The start of the Arizona Cardinals' annual summer training camp has given many Flagstaff business owners a temporary case of color blindness.

Instead of a brilliant red, many are seeing the color green.

The three-week camp is expected to inject roughly $2.3 million into the Flagstaff economy, according to Northern Arizona University economist Ron Gunderson.

The economics professor said that although this year's training camp is a few days shorter than the time the Cardinals usually spend in Flagstaff, the overwhelming popularity of the team this year will more than make up for the shorter schedule.

The $2.3 million is essentially icing on the cake for the local economy, representing money above what would normally be spent by tourists during the same time period.

Direct spending by all parties — the 150-person Cardinals entourage, out-of-town fans, the news media and various promotions by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and other sponsors — accounts for roughly $1.6 million.

Indirect spending, or the extra amount local businesses spend to meet demand for goods and services created by the Cardinals camp, totaled about $700,000. Indirect spending accounts for the amount local businesses spent to meet the demands of Cardinals camp.

MIXED FINANCIAL INDICATORS

Financial indicators from the city — particularly the city's bed, board and beverage tax — offer a mixed message on the Cardinals' overall impact. Taxable tourist-related sales in Flagstaff have shown year-over-year increases for the months of July and August over the last five years, even including 2005, when the Cardinals were not in town.

Gunderson said he expects a larger economic impact from greater news media interest at the camp this year and from Valley-based day trippers who are substituting their annual summer vacation for a weekend in Flagstaff to see the professional team.

The latter, he says, is a function of the economy as much as the success of the Cardinals.

"Instead of taking a major trip out-of-state, people might say, 'Let's go to Flagstaff and see the Cards,'" Gunderson said.

The economist says he believes belt-tightening won't be an issue for the die-hard Cardinals fans. He said the training camp is a yearly ritual for the hardcore fans who would rather cut other expenses than cut back the number of days they stay at the training camp.

"Those that come up will still come up," he said. "Maybe they will spend a little less."

GRANNY'S CLOSET BOOMING

Business is booming for one restaurant just north of campus. Granny's Closet owner Martin Zanzucchi said he had people lining up early on the first official day of practice.

"As soon as we opened the door there was a line of Cardinals fans ready for lunch," he said.

Zanzucchi predicts his business will double as a result of the training camp.

"We will be twice as busy as the weeks before the training camp," he said. "This is the start of our busy season."

A huge Cardinals fan, Zanzucchi said last year it wasn't only the fans interested in grabbing dinner at the popular Flagstaff restaurant. The team stopped in twice last year — and nearly cleaned him out.

The hungry players and coaches came in late Wednesday night two weeks in a row, forcing the kitchen to stay open late as players ordered steaks and other items off the menu until the kitchen was nearly empty.

The other customers loved it — as did Zanzucchi.

QUALITY INN GETS BOOST

Mina Townsdin, the general manager of the Quality Inn, said the impact of the Cardinals training camp is significant compared to other weeks during the summer.

"We definitely see a significant difference when they come in town," she said. "We can count on selling out on the weekends the Cardinals are here."

Other weekends are hit and miss, Townsdin said. The recession has hit the Flagstaff tourism economy hard, as families on the West and East coasts take shorter vacations closer to home.

But not the fans from Phoenix. They are still coming up in droves to see the Cardinals play, she said.

She said the fans like her hotel for its close proximity to the NAU practice fields where the Cardinals are working out.

But the wives of the players must be staying somewhere else.

"We don't see the families (of the players), but we do see the fans," she said.

But some hotels are having a little harder time quantifying the impact Cardinals fans are having in terms of filling up rooms on already busy weekends.

Jeff Theiss, the general manager of the Drury Inn, said his hotel is full on most summer weekends. He said a full calendar of events on most weekends and the cool weather are enough to draw tourists even without the fans.

"There is so much going on in the community, I really can't tell difference," he said.

He said the weekend before the Cardinals came to Flagstaff, his hotel was already booked.

"There is nothing left," Theiss said.

15,000 FOR A SCRIMMAGE?

The first public day of training brought thousands of eager fans eager to catch a glimpse of the NFC champions and maybe get an autograph. Because the team's popularity has never been higher, it's difficult to know how many Cardinals fans will visit the camp over the next few weeks.

Skydome Director Dave Brown predicts turnout for the Red & White outdoor practice game could bring between 10,000 and 15,000 fans this year. Most years, the scrimmage attracts 4,000 to 5,000 fans.

Brown doubles the number of students working at the Skydome to 40 during the Cardinals' training camp.

"They do everything — from weed-eating around the fields to making sure that the Dome is clean." he said. "We keep them busy preparing for the Cardinals."

Brown said that although the one-year contract extension between NAU and the Cardinals was reached at the last minute, he is confident that a multi-year contract will be reached soon.

"We wanted to get the one-year (contract) done," he said. "We hope to have a multi-year contract later this fall."

Brown estimated the one-year contract with the Cardinals is worth $750,000 in revenue to the university, with the team paying for the dorms, meal service, a stipend for the university as well as rental of the Skydome.

But reaching the agreement with the NFC Champions required guidance from someone well above his pay grade, Brown concedes.

PRESIDENTIAL PERSUASION

NAU President John Haeger said he used the "bully pulpit" of his office and various resources of the university to secure a deal.

The former history professor said he made the decision years ago that the Cardinals training camp was important for both NAU and the community.

"They are a tremendous economic engine for the university and this town," Haeger said. "When we look at the economic impact, it was an easy decision to make."

But Haeger concedes there are also indirect benefits of bringing a popular sports franchise to NAU, even if it is only for a couple of weeks.

"You've got to remember we once had eight years of enrollment declines at NAU," he said. "We want to familiarize young people with NAU by getting them to set foot on campus."

As for future training camps, Haeger has high hopes that he will be able to find funds for much-needed renovations to the Skydome as well as monies for a new health and wellness building, which would give the Cardinals access to state-of-the-art weight training rooms.

Joe Ferguson can be reached at jferguson@azdailysun.com or 556-2253.

By the numbers

15,000 —Number of the fans expected at the "Red & White" outdoor practice game

$750,000 — Value of the Cardinals contract to NAU

$2.3 million — Overall economic impact of the training camp

$50,000 — City of Flagstaff's contribution