Editing Flagstaff, Arizona (section)

==Sports==
[[File:Flagstaff NAU Skydome.jpg|thumb|Northern Arizona University's [[Walkup Skydome]] and central campus|alt=Multiple buildings in front of a forest]]

Flagstaff has no professional sports of its own, but is home to the college sports teams of Northern Arizona University. It is a popular training destination for a variety of sports, largely due to its altitude and climate.

===Northern Arizona Lumberjacks===
{{Main|Northern Arizona Lumberjacks}}

Northern Arizona University sponsors 15 sports at the [[NCAA Division I]] level, including a [[Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football|football team]] that competes at the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|Division I Football Championship Subdivision]] level.<ref name=":15">{{cite web|url=http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2008/6/9/MemberInst060908.aspx|title=Big Sky Conference – Member Institutions|publisher=Bigskyconf.com|access-date=December 2, 2015|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102153612/https://bigskyconf.com/sports/2008/6/9/MemberInst060908.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The NAU football team has a [[List of NCAA college football rivalry games|rivalry]] with the [[Southern Utah Thunderbirds football|Southern Utah Thunderbirds]], known as the [[Grand Canyon Rivalry]], based on the universities residing on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/southern-utah/2015/11/19/suu-football-demario-warren-faces-former-teammate-grand-canyon-rivalry/76085934/|title=SUU football: Demario Warren faces former teammate in Grand Canyon Rivalry|last=Miller|first=Ryan|website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|language=en|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125135912/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/southern-utah/2015/11/19/suu-football-demario-warren-faces-former-teammate-grand-canyon-rivalry/76085934/|url-status=live}}</ref> All sports are members of the [[Big Sky Conference]] with the exception of the Women's Swimming & Diving team, which competes in the [[Western Athletic Conference]].<ref name=":15" /><ref name="wac.org">{{cite web|url=http://wac.org/awards/champs.html|title=WAC team champion|publisher=Western Athletic Conference|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031345/http://wac.org/awards/champs.html|archive-date=December 1, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref> The Men's Cross Country team has featured four straight top ten finishes at the [[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|NCAA Division I Cross Country championships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_cross_country_champs_records/2013-14/DIMCC.pdf|title=NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship|work=NCAA|publisher=NCAA.org|pages=3–4|access-date=December 19, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026010415/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_cross_country_champs_records/2013-14/DIMCC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The track and field team has been home to several [[All-America#Track and field|All-Americans]], including NCAA Champion and Olympian [[Lopez Lomong]] (and brother [[Peter Lomong]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/learning-to-love-running-naus-peter-lomong-makes-a-name-for-himself/article_d2731047-430f-51b7-9019-a772c078c381.html|title=Learning to love running, NAU's Peter Lomong makes a name for himself|last=Bashore|first=Cody|website=Arizona Daily Sun|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719014435/https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/learning-to-love-running-naus-peter-lomong-makes-a-name-for-himself/article_d2731047-430f-51b7-9019-a772c078c381.html|url-status=live}}</ref> two-time NCAA Champion [[David McNeill (runner)|David McNeill]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nauathletics.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/david-mcneill/3212|title=David McNeill – Track & Field|website=Northern Arizona University Athletics|language=en|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719014435/https://nauathletics.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/david-mcneill/3212|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2012 Olympian [[Diego Estrada (runner)|Diego Estrada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20824578/naus-estrada-chases-the-american-dream/|title=NAU's Estrada Chases the American Dream|last=Gugala|first=Jon|date=June 3, 2011|website=Runner's World|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202164552/https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20824578/naus-estrada-chases-the-american-dream/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Arizona Cardinals===
From 1988 to 2012 (with the exception of the 2005 season), the [[Arizona Cardinals]] of the [[National Football League]] held their summer training camp at Northern Arizona University.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=https://nauathletics.com/news/2010/6/17/6_17_2010_856.aspx|title=NAU and the Arizona Cardinals Solidify Partnership|website=Northern Arizona University Athletics|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233629/https://nauathletics.com/news/2010/6/17/6_17_2010_856.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2005 training camp relocated to Prescott because of a [[norovirus]] outbreak at the university that emerged from a summer wrestling training camp and infected over 100 people.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/other/story/how-the-cardinals-camp-tradition-in-flagstaff-died-072413|title=How the Cardinals' camp tradition in Flagstaff died|date=July 24, 2013|website=FOX Sports|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233635/https://www.foxsports.com/other/story/how-the-cardinals-camp-tradition-in-flagstaff-died-072413|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fong|first1=Theng Theng|last2=Hoque|first2=Shamia|last3=Masago|first3=Yoshifumi|last4=Romero-Gomez|first4=Pedro|last5=Spicknall|first5=Ian|date=August 12, 2006|editor-last=Gerba|editor-first=Charles|title=Noroviruses Outbreak at Northern Arizona University|url=http://camra.msu.edu/documents/GroupB.pdf|journal=Michigan Statue University/University of Arizona|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124143131/http://camra.msu.edu/documents/GroupB.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The NAU training camp was named as one of the top five training camps in the NFL by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', citing the cooler temperature, scenic area, and the possibility for fans to get close to athletes as key points.<ref>King, Peter. "[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/peter_king/07/06/training.camps/ My top five training camps: Places to get up close and personal with NFL players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516004346/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/peter_king/07/06/training.camps/ |date=May 16, 2008 }}." ''[[Sports Illustrated]].'' July 6, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2006.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.nau.edu/sports-illustrated-gives-high-marks-to-cardinals-camp/|title='Sports Illustrated' gives high marks to Cardinals camp – NAU News|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233630/http://news.nau.edu/sports-illustrated-gives-high-marks-to-cardinals-camp/|url-status=live}}</ref> Players have said that the altitude of Flagstaff was the key benefit, as well as seeing the dedication of fans traveling to the city, but that they did not enjoy living in the NAU dorm rooms.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/1612972/little-but-memories-remain-of-cardinals-training-camp-in-flagstaff/|title=Little but memories remain of Cardinals training camp in Flagstaff|date=August 1, 2018|website=Arizona Sports|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233626/https://arizonasports.com/story/1612972/little-but-memories-remain-of-cardinals-training-camp-in-flagstaff/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Cardinals left Flagstaff in summer 2013,<ref>"[http://archive.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20130329nau-rescinds-offers-for-cardinals-camp-in-flagstaff.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150416154115/http://archive.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20130329nau-rescinds-offers-for-cardinals-camp-in-flagstaff.html|date=April 16, 2015}}"</ref> placing NAU at fault after the team was put in the visitors' facilities, though NAU had offered the home facilities when the concern was raised,<ref name=":13" /> and moved their training camp to [[State Farm Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona|Glendale]]. At Glendale, they train in a [[domed stadium]] rather than outside,{{efn|While NAU's flagship facility is the Walkup Skydome, the Cardinals also trained on their outdoor football fields.<ref name=":13"/>}} which player [[Bertrand Berry]] said took away some of the feeling of training camp, saying "there really isn't that need to practice outside when most of the games are inside, but when you talk about building a team and going through adverse situations and bonding together, I think they miss out on a little bit of that".<ref name=":14" /> The Cardinals had trained at NAU since the franchise moved to Arizona, with [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] reporting that "some argued they pulled the plug on the team's only Arizona tradition".<ref name=":13" /> [[Bill Bidwill]], owner of the Cardinals, was inducted into the Flagstaff Sports Foundation's Hall of Fame in 2009, after bringing the team and resultant tourism boost to the city for over 20 years.<ref name=":19" />

===Altitude training destination===
Flagstaff is also a popular destination for [[altitude training]]. The first elite athletes to start altitude training in the city were those going to the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] in [[Mexico City]].<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/blog/the-road-to-rio-runs-through-flagstaff/|title=Road to Rio Runs Through Flagstaff|last=Anthony|first=Sean|date=June 29, 2016|website=Discover Flagstaff|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126235351/https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/blog/the-road-to-rio-runs-through-flagstaff/|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2009 analysis showed that groups of 35 athletes spent three to eight weeks training in Flagstaff, to positive effect. This was one of the highest number of athletes and longest periods among seventeen sites used in the research.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Current issues in sports and exercise medicine|publisher=InTech|year=2013|isbn=978-9535110316|editor-last=Hamlin|editor-first=Michael|location=Rijeka|pages=214–216|oclc=852715498|editor-last2=Draper|editor-first2=Nick|editor-last3=Kathiravel|editor-first3=Yaso}}</ref> [[Australian rules football]] team [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood Magpies]] regularly train at NAU facilities,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knau.org/post/athletes-still-training-flagstaffs-high-altitude|title=Athletes still training in Flagstaff's high altitude|website=www.knau.org|date=December 7, 2010|language=en|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203081129/https://www.knau.org/post/athletes-still-training-flagstaffs-high-altitude|url-status=live}}</ref> as does the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]]-medal-winning [[Team GB]] [[British Swimming]] team.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/latest-swimming-news/arizona-altitude-camp-putting-swimmers-through-their-paces/|title=Arizona altitude camp putting swimmers through their paces|website=British Swimming|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=January 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123140625/https://www.britishswimming.org/news/latest-swimming-news/arizona-altitude-camp-putting-swimmers-through-their-paces/|url-status=live}}</ref> Another British Olympian, [[Mo Farah]], trains in Flagstaff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a28801012/mo-farahs-how-to-recover-bad-race/|title=Mo Farah's 6 Best Tips for Bouncing Back From a Bad Race{{snd}}or a Good One|last=Kuzma|first=Cindy|date=August 26, 2019|website=Runner's World|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702020135/https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a28801012/mo-farahs-how-to-recover-bad-race/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Long-distance runner [[Andrea Seccafien]] used to altitude train in Flagstaff but moved to Australia in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/bloggers/day-life-elite-training-flagstaff/|title=A day in the life of an elite training in Flagstaff|date=April 12, 2017|website=Canadian Running Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201045141/https://runningmagazine.ca/bloggers/day-life-elite-training-flagstaff/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/new-mo-farah-documentary-gives-a-glimpse-of-the-unglamorous-life-of-elite-runners/|title=New Mo Farah documentary gives a glimpse of the unglamorous life of elite runners|date=August 6, 2018|website=Canadian Running Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128175322/https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/new-mo-farah-documentary-gives-a-glimpse-of-the-unglamorous-life-of-elite-runners/|url-status=live}}</ref> saying "We don't go to Flagstaff or [[St. Moritz]] anymore which are more populated by runners and the general public. [...] Flagstaff feels quite metropolitan compared to where we are now"; the Canadian ''Running Magazine'' noted that the city becomes host to many professional runners in the spring.<ref name=":18" /> The popularity among runners is because of the altitude and pleasant climate, making it "for distance runners [...] a practically unparalleled paradise", known as the "running mecca".<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/07/12/serious-distance-runners-cant-stay-away-from-flagstaff-lure-of-high-altitude/|title=Distance runners flocking to Flagstaff for high-altitude training|date=July 12, 2019|website=Cronkite News – Arizona PBS|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022031602/https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2019/07/12/serious-distance-runners-cant-stay-away-from-flagstaff-lure-of-high-altitude/|url-status=live}}</ref> Runner Nick Hilton said that "Flagstaff and [[Boulder, Colorado]], are probably the two biggest centers for elite distance runners in the country".<ref name=":20" />

The HYPO2 altitude training center in the city is used by swimmers and runners alike, and is an elite facility that attracts many teams from around the world.<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":20" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hypo2sport.com/who-we-work-with/|title=2019 Clients & Countries|website=Hypo2Sport – Turning Thin Air into Gold|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> HYPO2 was created in 2012, largely with staff from NAU's Center for High Altitude Training, which closed in 2009. As of 2019, over 85 Olympic medalists from 44 countries trained at the facility.<ref name=":20" /> In 2016, the city advertised NAU and the HYPO2 with promotions saying "The Road to Rio Runs Through Flagstaff", prominently noting that if Flagstaff (with its training athletes) was a country, it would be in the top 10 of Olympic-medal winning nations since 1996.<ref name=":16" />

[[File:Flagstaff, United States (Unsplash).jpg|thumb|San Francisco Mountains]]