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Desert Diamond Arena (originally Glendale Arena and formerly Jobing.com Arena and Gila River Arena) is an indoor entertainment arena located in Glendale, Arizona, which anchors the 223-acre, $1 billion Westgate Entertainment District.

Key Information

Located about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) northwest of downtown Phoenix, the arena was built east of Arizona Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) and on the north side of West Maryland Avenue at a cost of $220 million. Owned by the City of Glendale and managed by ASM Global, Desert Diamond Arena is home to the Indoor Football League's Arizona Rattlers (since 2024) and was home to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Arizona Coyotes from 2003 until 2022. Since then it hosts concerts and other entertainment acts throughout the year. Desert Diamond Arena has a seating capacity of 17,125 for ice hockey, 18,300 for basketball and about 19,000 for concert events. The arena has 3,075 club seats and 87 luxury suites.

History

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Desert Diamond Arena before a Coyotes game; from south end, looking north

After the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix in 1996, they spent their first 7+ seasons playing at America West Arena (AWA) as the Phoenix Coyotes. AWA had been designed as the new home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns only four years earlier, so it had to be quickly retrofitted for hockey. The arena floor was barely large enough to fit an NHL regulation size hockey rink and some seats on the upper level hung over the boards. That obstructed the views for up to 3,000 spectators. As a result, before the team's second season in Phoenix, its hockey seating capacity was reduced from 18,000+ seats to 16,210 — then the second-smallest capacity in the NHL. After the Colorado Avalanche moved from McNichols Sports Arena into the Pepsi Center in 1999 and the Toronto Maple Leafs from Maple Leaf Gardens into the Air Canada Centre later that same season, America West Arena became the smallest NHL venue.

When the Coyotes were sold to a partnership led by Phoenix real estate developer Steve Ellman, they committed to build a new arena in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. A lease agreement was signed with the City of Glendale in 2001, construction began on April 3, 2002, and the arena opened midway through the 2003–04 NHL season. The National Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting hosted the first sporting event in the arena, a 16–12 2004 NLL season opening victory against the Vancouver Ravens on December 26, 2003. The next evening, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted their first game before a standing room-only crowd of 19,052 ending in a 3–3 tie against the Nashville Predators. Their first win in Glendale was on December 31, 2003, with a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

On August 19, 2021, the city of Glendale chose not to renew its contract with the team after the 2021–22 season, putting the franchise's future in Arizona into question. The Coyotes announced they would be seeking to build a new venue in Tempe in response.[8] The final Coyotes home game at the arena was played April 29, 2022, a 5–4 comeback win against the Nashville Predators. After the season, the Coyotes moved their home games to Mullett Arena at Arizona State University, where they played for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.[9]

Two years after their move, it was discovered through a report in April 2024 that the team did not collect items bearing the Coyotes branding and left them at the arena, including Shane Doan's jersey retirement banner. It was recovered by an arena worker, who gave it to Doan when the word surfaced days after the Coyotes' final NHL game.[10]

Concerts and events

[edit]

Desert Diamond Arena has hosted numerous concerts and events since opening in December 2003. A string of concerts in the arena’s inaugural year included performances by Prince, Rod Stewart, Toby Keith, Britney Spears, and Usher. Since then, other acts performing there included U2, RBD, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine, Billie Eilish, Kenny Chesney, Mötley Crüe, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, The Eagles, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Harry Styles, Celine Dion, Coldplay, Eric Church, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Sam Smith, Bon Jovi, Khalid, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Usher, John Mayer, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, The Killers, Enhypen, Lady Gaga, Zach Bryan, Benson Boone, Laufey, and For King & Country.

Desert Diamond Arena events in recent years included UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje, UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2, Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva, Nitro Circus Live, WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, Stars on Ice, 2021 Gold Over America Tour, Street League Skateboarding, and WEC 53. The arena has hosted the traveling family-oriented shows Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Sesame Street Live, the Harlem Globetrotters and Cirque du Soleil.

Since 2005, the arena has hosted the Arizona state high school basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading tournaments in an event called "February Frenzy," resulting from a formal agreement between the City of Glendale and the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).

The highest grossing event in venue history was UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 on June 12, 2021, with 17,208 guests in attendance and $4,281,800 in revenue.

The arena was the temporary home of the Arizona Rattlers arena/indoor football team when their home arena, the Footprint Center, was unavailable due to other events. It hosted the Arena Football League's ArenaBowl XXIX in 2016, the Indoor Football League's playoffs in 2019 and was scheduled to host the team's IFL home season in 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona.

Prior to the 2018–19 season, the Coyotes purchased and installed the center-hung scoreboard that was formerly used by the defunct The Palace of Auburn Hills.[11]

The arena was a regular stop for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR)'s Premier Series for several years. Since 2022, it has become the home of the PBR's Arizona Ridge Riders during the PBR Team Series season held from the summer to autumn.

The Arizona Rattlers announced that they would be moving to Desert Diamond Arena in 2024, after using the arena as a temporary home previously. This gives the arena their first tenant after the Arizona Coyotes had left in 2022.

On February 19, 2025, it was announced that All Elite Wrestling would hold their Double or Nothing pay-per-view at the arena on May 25, 2025.

During the memorial service of conservative activist and Arizona resident Charlie Kirk at nearby State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 following his assassination eleven days prior, overflow attendees were sent to Desert Diamond Arena.[12]

Naming rights

[edit]

Glendale Arena was renamed Jobing.com Arena after a Phoenix-based employment website under a ten-year, $30 million contract established in October 2006.[13]

The Coyotes terminated their agreement with Jobing.com and immediately announced a new nine-year naming and sponsorship deal on August 13, 2014, with Gila River Casinos — a group of tribal casinos that are controlled by the Gila River Indian Community. Former Coyotes President/CEO and Alternate Governor Anthony LeBlanc described the new agreement as the "most significant deal" made by the team under its new IceArizona ownership.[14] With it, the Gila River community became the first federally recognized Native American tribe to hold a naming rights deal with a venue for one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.[15]

On August 23, 2022, the arena reached an agreement with Desert Diamond Casino to rename the arena as Desert Diamond Arena.[16]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Desert Diamond Arena

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Desert Diamond Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in . Opened on December 26, 2003, the facility features a of 19,000 for concert events and includes 53 luxury suites and 12 suite lounge loges.
Previously known as Gila River Arena, the venue underwent a name change in August 2022 following a 10-year agreement with Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, which also partners with venue manager ASM Global to enhance programming and operations. From its inception until 2022, it served as the home arena for the National Hockey League's , as well as other teams including the Arizona Sting of the and Arizona State Sun Devils hockey. Following the Coyotes' departure amid contractual disputes with the city of Glendale, the arena has shifted focus to concerts, professional events, and family entertainment, achieving record attendance and economic impact in recent years. In 2024 and 2025, it underwent a $42 million to modernize facilities and attract more diverse programming.

History

Planning and construction

The City of , pursued development of a new multi-purpose arena in the early to serve as the centerpiece of the , a 223-acre mixed-use project intended to attract sports franchises and stimulate economic growth through entertainment venues, retail, and hospitality. Site selection focused on undeveloped land near Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, with planning emphasizing integration into a broader urban district rather than standalone construction. A lease agreement between developers and the city was finalized in 2001, paving the way for public commitment to the project. Groundbreaking occurred on April 3, 2002, following architectural design by HOK Sport, which planned for an initial seating capacity of about 18,000, configurable for hockey, , and concerts. The build process prioritized a modern enclosed arena layout suitable for tenancy, with managed to meet a tight timeline amid rising material costs. The facility reached substantial completion within 21 months, reflecting efficient project execution despite the scale. Financing relied heavily on public resources, with the city issuing $180 million in bonds to cover the bulk of the $220 million total cost, constituting direct subsidies without equivalent mandates at the outset. This approach hinged on projected revenue from district-wide development to service , though initial economic models assumed sustained and event tenancy to justify the . No voter was required for bond issuance, underscoring municipal discretion in allocating taxpayer funds to aimed at long-term job creation and .

Opening and early operations

The arena opened on December 26, 2003, as Glendale Arena, with its inaugural event featuring the Sting of the defeating the Ravens 16–12 in a regular-season game. Owned by the City of Glendale and managed by SMG (now part of ASM Global), the facility was designed from inception as a multipurpose venue capable of hosting sports, concerts, and conventions within the broader development. Early operations emphasized diverse programming to build attendance and revenue streams beyond sports tenancy. In its first full year of , the arena accommodated a range of concerts and exhibitions, contributing to initial ticket sales and concessions income as part of Glendale's strategy to position the site as an entertainment anchor. By 2005, it had expanded to include Arizona state high school championships in , , wrestling, and , underscoring its utility for regional non-professional events. These initial activities generated baseline operational metrics, with the city's oversight under SMG focusing on maximizing non-sports utilization to offset costs from the $220 million . Specific early-year figures from tickets and concessions were not publicly detailed, but the venue's quick adoption for mixed-use supported Glendale's economic goals for the district.

NHL era and Arizona Coyotes tenancy

The relocated from America West Arena in to the newly constructed Glendale Arena, opening on December 26, 2003, with the team's first game there on December 27, 2003. The move was facilitated by a agreement with the City of Glendale, which had invested approximately $180 million of the arena's $220 million cost to attract an NHL tenant and stimulate economic development in the . Initial terms provided the team with favorable conditions, including low rent, but evolved over time amid financial disputes, leading to city subsidies covering operating losses, such as $50 million paid from 2010 to 2013 to retain the franchise. Attendance at Glendale Arena for Coyotes games peaked in the early years, averaging around 16,000 fans per game in the 2003-04 season amid novelty and playoff appearances, with further boosts during the 2011-12 postseason run to the Western Conference Finals that drew sellout crowds and generated temporary economic activity through ticket sales and concessions. However, regular-season attendance declined post-2010s, often averaging below 12,000 per game by the late 2010s—representing less than 70% capacity in the 17,125-seat venue—despite occasional playoff qualifications in 2010, 2011, and 2018. These figures contributed to ongoing renegotiations, including a 2013 agreement guaranteeing the team $15 million annually in management fees and subsidies from the city, later reduced to $6.5 million in 2015 amid cost-shifting for hockey operations. The arena's infrastructure supported through annual ice installations, typically completed in , and maintenance of systems, with costs largely borne by Glendale under provisions that included utilities, operating expenses, and free for the team. These public expenditures escalated as attendance shortfalls necessitated subsidies to cover shortfalls, highlighting the financial burden on taxpayers for sustaining the tenancy through 2022, when the city declined to renew the amid disputes over and arena viability.

Post-NHL transition and team relocations

The Arizona Coyotes concluded their tenancy at the arena following the 2021–22 NHL season, during which they hosted 41 home games amid ongoing disputes with Glendale over lease terms and arena viability. After relocating operations to Arizona State University's Mullett Arena for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, the franchise pursued a new arena development in Tempe, but voters rejected the public land deal on May 16, 2023. This failure contributed to the NHL's approval of the team's sale to Smith Entertainment Group on April 18, 2024, with hockey operations relocating to Salt Lake City for the 2024–25 season under the new Utah Hockey Club banner. In the interim, the arena navigated vacancy risks by prioritizing event diversification, including expanded concert bookings to offset the loss of regular NHL attendance, though specific pre- and post-departure utilization metrics remain limited in public reporting. The venue hosted sporadic sports and entertainment events during 2022–23, but primary tenancy shifted toward shorter-term activations. On November 6, 2023, the Arizona Rattlers, a professional indoor football team in the Indoor Football League (IFL)—a league featuring fast-paced, arena-style American football on a 50-yard field—announced their relocation to Desert Diamond Arena from Phoenix's Footprint Center, effective for the 2024 season. The move aligned with the arena's post-NHL strategy to secure a consistent mid-sized sports tenant, leveraging the venue's ice-removal capabilities for football configurations. The Rattlers debuted at the arena on March 23, 2024, against the Vegas Knight Hawks, posting a 14–5 regular-season record and advancing to host playoff games, culminating in an IFL championship victory. This transition marked the arena's pivot to indoor football as a core programming element, with initial attendance and performance metrics indicating stabilized operations compared to prior vacancy concerns.

Naming rights and sponsorships

Evolution of naming deals

The arena opened on October 26, 2003, as Glendale Arena, reflecting its location in , without an initial corporate sponsor. In 2006, the secured a 10-year naming rights agreement valued at $30 million with Jobing.com, a Phoenix-based online employment services company, renaming the venue Jobing.com Arena effective January 2007. The deal provided Jobing.com with prominent branding visibility tied to NHL games and events, amid a competitive market for arena sponsorships where corporate partners sought association with professional sports to enhance regional . The Jobing.com agreement was terminated early in August 2014, two years ahead of its scheduled expiration, to facilitate a new partnership amid expiring contract dynamics and interest from alternative bidders seeking long-term venue association. On August 13, 2014, the Coyotes announced a nine-year naming rights deal with Gila River Casinos, owned by the Gila River Indian Community, renaming it Gila River Arena; financial terms were not publicly disclosed, marking the first such tribal sponsorship for a major professional sports venue. This shift highlighted evolving sponsorship trends, with tribal gaming enterprises leveraging arena naming to expand brand reach beyond traditional casino markets, driven by revenue-sharing models and competitive bidding that prioritized strategic alignments over prior incumbents.

Current Desert Diamond partnership

On August 23, 2022, Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, a gaming enterprise owned by the Tohono O'odham Nation, announced a partnership with the City of Glendale and ASM Global, the arena's management operator, resulting in the venue's rebranding from Gila River Arena to Desert Diamond Arena. The agreement took effect immediately and extends for at least ten years. Financial details of the deal, including annual payments to the city, have not been publicly disclosed, though prior arena naming rights in the region ranged from approximately $600,000 to $1 million annually based on historical precedents. The partnership emphasizes strategic alignment between the arena's event programming and Desert Diamond's casino operations, located less than one mile away in the West Valley, to foster interconnected promotions, special offers, and enhanced entertainment synergies such as tied-in hotel and resort expansions. This includes joint efforts to secure high-profile concerts and events, exemplified by 2023 bookings for acts like Rage Against the Machine and Carrie Underwood. In Arizona's tribal-state gaming compacts under the , such sponsorships enable Tohono O'odham Nation properties like Desert Diamond to extend brand reach off-reservation while adhering to revenue-sharing and regulatory limits with the state. Post-agreement, the arena achieved record gross ticket sales exceeding prior highs by over $10 million in 2023, alongside peak attendance and profitability, reflecting boosted non-sports event bookings under the new sponsorship framework.

Facilities and design

Architectural features and capacity

Desert Diamond Arena maintains a fixed seating with a capacity of 18,300 in its primary and hockey configurations, reducing to 17,125 seats when optimized for sightlines. Concert setups allow for up to 19,000 attendees through reconfiguration of floor space and end-stage positioning. The venue incorporates 3,075 club-level seats distributed across premium sections, alongside 53 luxury suites accommodating 12 to 18 guests each. Originally designed by the architectural firm HOK Sport (now operating as Populous), the arena's structure features a flat roof supported by a system, enabling unobstructed interior spans suitable for multipurpose events. This engineering choice facilitates efficient load distribution and integration with the adjacent , including proximity to less than 0.5 miles away. Acoustic considerations in the original build prioritized balanced sound propagation across the seating bowl, with the enclosed design minimizing external noise interference while supporting varied event formats. Life safety systems include integrated fire suppression mechanisms, automated alarms, and multiple egress paths compliant with standards, as verified through initial construction-phase inspections and ongoing operational certifications. The layout emphasizes radial circulation from the bowl to 24 exterior entry points, ensuring evacuation capacities aligned with occupancy loads.

Amenities and technological upgrades

The arena includes 87 luxury suites, including two luxury tower suites and 12 party suites, positioned between the lower and upper seating bowls to provide premium viewing and options. Spacious concourses on multiple levels facilitate circulation, with access to restrooms, concessions offering a variety of food and beverage choices, and entry gates distributed around the perimeter for efficient crowd flow. Technological features encompass a center-hung LED display system manufactured by , supplemented by a high-definition videoboard installed in 2018 for enhanced scoring, replays, and event visuals. Parking accommodations consist of multiple on-site lots (including G, J, L, Yellow, Garage, and VIP areas) integrated with the , supporting vehicle access via pre-paid passes for standard 12'x18' spaces and additional arrangements for oversized vehicles. The district's free Westgate Circulator shuttle service connects areas to the arena and surrounding venues on event days, operating Fridays through Sundays with stops every 40 minutes. Accessibility measures align with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring designated -accessible seating sections throughout the venue, complimentary wheelchair escort services available upon request at guest services, and a at Section 106 equipped with chairs, a calming bubble wall, and sensory toys for guests seeking a quieter space.

Tenants and hosted events

Professional sports teams

The of the National Hockey League served as the arena's primary professional sports tenant from December 26, 2003, until the franchise's relocation to following the 2023-24 season, during which the team played 21 seasons at the venue amid ongoing disputes with Glendale over terms and arena viability. The Coyotes' tenancy was marked by chronically low attendance, averaging under 14,000 fans per game in multiple seasons despite the arena's 17,125-seat hockey capacity, which strained gate receipts and contributed to financial instability, exacerbated by a contentious that the city terminated in 2022 after years of litigation and subsidies totaling over $180 million in public funds for arena operations. On-ice performance varied, with the team posting a 665-786-12 regular-season record over the franchise's era (including pre-2003 Phoenix years), but poor fan metrics and inability to secure a new venue underscored a lack of symbiotic success, culminating in NHL approval for relocation due to the arena's small capacity and unfavorable economics relative to league revenue-sharing demands. The of the (IFL) became the arena's anchor professional sports tenant starting with the 2024 season, relocating from Phoenix's Footprint Center to Desert Diamond Arena on November 6, 2023, to leverage the venue's central location and upgraded facilities for improved fan access. The Rattlers hosted seven regular-season home games in 2024, including matchups against teams like the Duke City Gladiators (attendance: 9,562 on May 25) and (over 8,700 on April 14), culminating in a Western Conference-clinching 70-28 playoff win before 7,042 fans on , reflecting moderate gate turnout in a venue scaled for 18,300 spectators and signaling early symbiotic potential through consistent mid-tier crowds that exceed some IFL averages but fall short of NHL-era peaks. With a 12-4 regular-season record in 2024, the team's on-field dominance has helped stabilize post-Coyotes programming, though sustained higher attendance will be key to long-term venue-team alignment amid the league's variable fan metrics. The ' Ridge Riders have also established tenancy since 2023, hosting team events as part of the PBR Teams series, which draws comparable niche audiences to Rattlers games but operates on a seasonal, event-based model rather than weekly fixtures, aiding diversification without replicating hockey-scale . Earlier short-term professional tenancies included the Sting of the , who played the arena's inaugural sporting event on December 29, 2004, before folding in 2007, with limited attendance data indicating modest draw compared to subsequent NHL figures. No other sustained minor-league or exhibition professional teams have anchored here, as post-Coyotes efforts prioritize viable indoor football and over transient hockey or affiliations.

Major concerts and entertainment events

Desert Diamond Arena has increasingly positioned itself as a premier venue for music and entertainment following the departure of its primary sports tenant, with a strategic emphasis on booking high-profile concerts to drive attendance. In 2023, coinciding with the arena's 20th anniversary, it hosted 52 events that drew over 450,000 attendees, marking the highest attendance and gross revenues in its two-decade history. This surge included sold-out shows that underscored the venue's appeal for pop, rock, and hip-hop acts, with capacity reaching up to 19,000 for concerts. Notable performances have included Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour stop on December 13, 2024, which filled the arena and highlighted her command of large-scale productions despite logistical challenges for some fans. In 2025, Chris Stapleton delivered back-to-back shows on August 8 and 9 as part of his All-American Road Show, performing to enthusiastic crowds with support from Marty Stuart, capitalizing on the post-renovation enhancements. Similarly, Ice Cube's Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour on September 30, 2025, featured a set blending solo hits and N.W.A. tracks, attracting a dedicated audience and affirming the arena's draw for legacy rap acts. These bookings reflect a broader trend toward entertainment diversification, evidenced by record-setting crowds such as Zach Bryan's 2023 , which exceeded 18,000 attendees and broke an 18-year venue high. The arena's annual visitor figures, historically surpassing one million across concerts, family shows, and other non-sports programming, demonstrate sustained viability through music-focused programming.

Renovations and modernizations

Pre-2024 upgrades

In June 2017, the Glendale City Council approved a $1.1 million capital improvement plan for Gila River Arena, focusing on operational enhancements to address facility wear from intensive use, including National Hockey League (NHL) games by the Arizona Coyotes. Key components included expanded office space for arena manager AEG Facilities, upgraded radios and security cameras for improved staff coordination and safety, and installation of a new control panel for the ice plant to enhance reliability and efficiency in maintaining the rink surface amid desert climate challenges. The ice plant upgrade specifically targeted issues from prolonged NHL tenancy, where high utility costs exceeding $600,000 annually for ice maintenance—coupled with environmental factors like heat and low humidity—necessitated precise control to prevent surface degradation and ensure playable conditions during games. Subsequent incremental HVAC enhancements addressed cooling demands exacerbated by the arena's multipurpose role and Arizona's arid conditions. In 2020, the first of three cooling towers was replaced to improve system and capacity for both ice preservation and patron comfort, with the second tower scheduled for replacement in the following fiscal year. These retrofits aimed to reduce and operational strain from converting between events and concerts, though specific post-upgrade efficiency metrics, such as reduced utility expenditures, were not publicly detailed beyond general upkeep allocations. By mid-2022, the city allocated nearly $900,000 for additional capital repairs, including ongoing maintenance to sustain pre-renovation functionality without major structural changes. These pre-2024 measures prioritized targeted fixes over comprehensive overhauls, yielding modest gains in reliability—such as stabilized ice quality that supported NHL play without frequent cancellations—while deferring larger investments until after the Coyotes' departure in 2022. No evidence indicates LED lighting retrofits occurred prior to 2022 planning phases, and suite expansions remained limited, with revenue justifications tied to broader event hosting rather than dedicated additions.

2024-2025 $42 million transformation

The $42 million renovation project at Desert Diamond Arena commenced in , focusing on enhancing its appeal as a music-focused venue after the ' relocation. Completion occurred in early August 2025, with the upgraded facilities debuting during Chris Stapleton's performances on August 8. The initiative involved 23 local trade partners and over 500 workers, emphasizing interior reconfigurations for premium entertainment experiences. Central to the transformation were four new premium hospitality areas designed to elevate attendee immersion: the Bassline Bar, a VIP lounge with private entrance opening before events; the Encore Club, offering theater boxes for 6 to 12 guests with all-inclusive food and beverage service; Studio 623; and The View Lounge. These spaces incorporated modern audiovisual systems and exclusive access to foster a "total " environment for concerts. Additional enhancements included revamped concessions with expanded food and beverage options, acoustic improvements for superior sound quality, and upgraded digital signage throughout the arena. The project prioritized concert optimization, introducing luxury seating expansions and streamlined operations to accommodate larger music event capacities without altering the overall 18,300-seat venue footprint. Initial post-renovation events, such as Stapleton's shows, demonstrated heightened premium demand, with reports of strong uptake in new lounge bookings.

Economic role and public financing

Contribution to Westgate Entertainment District

Desert Diamond Arena serves as a central anchor for the 223-acre in , which represents a $1 billion encompassing retail, dining, , and facilities. The arena's events, including concerts and , directly contribute to the district's appeal by drawing significant foot traffic, with the broader sports and entertainment district attracting approximately 15 million visitors annually. In 2023, the arena itself hosted 50 events and achieved a record attendance of over 450,000 guests, surpassing prior years and amplifying regional flows. The arena fosters economic synergies with proximate assets such as , which draws 1.2 million visitors to around 200 annual events, along with adjacent casinos and hotels, creating compounded visitor circulation across the district. This integration enhances overall event foot traffic, as arena patrons extend their stays to nearby venues, supporting a multiplier effect in local spending on lodging, dining, and gaming that bolsters the district's $36.6 million in annual generation. While estimates for job creation tied to the arena often highlight thousands of positions in and related sectors, city data indicate that Glendale's , , and cluster—bolstered by the Westgate district—sustains nearly 15,000 jobs primarily in accommodations, retail, and food services. The arena has spurred approximately $2 billion in private capital investment in the area, enabling sustained growth in these industries through consistent event-driven demand.

Taxpayer subsidies and fiscal impacts

The construction of the arena, originally opened as Jobing.com Arena in 2003, was financed primarily through public bonds and taxpayer-supported mechanisms, with costs to Glendale taxpayers approaching $200 million. Ongoing operational subsidies have compounded these initial expenditures, including annual payments to arena manager ASM Global totaling $5.6 million for as of 2021. These subsidies stem from structural operating shortfalls, where event revenues have historically failed to cover full costs, leading to city general fund transfers documented in municipal budgets. Debt service obligations represent a persistent fiscal burden, with Glendale allocating approximately $13 million annually as of to service arena-related bonds, contributing to sports facilities comprising about 66% of the city's total public . In low-attendance periods, such as during the ' tenancy with average crowds below 15,000, revenues from tickets and concessions fell short of these fixed costs, resulting in net annual losses absorbed by taxpayers; for instance, general fund debt payments equated to 14% of the city's overall expenditures in fiscal year 2019. Cumulative public outlays, encompassing construction, interest on bonds, and operational deficits, have thus exceeded initial build costs, highlighting inefficiencies in return-on-investment calculations for government-backed entertainment venues. The 2024-2025 $42 million renovation, initiated under a multiyear agreement between the City of Glendale and ASM Global announced in February 2023, focuses on fan-facing upgrades like enhanced lounges and acoustics to boost concert bookings. Funding for this transformation draws from city resources tied to arena operations, with projections for payback through elevated ticket premiums and increased attendance; however, similar past investments have not eliminated underlying debt service requirements or guaranteed positive net fiscal outcomes, as evidenced by prior years' revenue-debt mismatches. Post-renovation fiscal projections remain contingent on sustained high-event volumes, amid broader empirical patterns of arena subsidies yielding limited long-term taxpayer returns.

Controversies and criticisms

Arizona Coyotes disputes and arena subsidies

In the mid-2010s, the faced protracted lease disputes with Glendale over operations at what was then Gila River Arena, culminating in the city council's 5-2 vote on June 10, 2015, to terminate a proposed 15-year, $225 million agreement due to violations of state conflict-of-interest laws involving city employees with ties to the team's management entity. The National Hockey League, led by Commissioner , advocated for retention efforts amid these battles, emphasizing the franchise's commitment to Arizona while critiquing short-term lease extensions as unsustainable. Negotiations yielded a temporary resolution in July 2015, but underlying tensions persisted, with Glendale later transitioning to year-to-year leases that the city declined to renew beyond the 2021-2022 season. To retain the team, Glendale escalated annual subsidies, providing approximately $15 million per year in direct payments to the Coyotes' ownership group starting around —on top of the arena's original $220 million public construction cost—while the team paid only $500,000 in annual rent, far below industry norms of $3 million or more for comparable NHL venues. These subsidies, intended to offset operating losses, drew for their fiscal inefficiency, as Glendale's 2021 review acknowledged they failed to generate promised economic returns, leaving taxpayers with ongoing opportunity costs amid stagnant team revenues and venue underutilization outside hockey seasons. Efforts shifted in the 2020s to securing a new arena on state trust land near Phoenix, following the team's purchase of 95 acres in 2021, but these were derailed by regulatory hurdles, including postponed land auctions by the State Land Department in June 2024 due to bidding disputes and environmental reviews. A prior proposal for a $2.1 billion in Tempe, including a 16,000-seat arena, failed a May 2023 voter amid concerns over public financing and traffic impacts, exacerbating lease instability in Glendale. These political and legal setbacks, compounded by subsidy fatigue, prompted the NHL to approve the franchise's relocation to on April 18, 2024, ending two decades of retention battles and highlighting the risks of heavy public investment in sports infrastructure without guaranteed long-term viability.

Operational and event management issues

The arena is managed by ASM Global, which assumed operations on July 1, 2016, and has reported record revenue and attendance figures, including a peak year in 2023 for the venue's two-decade history. User-generated reviews reflect mixed attendee experiences, with aggregating a 4.3 out of 5 rating across over 570 submissions, contrasted by lower scores averaging 1.9 from fewer reviews, often citing operational friction points. Safety concerns have arisen from the venue's steep stairwells, with multiple attendees reporting vertigo, balance risks, and difficulty navigating upper-level seating, particularly in second-tier sections where inclines exceed typical arena standards. The arena enforces a stringent bag policy permitting only clutches, wallets, wristlets, or crossbody bags up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches, supplemented by metal detectors and screenings, which has drawn complaints of lengthy queues, inconsistent staff courtesy during checks, and exclusion of larger personal items compared to peer venues. A notable ticketing disruption occurred during Billie Eilish's December 13, 2024, concert, where dozens to hundreds of fans were initially denied wristbands required for entry if their tickets—often purchased via third-party resellers—were not verifiable through the official app, leading to widespread frustration and accusations of invalidation without recourse. Venue staff cited security protocols, but the issue affected resale buyers disproportionately, with some reporting hours-long waits and emotional distress before resolutions via validation allowed entry. Acoustics have shown variability across events, with some patrons praising clarity for concerts while others noted challenges hearing lyrics amid amplified instrumentation, potentially exacerbated by the arena's original design predating recent renovations. No aggregated data on event cancellation rates is publicly detailed, though ASM Global's oversight has sustained high booking volumes without systemic disruptions reported in official records.

References

  1. https://www.desertdiamondarena.com/
  2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/desert-diamond-arena-reimagines-itself-140000757.html
  3. https://azbigmedia.com/lifestyle/here-are-detailed-plans-for-42m-desert-diamond-arena-reimagination/
  4. https://www.azfamily.com/2022/08/23/gila-river-arena-renamed-desert-diamond-arena/
  5. https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/article_1baca498-2302-11ed-9725-cb0b6c020509.html
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