If you want to watch a sports game in Arizona, then you not only have a pretty broad choice, but you can also visit some of the most amazing stadiums in the US.
There are over a dozen professional sports teams in this Southwestern State which is home to some of the aridest landscapes in the country.
4 of the professional teams in Arizona compete in the major leagues, including the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and the Arizona Coyotes (NFL).
As you surely, expected, several of the stadiums on this list are indoor arenas. After all, playing ice hockey in such a hot climate simply isn’t possible.
So what are the biggest stadiums in Arizona? Let’s find out!
State Farm Stadium is the largest stadium in Arizona by capacity and has been one of the most popular stadiums in the United States since it was completed in 2006. Not only does it serve as the home of the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) but it also hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl, a prestigious American college football game.
The stadium can be expanded by approximately 8,800 seats to host special games, including the Super Bowl which was held here in 2008 and 2015. It will also host the 2023 Super Bowl, something that emphasizes attractive the stadium is to host major events. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful stadiums in the United States as well.
State Farm Stadium / John Martinez Pavliga / Wiki Commons
2. Sun Devil Stadium
Location: Tempe
Capacity: 53,599
Sun Devil Stadium is the largest college football stadium in Arizona and is located on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe. The stadium serves as the home of the Arizona State Sun Devils (NCAA) and has done so since it was originally completed in 1958.
This was also the stadium where the Arizona Cardinals played their home games between 1988 and 2006 before they moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The Fiesta Bowl took place here between 1971 and 2006. The stadium has been expanded and renovated numerous times, including a project completed between 2015 and 2018.
Sun Devil Stadium / Clintus McGintus / Wiki Commons
3. Arizona Stadium
Location: Tuscon
Capacity: 50,800
Arizona Stadium is another college football stadium that is located on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson. The Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 Conference have played their home games in this fascinating stadium since the year 1929, which is quite a while ago indeed.
The stadium has undergone more than one facelift since its completion as a 7,000-seat stadium in the late 1920s. The latest renovation project was completed in 2013. The Copper Bowl was once played here between 1989 and 1999 and the stadium is still the venue of the annual Arizona Bowl.
Arizona Stadium / Wcarlisle4 / Wiki Commons
4. Chase Field
Location: Phoenix
Capacity: 48,405
Chase Field is a huge baseball park and one of the largest baseball stadiums in the world. It ranks 9th on the list with a capacity of 48,405 which is quite huge. The stadium is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) and has been since they moved here in 1998.
The capacity of the stadium isn’t the only thing that makes it special. It was the first stadium in the United States that features a retractable roof above a natural grass playing field. It also features a pool in the right-center field which is part of a suite that can be rented for $3,500 during games. After all, the price to build the stadium was $355 million, the equivalent of over $590 million today.
Chase Field / Beyond My Ken / Wiki Commons
5. Desert Diamond Arena
Location: Glendale
Capacity: 19,000
Desert Diamond Arena is the current name of an indoor arena that has been known as the Glendale Arena and the Gila River Arena. It’s a multi-purpose arena that is an integral part of the huge $1 billion Westgate Entertainment District, about 12.5 miles (20.1 kilometers) northwest of downtown Phoenix.
It’s located just north of State Farm Stadium and cost $220 million to build between 2002 and 2003. That’s the equivalent of over $330 million today. It served as the home of the Arizona Coyotes (NHL) between 2003 and 2022 but they have recently moved to the much smaller Mullett Arena.
Gila River Arena / Kyvuh / Wiki Commons
6. Footprint Center
Location: Phoenix
Capacity: 17,071
Footprint Center is the current name of the former Phoenix Suns Arena, a name that reveals that it served as the home of the Phoenix Suns basketball team (NBA). Compared to some other stadiums in Arizona, especially the indoor arenas, it’s a relatively old venue that was completed in 1992.
It has been the home of the Phoneix Suns ever since but has been used by various other teams as well, including the Arizona Coyotes (NFL) between 1996 and 2003. The arena has been renovated twice in its history, once in 2003 and once recently in 2020.
Footprint Center in Arizona / Jeff Turner / Wiki Commons
7. Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Location: Phoenix
Capacity: 14,870
The Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is even much older than the Footprint Center because this historic indoor arena in Phoenix was constructed between 1964 and 1965. It’s the former home of the Phoenix who played their home games here between 1968 and 1992.
About a dozen other sports teams once played their home games here, including basketball and ice hockey teams. It’s located at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, the place where the annual Arizona State Fair takes palce. Remarkably, no changes have been made to this indoor arena since the 1960s except for fixing the leaking roof on multiple occasions.
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum / Marine 69-71 / Wiki Commons
8. Tucson Convention Center
Location: Tuscon
Capacity: 8,962
The Tucson Convention Center was formerly known as the Tucson Community Center and is a large convention center that can be used for a variety of purposes since it was completed in 1971. The centerpiece of the complex is the arena that can seat 8,962 people.
This is just one of the venues inside the complex which also features 2 performing arts halls, one with 2,289 seats and one with 511 seats. Apart from meetings, the arena can also be used for sports events and currently serves as the home of the University of Arizona Wildcats club hockey team.
Tucson Convention Center / Rich Luhr / Wiki Commons
9. Findlay Toyota Center
Location: Prescott Valley
Capacity: 5,100
Findlay Toyota Center is the current name of a large indoor arena that was formerly known as the Prescott Valley Convention & Events Center. It was constructed between 2005 and 2006 at a cost of $36 million, the equivalent of nearly $50 million today.
The multi-purpose arena can be used for basketball, American indoor football, and ice hockey games but also for concerts. Several sports teams once called this arena home but the only tenant at the moment is the Northern Arizona Wranglers of the IFL (Indoor Football League).
Findlay Toyota Center / MB / Wiki Commons
10. Mullett Arena
Location: Tempe
Capacity: 4,600
Mullett Arena is a brand-new indoor arena that was constructed between 2021 and 2022 for a total cost of $134 million. This hefty price tag doesn’t correspond with the arena’s capacity because it only has 4,600 seats (during NFL games). This is rather low compared to other venues.
The arena is the new home of the Arizona Coyotes (NFL). It is also used by the Arizona State Sun Devils men’s and women’s ice hockey teams and the Sun Devil’s gymnastics team. As a brand-new venue, it features all the modern facilities you expect in such a state-of-the-art arena.
