Arizona offers a wide variety of sports and recreational activities to please everyone: couch potatoes weekend warriors full-on athletes and die-hard fans love the Phoenix sports scene. With year-round mild temperatures getting up and getting out has become a way of life.

Spectator Sports

 

Baseball

Arizona Diamondbacks

401 E. Jefferson St.
Phoenix AZ 85004
602-514-8400
www.arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com
Buy some peanuts and crackerjack and get in on the pro-baseball action with the Arizona Diamondbacks when they play in Chase Field. The Arizona Diamondbacks franchise began in 1998 and had won their first World Series in 2001 when the D-Backs defeated the Yankees in seven games.

Cactus League Baseball

120 North Center Street
Mesa AZ 85201
www.cactusleague.com
An Arizona springtime tradition for more than 50 years the Cactus League has grown to include twelve teams playing in seven cities throughout the state during baseball training season. Games are scheduled every day during the month of March. Upcoming changes include a brand-new dedicated Chicago Cubs stadium and operations center in Mesa scheduled to open in 2013!

See the Cactus League Spring Training chart for more details regarding teams and locations and visit the Cactus League website for game information.

 

Basketball

Phoenix Suns

US Airways Center
201 E. Jefferson St.
Phoenix AZ 85004
602-379-7900
www.nba.com/suns
From a rocky start when the franchise first began in 1968 the Phoenix Suns have since assembled a top notch roster that over the years has included Shaquille O’Neal Charles Barkley and Steve Nash. The Phoenix Suns are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association.

The US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix is the Home of the Phoenix Suns’ NBA team. 602/379-7867. Part of the new WNBA the Phoenix Mercury play from the end of June through August.

Phoenix Mercury

502 E. Monroe St.
Phoenix AZ 85004
602-252-9622
www.wnba.com
Named for the closest planet to the sun the Phoenix Mercury began in 1997 as one of the original teams of the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Arizona Scorpions / Phoenix College

623-882-2016
www.arizonascorpions.com
The Arizona Scorpions are an expansion franchise of the American Basketball Association that play home games on the campus of Phoenix College.

Arizona State University Sun Devils

Wells Fargo Arena
600 E. Veterans Way
Tempe AZ 85281
480-955-3482
thesundevils.cstv.com
Put on that maroon and gold t-shirt and get out to the Wells Fargo Arena to support the Arizona State Sun Devils as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams compete in the Pacific 10 Conference Division.

 

Football

Arizona Cardinals / University of Phoenix Stadium
One Cardinals Drive
Glendale AZ 85305
480-505-0533
www.azcardinals.com
The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest continuously operated pro sports franchise (established in 1898!) and are members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League. The Cardinals hosted and won their first NFC Championship game in 2009 against the Philadelphia Eagles going on to play in Super Bowl XLIII.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl / University of Phoenix Stadium

One Cardinals Drive
Glendale AZ 85305
480-350-0911
www.tostitosfiestabowl.com
Since 1971 college football teams have competed in the Fiesta Bowl originally held in Tempe Arizona before moving to its current home at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale in 2006.

Arizona State University Sun Devils

Sun Devils Stadium
500 E Veterans Way
Tempe AZ 85281
480-727-0000
Get in on the Pacific 10 Conference action with the Arizona State University’s Sun Devils football team as they compete in the NCAA Division I-A. Home games are played in the Sun Devils Stadium.

 

Arizona Rattlers – Arena Football

US Airways Center
201 E. Jefferson St.
Phoenix AZ 85004
602-379-2333
www.azrattlers.com
Now entering their 19th year the Arizona Rattlers are one of the premier teams of the Arena Football League.

 

Soccer

Arizona Sahuaros

Grand Canyon University
3300 W Camelback Road
Phoenix AZ 85086
623-516-2133
www.azsahuaros.com
The Arizona Sahuaros are an outdoor soccer club operating at the highest amateur level of play and are sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. The Sahuaros play at the Brazell Field on the campus of Grand Canyon University from April to August.

Phoenix Monsoon

Tolleson Union High School Stadium
Tolleson AZ
www.phoenixmonsoon.com
Founded in 2010 the Phoenix Monsoon is a semi-pro soccer team affiliated with the National Premiere Soccer League. The 2012 season is their first full regular season of play.

 

Arizona Storm

Phoenix Sports Center
3839 W. Indian School Road
Phoenix AZ 85019
602-269-6766
www.azstormfc.com
Arizona Storm is an Professional Indoor Soccer team founded in 2011. They play in the Western Division of the Professional Arena Soccer League.

 

Hockey

Arizona Coyotes

Jobing.com Arena
9400 W. Maryland Ave.
Glendale AZ 85305
480-563-7825
coyotes.nhl.com
Hockey fans can catch all the action with the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena a multi-purpose sports and entertainment center. The Phoenix Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League.

Horse Racing

Turf Paradise

1501 West Bell Road
Phoenix AZ 85023
602-942-1101
www.turfparadise.com
September through May catch live thoroughbred racing and betting on simulcast races are featured at Turf Paradise one of the Southwest’s premier racing facilities including a clubhouse dining and a picnic area complete with a playground. In addition to the racing action visitors can enjoy the tranquil beauty of the track’s olive grove floral gardens lakes and waterfall.

 

Greyhound Racing

Phoenix Greyhound Park

3801 East Washington St.
Phoenix AZ 85034
602-273-7181
www.phoenixgreyhoundpark.com
Year-round racing can be enjoyed from the climate-controlled comfort of the glass-enclosed grandstand with a great view of the action at the Phoenix Greyhound Park. This track has clubhouse dining and several lounges where spectators can relax.

Auto Racing

Firebird International Raceway

20000 Maricopa Rd.
Chandler AZ 85226
602-268-0200
www.firebirdraceway.com
On most Friday nights the sound of drag racing funny cars and jet dragsters can be heard at one or another of the three tracks at Firebird International Raceway.  The Firebird International Raceway hosts National Hot Rod Association drag races.

Phoenix International Raceway

7602 South 115th Ave.
Phoenix AZ 85323
623-463-5613
www.phoenixintlraceway.com
The Phoenix International Raceway has been described as the fastest one-mile oval in the world and is THE place to be for excitement during the Indy Car Races and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup held every spring and fall.

Golf and Tennis

FBR Open / Tournament Players Club

17020 North Hayden Rd.
Scottsdale AZ 85255
602-870-0163
www.fbropen.com
One of the top draw events of the year the FBR Open usually attracts 500000 spectators annually in late January/early February. The stadium course located next to the Scottsdale Princess Resort offers excellent opportunities for catching the action with pre-tournament events including a celebrity shoot-out a junior golf clinic and four Pro-Am events.

 

For the Participant

 

Golf

The Valley of the Sun has more than 150 golf courses: some of the best in the country. (See the golf course directory within this article for more information.)

Tennis

Tennis is also a popular pastime with over a thousand courts across the Valley. Call area city parks department for the location of public school and park courts. Listed below are a few of the top rated Tennis Centers in the Valley.

Phoenix Tennis

6330 N. 21st Ave Phoenix
602-249-3712

Mt. View Tennis

1104 E. Grovers Phoenix
602-534-2500

Kiwanis Park Tennis

6111 S. All-American Way Tempe
480-350-5201

Scottsdale Athletic Club

8225 E. Indian Bend Road Scottsdale
480-991-1571

Gene Autry Sports Complex

4125 E. McKellips Road Mesa
602-644-2149
 

Soaring and Ballooning

Experience the thrill of soaring over the desert and mountains in a glider held up by the strong thermals that form in the Valley of the Sun. Or sip champagne and enjoy the varied scenery while leisurely drifting across the Valley in a brightly colored hot air balloon.

Thunderbird Balloon Classic 

Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU)
6801 N Glen Harbor Blvd
Glendale AZ 85307
602-840-9005
www.glendaleaz.com
Held annually every October for the past thirty years the Thunderbird Balloon Classic has been drawing more than 60000 visitors to watch the best ballooning has to offer.

Swimming

Big Surf

1500 N. McClintock Dr.
Tempe AZ 85281
480-947-2477
www.golfland.com
Although much of Arizona is considered arid or semi-arid the Metro Phoenix area has a 2.5-acre “ocean.” Big Surf offers swimming a 300-foot twisting surf slide a rampageous water toboggan ride and rafting.

Waterworld Safari

4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd.
Phoenix AZ 85310
623-581-1947
www.golfland.com
One of Arizona’s largest water parks Waterworld Safari is situated on 20 acres. The tallest waterslide the Avalanche Slide is an awe-inspiring 6.5 stories tall. Visitors can also check out  is the Breaker Beach Wave Pool and Tom Sawyer’s Landing.

Golfland/Sunsplash

155 W. Hampton Avenue
Mesa AZ 85210
480-834-8319
www.golfland.com
Sunsplash is a twelve-acre family action park featuring water slides a giant wave pool a kiddie pool and a river for rafting and tubing. In addition to the fun on the water three miniature golf courses bumper boats race cars and a video arcade with 220 games provide a full day of amusement.

Kiwanis Recreation Center

6111 S. All America Way
Tempe AZ 85283
480-350-5777
Open year-round the Kiwanis Recreation Center has an indoor heated wave pool with a giant water slide. Tennis courts and a gymnasium are also part of the complex.

Salt River Tubing and Recreation

Mesa AZ
480-984-3305
www.saltwatertubing.com
To spend a relaxing day enjoying the sun and floating down the Salt River head for Salt River Tubing and Recreation in Mesa. Tube rentals and shuttle bus service are available in May.