Andrew Joseph

azcentral sports

The images of AT&T Stadium during the Cowboys' Week 1 matchup with the 49ers were shocking.

Half the stadium was wearing red for a Cowboys home game. In Texas. When the 49ers scored, Jerry World erupted. It was a sight to see.

It turns out 49ers fans are hoping to repeat that showing during Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.

49er Empire Desert West, a Niners Valley fan group, posted on its Facebook page urging fans to wear white jerseys to contrast with the Cardinals' red color.

The post read:

"Thanks to all the Niner fans that made the Dallas takeover possible, YOU have inspired many of us to repeat the thrill and excitement here at the University of Phoenix Stadium. As many of you know, on Sep 21st our Niners will be in town to beat the AZ Cardinals, so a good friend of the empire has brought up an idea to have our own takeover, but it won't be in Dallas, it will be in ARIZONA!! James Dean Nottingham, AZ 49er Empire and 49er Empire Desert West challenge you to wear your WHITE 49er JERSEYS, shirts, and tops, on gameday to off-set the Cardinal's red color! We want to show all them Cardinal fans who really owns Arizona!!"

The Cardinals are looking to improve to 3-0 but have lost nine of 10 to the 49ers. The Valley's large number of Bay Area transplants makes this "takeover" concept much more feasible than what was actually achieved in Arlington. But the Valley is excited about this Cardinals team, and coach Bruce Arians hopes that'll be enough.

"Well, we had a great crowd for our Monday night game, on the opener," Arians told the media. "Historically visiting teams have had access to tickets here, and hopefully our guys are keeping theirs."

The 49ers game was the centerpiece of one of the Cardinals' usual "Protect the Nest" plans. People who wanted single-game tickets to the Niners also had to purchase tickets to the season opener against the Chargers and to the Redskins game. But that's what StubHub is for, right?

There's no doubt that the 49ers will have a large contingent, but we'll have to see if the Whiteout indeed happens.

Kent Somers contributed to this report. For more from The Heat Index, go to heatindex.azcentral.com.