdoch. "You know, fresh slate, new coach, new general manager, you could see we're actually taking steps forward as to being a better organization.”
There was only one player on fans' minds - Marvin Harrison Jr. And when the pick for the wide receiver was announced, the fans erupted in cheers.
Few are more excited, however, than Harrison Jr.'s former Ohio State teammate and last year's first round pick, Paris Johnson Jr.
“How much of an influence did you have on the pick?” asked 12News reporter Bianca Buono.
"I can't take any credit. I can't take any credit for influencing the pick. I think anybody who turns on the tape knows he's wide receiver 1 and I think everybody in the front office and everybody around the league kind of knows that," Johnson Jr. said.
The draft party ended with a huge fireworks display, a fitting celebrating for a fanbase confident in the foundation that was built.
“I feel like this 2024 draft is the draft that's gonna take us to that next step," Murdoch said. We're going to be talked about as a playoff contending team and I'm excited."
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