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 85004602-514-8400
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 85201www.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 85004602-379-7900
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 85004602-252-9622
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 85281480-955-3482
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 85305480-505-0533
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 85305480-350-0911
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 85281480-727-0000
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 85004602-379-2333
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 University3300 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 AZwww.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 85019602-269-6766
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 85305480-563-7825
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 85023602-942-1101
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 85034602-273-7181
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 85226602-268-0200
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 85323623-463-5613
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 85255602-870-0163
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 602-249-3712Mt. View Tennis
1104 E. Grovers Phoenix 602-534-2500Kiwanis Park Tennis
6111 S. All-American Way Tempe 480-350-5201Scottsdale Athletic Club
8225 E. Indian Bend Road Scottsdale 480-991-1571Gene Autry Sports Complex
4125 E. McKellips Road Mesa 602-644-2149Soaring 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 BlvdGlendale AZ 85307