Desert Diamond Arena
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NCAA) (2015–2019, some games) Arizona Ridge Riders (PBR) (2022–present) Arizona Rattlers (IFL) (2024–present) | |
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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.
Located about 12.5 miles (20.1 km) northwest of
History
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 for Desert Diamond Arena 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] On April 29, 2022, the Coyotes played their final home game at the arena against the Nashville Predators, with a comeback win, 5-4 Arizona. The Coyotes then moved their home games to Arizona State University's Mullett Arena.[9]
Concerts and events
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
Desert Diamond Arena events in recent years included .
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
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.[10]
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.
Naming rights
The arena was initially named Jobing.com Arena after a Phoenix-based employment website under a ten-year, $30 million contract established in October 2006.[11]
The Coyotes terminated their agreement with Jobing.com and immediately announced a new nine-year naming and sponsorship deal on August 13, 2014, with
On August 23, 2022, the arena reached an agreement with Desert Diamond Casino to rename the arena as Desert Diamond Arena.[14]
References
- New England Sports Network. August 5, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ Flannery, Pat (December 27, 2003). "Today's the Day. This Is Just the Beginning: A Milestone in West Side's Rise". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Jobing.com Arena Archived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine architect: Populous
- ^ "Jobing.com Arena". ICON Venue Group. December 26, 2003. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "Creating Exceptional Environments". Syska Hennessy Group, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "Jobing.com Arena". Ballparks.com. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "City of Glendale decides not to renew operations agreement with Arizona Coyotes". August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Coyotes reach deal with ASU to play at new Sun Devil arena".
- ^ "Coyotes, Glendale & AEG Invest in State-of-the-Art Centerhung Video Board". NHL.com. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Jobing.com, Glendale Arena deal confirmed". Phoenix Business Journal. American City Business Journals. October 25, 2006. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ "With New Naming Rights to Their Arena, Arizona Coyotes Make Economic Statement". Bleacher Report. August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
- ^ "An Arizona tribe is going to be the first to have naming rights to a professional sports arena". Washington Post. August 14, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ "Desert Diamond Casino lands naming deal for Glendale arena". Retrieved August 23, 2022.