Why Glendale Should be on Your List of Must-See US Cities
About Glendale
Glendale, Arizona offers the lively amenities of a metropolitan city without stress or congestion. With 360 days of sunshine and surrounding mountain views, this is the perfect destination any time of year. Set to host its third Super Bowl in 2023, as well as the Men’s Championship Final Four Basketball in 2024, this city is well-versed in and equipped for hosting mega sports events. A trip to Glendale means a stunning and fun-filled experience for every age.
Mission
To create one-of-a-kind travel experiences through captivating activities and events.
Featured Facilities
State Farm Stadium
Home of the Arizona Cardinals, State Farm Stadium is truly one of a kind. As the first stadium to ever feature a rollout field and retractable roof, it is equipped to host a variety of events, from professional to amateur sports. The stadium can seat 60,000+ and encompasses 1.7 million square feet of space. Most notably, the venue has hosted two Super Bowls and two National College Football Championship games and has won multiple awards including Best New Venue of the 2000s by SportsIllustrated.com. The natural grass playing field can be put out within 70 minutes by pushing a single button. State Farm Stadium will host its third Super Bowl on February 12, 2023.
Gila River Arena
Opened in 2003, this 223-acre multipurpose venue offers a first-rate experience for all event attendees, whether it be for professional sports games or big-name concerts. Gila River Arena can seat 18,300 and features 87 luxury suites. Past concert headliners at the arena include Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, and Madonna.
Camelback Ranch – Glendale
The Camelback Ranch is a desert oasis, surrounded by walking trails, water features, and citrus groves. This world-class baseball facility is the Spring Training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers and is complete with a replica home field for each team. In all, the 118,000 square-feet venue features Major and Minor League clubhouse space, 13 full baseball fields and three half-fields, and is a site to see in itself.
Things to Do
Westgate Entertainment District
For an all-in-one shopping, dining, and entertainment experience, head to Westgate Entertainment District. This outdoor, stunning mixed-use development is a must-do during your visit to Glendale. Explore over 20 restaurants, Arizona’s largest AMC theater, a comedy club, axe throwing, and dozens of retailers. Visitors will discover live music on most days and even an outdoor ice-skating rink seasonally.
Tanger Outlets
For more shopping, head over to Tanger Outlets, an outdoor outlet mall with more than 90 leading brand names and designer outlet stores. This is the perfect destination for the family after the game.
Topgolf Glendale
For an interactive experience with the family, check out Topgolf Glendale, a premier entertainment destination in Glendale. The venue boasts 3 floors, over 200 HDTVs, a bar and restaurant, and 100+ climate-controlled hitting bays for guests to enjoy year-round.
Desert Diamond Casino
Right in the Sports & Entertainment District, Desert Diamond Casino boasts 75,000 square feet of gaming space and offers the best casino experience in the state. The casino offers 1,400 slot machines, electronic and live table games, three restaurants, and three bars with craft beers and cocktails. On the weekends, the Westgate Circular Shuttle Bus stops at major attractions, including right at the casino.
Nature Trails
The city of Glendale is home to many miles of nature trails. Thunderbird Conservation Park offers a picturesque desert hike with 1,185-acres of conservation land and offers beautiful mountain vistas of Glendale and the greater Phoenix valley. The park features over 15 miles of multi-use trails that range from easy to difficult hiking. Whether you’d like to horseback ride, hike, or bike, you are sure to find your preference amidst the plethora of nature trails in Glendale.
Crystal Lagoons®, Island Resort
The Crystal Lagoons®, Island Resort in Glendale will be the first of its kind in the nation. The entertainment destination is under construction and is set to open in 2022. The resort will feature the first-of-its-kind Mattel Adventure Park™, a Hot Wheels rollercoaster, a Thomas & Friends indoor theme park, boutique shops, themed restaurants, and live entertainment.
Upcoming Events
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
Each year on New Year’s Day, Glendale hosts the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, a college football bowl game, at State Farm Stadium. The 51st annual game was held on January 1, 2022, between Oklahoma State and Notre Dame. Oklahoma State beat Notre Dame in a historic win 37-35. Year after year, the game brings tons of players, parents, and fans to the city.
Section 7 Basketball Tournaments
Visit Glendale is a sponsor of Section 7 Tournaments, annual large-scale high school basketball tournaments that will be held at State Farm Stadium for the next 3 years. The tournament puts 160 of the best high school teams in the West in front of 400+ college coaches across 12 premier courts. The event is an exciting opportunity for young athletes to get noticed on the big stage. This year’s Section 7 Tournament will take place from June 17-19, 2022. The upcoming 2023 Super Bowl that will be hosted on February 12, 2023 will be held at State Farm Stadium as well.
2022 Festival Fiesta Classic
Get ready for the 10th annual Festival Fiesta Classic at the State Farm Stadium from February 19-21, 2022! The youth volleyball event will bring over 400 club teams across the US and Canada to compete in this high-energy tournament. “This is one of our largest volleyball events of the year. Our team at Visit Glendale is looking forward to it,” says Eveline Vanda, National Sales Manager.
2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball
State Farm Stadium will welcome back the NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball, hosting its second Final Four tournament in 2024. The stadium hosted its first Men’s Final Four event in 2017 when North Carolina defeated Gonzaga 71-65 to win the championship game. 153,780 fans attended the 2017 championship and semifinal games making the event the second most attended final two sessions in NCAA history.
Travel Tips
The city of Glendale is only a 20-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, making it a quick conduit for international traveling as well as domestic flights. The city also has its own award-winning airport, Glendale Municipal Airport, for those looking to fly directly into Glendale. Most hotels are in the Westgate area near Tanger Outlets and State Farm Stadium. Visitors can choose from major names like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, or the full-service Renaissance with an on-site spa, large pool cabana area, and restaurant. On the weekends, the Westgate Circulator Shuttle Bus runs through the sports and entertainment district to provide stress-free transportation around Glendale’s major attractions.
Testimonials
“When looking to start a new annual event, Glendale stood out as our top choice with the world-class State Farm Stadium, the Westgate Entertainment District, great shopping and dining options, and an abundance of supply with hotel rooms. The team of Visit Glendale helps us navigate the area and build the local relationships we need to make our event a success.”
Bryan Kelly, President of Festival Sports and Organizer of Festival Fiesta Classic
“We could not be more thrilled to partner with Visit Glendale on Section 7. Their flexibility, hospitality, and overall professionalism is second to none. There is no city in America that we would rather host this event in than Glendale, Arizona.”
Matt King, Chief Operating Officer, Position Sports Organizer of Section 7 Basketball Tournament
For more information or to book your next event in Glendale today head to their profile here!
