Really shouldn't be charging a seat for an INFANT that will only be on my lap! Our child is only 6months old and would never even be heavy enough to sit in one of the chairs! Absolutely insane. You've officially loss business from my entire family who would pay full price for adults plus beers, souvenirs, and food. read more

It's a basic arena. Nothing really special about it. Nothing really wrong with it. Chairs are padded both seat and back. Acoustics were good for The Lumineers concert. I had only previously been in this arena for NHL Coyotes hockey. One minus is that Westgate shopping center charges $15 for parking during concerts and other big events at the arena. However, if you buy something at Westgate and give them the parking receipt, they will remove the $15 from your bill. My friends enjoy happy hour prices at Bar Louie right across from the entrance to the area arena and get the $15 of their bill. I prefer to simply park slightly farther out by the Outlets and walk. I also find it saves time leaving after the concert also. The closer $15 parking lots do not have workers after the concert helping to make the traffic flow efficiently. It took over 20 minutes for them to get out of the lot nearest the stadium. read more

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Been here many many times. I like that it is closer to home, but wow parking is crazy and $$$. They did give us a coupon that we get $15 dollars off if we ate at one of the establishments listed. But be prepared to wait in long lines at any of those establishments. The bag policy and each of the people working there have different options. WHAT? I checked the bag policy on their website and measured my bag prior to going. And I had to ask the security person before I got into the line is this bag ok, because I still had time to run back to the car. Entering the metal detectors, I was told my bag was not permitted. I told them that the staff member directing crowds said it was ok and she measured my bag with a paper her had. read more

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In context, Gila River Arena is the 25th professional hockey arena that I have been to for a hockey game. So that is why I think it's kind of a 2nd rate venue. Not saying it's horrible, but compared to the other arenas I've visited, Gila River doesn't measure up. The area around the arena is nice, with lots of shops and restaurants so you can make an evening of it. But once you get into the arena, you can see it is a little run down and long in the tooth. The concourse around the arena is very narrow...kind of reminiscent of Nassau Coliseum, which is 30 years older than this place. Food options are fairly generic...nothing special. Seats are narrow (compared to a venue such as T-Mobile arena) so you feel kind of squeezed in and you can't avoid pressing your shoulders against your neighbor. The other thing that was disappointing was the lack of energy in the arena. The lights, sounds and graphics are rudimentary with little pizzazz. I saw the Coyotes play the Maple Leafs and there seemed to be more Leafs fans there. One section was almost entirely blue. It reminded me of when I saw a baseball game at Tropicana Field and it felt like a library. I'm not trying to hate on this place but it doesn't feel like you've been to a professional sporting event when you attend a game here. The people who run this should take a trip to Las Vegas or Edmonton and see how it's done. read more

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I have yet to see a concert here, but I've been to a few Coyotes games and I think it's a great arena. The parking cost is a little pricey, but there's more availability than at the Suns stadium and closer spots than at the nearby Cardinals stadium. Considering the reasonable price and available deals for Coyotes tickets, $25 for parking isn't awful. There's also cheaper options at the nearby hotel. I've been seated in different areas and there really aren't any bad seats. Even the bathrooms are decent. They have some good food and drink options, but nothing outstanding. I prefer their pretzels, but that's a personal bias. Like all stadiums, it's somewhat overpriced, especially for alcohol, but the event of a game makes a trip here worth it. Every game has mini-activities, and they put on special stuff for holidays like Halloween (with every moment having its own individual sponsor). Dress warm, especially if you're seated closer to the rink, and prepare for an all-around cool time. read more

Gila River Arena - Pretzel bites! Pro tip: ask for half salted and half cinnamon sugar - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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Came here again for a Muse/Evanescence/Highly Suspect concert on 4/3/23. The arena has since been renamed Desert Diamond Arena and the Coyotes no longer play here. Oh well. Our experience was great, except for one small snag. No draft beer. Went to 5 concessions and all they had were the gigantic cans...which since we aren't power drinkers (sorry Baccus-Badgers) didn't really work. Now worries, took a big beer for the team. Concert venue gets high marks. Although the GA floor never did fill, which looked at bit odd and might have left performers wanting,,,more? Clean restrooms a plus. Well stocked and no overflowing trash cans like other venues. Security staff Q's efficient and parking was a BREEZE in and out. Venue holds 18,xxx and the crowd was definitely loud. Muse was epic, so we're the opening acts. Acoustics worked great from section 119 row N for a couple of old farts like us. Seats were comfortable for tired knees. Views were acceptable from our $150 seats. Ticket prices are out of hand but better with three artists on the bill. Cup holders in the back of seats in front of you a nice convenience. Do not bring a purse, satchel, or backpack. No go here. Pack light and charge your phone. Cell service was decent for most of the concert so we could stay social relevant. All in all a nice experience. Final note - book your parking online for $10 in Lot G for quickest ingress/egress pre/post event. Cheers! We will be back. read more

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Great place for hockey games and concerts. Have been here a couple of times for concerts. There's food stands and Wetzel's pretzel inside. read more

First time at the arena and our experience was a great one! I picked up my tickets at the will call section and the lady was very friendly and informative! Security was also nice and they even had a section open for people who didn't have bags to get checked. We had floor seats and did not know how to get down to them so we asked a few employees for some help. They were all friendly and showed us the way. The concert was great! Parking can get craaay though. read more

I've had the pleasure of attending a Duran Duran concert, several Coyote hockey games and now PBR bull riding and can honestly say I've always enjoyed this venue. Located on the outskirts of WestGate it is surrounded by restaurants & bars ... The security check before you get in is well staffed and the lines move quickly.. the ushers in the different sections are always helpful in pointing you to your seats. The amenities are adequate for the large crowds, food options include Dunkin donuts, nachos, wetzel pretzels, lots of drink options including several cocktail bars (for us non-beer drinkers). Looking forward to my next visit.. read more

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Current bag policy at Gila River Arena is a joke! Prior to any event, I diligently check the COVID policy and bag policy. The current bag policy includes measurements for PERMITTED clutch style bags. These measurements are pretty standard for most venues. I have a crossbody clutch that I take to all events with this same bag policy. Upon entering the metal detectors at Gila River, I was told my bag was not permitted. I pointed at their printed diaphragm of permitted bags and was told that my bag is prohibited because it has a strap. Lame! If straps are not permitted, that should be added to the bag policy information. Side note: My boot laces were longer than my purse strap. I'm sure there were people inside the venue with belts longer than my purse strap. read more

Gila River Arena - Gila River Arena Bag Policy - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

I was here back in November for a concert and I honestly thought it was such a great experience! I don't like AZ for many reasons but we had a great time. Everyone wore masks (thank god) but i think it's only cause the artist said to...and tbh whatever the king himself says, i will do! The floor was not crazy at all, and I can honestly say I had such a wonderful time. Staff was nice and helpful the entire time. read more

Gila River Arena - the LEGEND himself ! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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Flew out for the King's game and surprisingly at least 50% or more in attendance (think only 3K allowed in) hailed from LA! Very grateful that AZ is allowing fans, unlike CA (recall is in the works for our illustrious Guvnah). Anyway, parking is convenient ($25 touchless), entry requires to be "Clear" via the app (which didn't work, so they had an optional QR scan that was FAST - why didn't they give me that in the first place?), masks must be worn (no gaiters, luckily the nice guy @ the gate had a box full of disposables), seats were great (section 113, row V), and game experience was FUN FUN FUN! As for distancing, seats were mostly paired with a two seat separation (zip tied closed), and an every other row configuration. Was actually nice not to be sardined in our seats! I'm liking some aspects of the Covid world we live in. Felt "normal," if only for the weekend... read more

Gila River Arena - Let's go Kings! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

First time at Gila River Arena & I want disappointed. Bathrooms, walkways, seating...everything nice and cleaned. I was on the top deck and will say that they had few vendors open, possibly due to Covid, but its alittle annoying that bottom deck has everything open and the top is slim pickens. None the less I enjoyed myself. Wear a fat jacket or sweater because it's obviously chilly inside, but if you forget one those $14 beers will have you nice & warm. Oh, I paid $15 for parking in Westgate, but if you're planning on having dinner after the game most places will validate your parking & take the $15 off your tab. read more

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For Father's Day, I had gifted my husband tickets to go see the band, the killers at the Gila River Arena in Glendale. We arrived late to the concert but were still able to park at the hotel, Renaissance valet parking. You can also pre-pay for parking through your Ticketmaster account, but I wouldn't wait until last minute because we did that and it was already full. The valet at the Renaissance didn't take long at all and it was $30. It's a pretty easy arena to navigate. Straight forward. What I didn't know ahead of time is that you can only bring in a very small purse. My purse was small and I only had two items in it and they still made me check it out a locker for $10. However the locker service does go to veterans so that made me feel better. I was actually more upset about the extra step before and after the concert. I got my husband a $40 T-shirt and an eight dollar Gatorade because we weren't drinking alcohol, however alcohol is served and if you're getting a beer, you can go to the Heineken tent for draft beer or you can get a tall beer. They do that so you don't have to keep going back. They have a bar for cocktails and wine and seltzer as well as non alcoholic beverages. The ushers are very helpful. There were people sitting in our seats when we got there late and they helped us out. Overall, the venue is nothing too spectacular, a basic event venue. I would go return for another concert. It's located in the Westgate entertainment center which has tons of entertainment. Shopping, restaurants, Dave & Buster's, etc. You could make a day of it if you had the time before the concert. I would definitely go back to see another show. I know that they are in the process of renaming to Desert Diamond Arena. Look at the bag policy! read more

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No re entry? No smoking section? This place is so dumb. No one that works here has a clue about customer service. Ask everyone why we can't walk out to the public open air to smoke and come back in and they are all clueless. Dumb place for a venue. read more

Went to the Jurassic Quest event with the kids. This was a drive through dinosaur experience. You pay by car. you can also buy gift packs. We bought one. It had a poster, dinosaur, backpack, dinosaur egg with slime & baby dinosaur in it. During the drive, you have a link to play on your phone or through the car to listen to the narration. It's a kid friendly, fun story about the dinosaur quest through. We did have a hard time staying in the storyline of where we actually were on the drive, lol. But overall it was good. The kids really enjoyed it and that's what mattered to me read more

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Disappointed that the venue allowed the sale of obstructed view tickets without them being labeled obstructed view. But according to the staff you can see a piece of the stage so it's not obstructed. read more

Gila River Arena - Stage should been 5-6 feet out more per the Ticketmaster site. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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I have been here for lots of events including hockey games , concerts and a coUple other types. OveralL a great venue with plennty of food options in the area. The last event aattended was the coyotes game and it was packed which was nice to see. The atmosphere of the game was great they did alot of giveaways tO fans and the team won which was great. If you have never been to a game I definitely suggest coming out and seeing one aS it was such a fun thing to do while in the area, they also hAve a toon of great food options for the whole fAmily. read more

Gila River Arena - Ice rink - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

Clean arena, friendly service, not digging the $25 parking fee. Also, wholy crap they keep the ac cranked up, um it's January. Really nice place to go. read more

As far as arenas go, this is a nice one. We go to a lot of hockey games and the occasional concert here, and this season (2019-2020) the arena has really stepped up the vending game with many more upscale options. There are fancy-ish, restaurant-style stands that are occupied by a single vendor like Grand Canyon Brewing and they serve only a few drink options, but they also have a single food option that you wouldn't expect to find at a game. For example, we saw a manned carved turkey station at Grand Canyon at the last game and pork belly tacos at Saint Archer at the one before. Plenty of food and drink options no matter what your preference is. The gear is priced typical of sports events (i.e., waaaay too high), but we expect that. One thing we especially love about Gila River is that if you park in the Westgate lots, you can bring your parking receipt in to any of the bars/restaurants and they take $15 off your bill! If you didn't know that, you're welcome LOL. It makes the 1 hour or so drive from the east valley a TAD more tolerable. Go Yotes! read more

Gila River Arena - Yotes! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

So I'm here at least once a year to see the Coyotes take on the Rangers. This year I bought BMW Lounge tickets and sat three rows behind the Rangers bench. Overall, it was a good experience even though the Coyotes are a sad team. After seeing the arena in Vegas, Gila River Arena needs to step it up a little. The BMW Lounge could use some renovations..the windows where the players walk are partially obstructed by zig zag beams, which is annoying and the food is just ok. I'm vegan so there weren't a lot of options for me, unfortunately. Is it worth the expensive ticket? Yes, because my seats were awesome and I would have paid it even if I didn't have access to the Lounge. The arena is still clean and is still in good shape...just wish the sound was better and there were cooler things...like Vegas had this UFO thing fly around with cameras on it that would show on the Jumbotron. Also, I find the Coyotes fans to be annoying...all they do is howl and they have this chant where they mispronounce the team name. It's a coyote (kai*oh*tee). They pronounce it like kai*ōt. Why not chant "Go Coyotes Go"? They can't even pronounce their team name correctly lol. read more

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This is an awesome arena. The seats are comfy and we could see everything. Security was on it and the staff in our area were busy kicking people out of seats that they had snuck into but weren't theirs. I really appreciate the good food choices. I had a very tasty hamburger from Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers. They have a Dunkin Donuts stand, a place to get poke, and a few breweries too. It's nice to have variety! Bring your jacket for the hockey games as of course it is chilly. read more

Gila River Arena - After the game - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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We attended the WWE smackdown here and first time being at the arena. Smaller than i thought. They had native New York and some snack bar and drinks inside. I had the wetzel pretzel and pink lemonade which was $15. It was fine. The facility was clean. Fun show. read more

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Freezing even for a hockey game and your purse can only be 4"x4". Crazy town. Can't hardly bring lipstick in. But you can come across border with anything. What are the arenas afraid of???? Gotta wonder read more

Gila River Arena - Gila River Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

Concerts are so expensive but some are worth it and those are the ones I go to! Post Malone was so great ! We were in upper seats but still great! read more

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Get the seats down in the lower bowl. You will not see anything from the upper deck. Usually craigslist has cheaper tickets. The arena is still nice with good sightlines in the lower level. Tonite,the Coyotes beat the Islanders. read more

Staycation I stayed here for 3 nights, a little staycation break from home. I was excited about staying in a hotel attached to a casino and I was not disappointed. The staff was very attentive and the room was clean, with a mini fridge, make-up mirror and work area. The complex has various restaurants/bars as well as a gift shop. The food was very good, the staff are accomdating, perfect Staycation. read more

While there are a TON of great artists who play at Gila River Arena, I honestly avoid going to events here unless it's an artist that I just can't bear to miss. The reason? Entirely due to parking. :( It costs $20 to park in the lot ($30 if you park inside the garage). Good news is- if you bring your parking receipt to any participating restaurant/bar in Westgate, they'll discount your bill $20 to accommodate for parking. Getting a parking spot is easy, exiting is not. There's only one way out of the parking lot, which creates an atrocious bottleneck for an arena full of people to make their departures. It took 50 minutes for my boyfriend and I to get out of the parking lot on a Sunday night after The Killers show. I can't imagine the headache that it would be to use Uber or Lyft from the arena (finding the driver/paying to idle for ~50 minutes). Yikes. Aside from the parking/exiting doom, the arena itself is wonderful. Organized security lines, good vendor options, comfortable seats. The bag policy on their website is vague, so I opted for a clear bag on my last visit to avoid a trip back to the car. read more

Great venue. Really enjoyed the Coyotes vs Capitals game. Good bathrooms, security, entry, seats, and many options for items. A+ on all of it. Only thing I'd change would be to have allergen menus for food options available. read more

Gila River Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

This place is the WORST! The most unorganized security and General Admission I've ever experienced. They need to get something together. I was here for the Harry Styles concert. I know the pit for Harry's show at Madison Square Garden was extremely organized and fair. Once again, Arizona is behind the rest of the country. EDIT: Wes is amazing. Give that king a raise. He also thinks what was happening here is absurd. read more

As of November 24th 2021 they have HUGE issue getting fans in with paperless tickets. read more

Shannon from LB at Will Call was amazing!! She couldn't help me revise my seats but did everything she possibly could and gave me the direct Gila Arena # to call so I wouldn't have to go through Ticketmaster in the future. There's limited variety on food but tons of booths for drinks and Wetzel's pretzels. AND Cheetos popcorn for $8.50 for a bag! The upper level seats are a bit narrow in the width which is cramped for those taller than 5'2" or kids trying to get into their seats; even when said people were graciously standing to allow maximum room. I was really afraid my 4 y/o was going to topple over. It's the similar width to the Ducks nose bleed level. :o All that being said...there's ample parking, you get your $10 parking credited to be applied to the majority of the restaurants in the Westgate Entertainment District, it's easy to walk to, and the flow into and exiting was really smooth. P.s. Partially biased experience as both boys got a puck tossed to them during warm-up and I got to see Patrick, Darryl & Foxie before they went on air. Go Kings! read more

While I really appreciate the ease of entrance and exit of the arena never a line even when near sold out $30 for parking is insanity so if you can park Somewhere else and Uber or Lyft do It. Seating is good they give you room unlike other stadiums. Parking was a breeze once we were in got almost first row. Probably because most people were already aware of the $30 to park and parked somewhere else and walked or ride shared. Overall good arena. The best was how quick we were able to get inside Oh one last headache. They won't allow bags bigger than a 5x8 and no shoulder strap. So lame everyone else has a clear bag policy or just no large oversized purses or handbags but they were super crazy strict here couldn't have a strap on It for whatever reason even if a small womens clutch of gas strap they won't allow It read more

This is a pretty nice arena. We are in town for Spring Training and decided to check out the Blackhawks vs Yotes. This is in a great area and has a lot to offer. I hope to come back for more games in the future. read more

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I've been to many Coyotes games and a concert at this arena over the past couple of years. I have come to really enjoy the place. Parking is a breeze and getting in and out of the arena even after games is usually well managed and pretty quick. They have been accommodating when we have come with those who needed special seating. Seating is decently comfortable for arena seating. It's clean and has a decent amount of food options both lower and upper bowl. Audio is pretty solid by arena concert standards. It's located right next to Westgate is nice for those who want to hang out before or after events for food drinks and more. read more

As all arenas are, traffic getting in and out is a pain but this arena was on the short list of relatively pain free. Lots of restaurants around the arena if you don't feel like 20$ beers etc. Everyone inside was super friendly and helpful to guide me around. The box service was terrific although disappointing for my guests to find out that the dessert cart option has gone away post covid. All in all a great experience for one of the last ever Coyotes games in this arena. read more

Gila River Arena - Hanging out with the Bobble head! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

3/22/2022 Coyotes Vs Kraken. As soon as I walked up not even to the security door, a staff member tells me my 10 inch bag is not within code and I have to pay for a locker or put in my car (I ubered). When I got to the lockers they were on a small uhaul type white truck with the lockers in the back. It was $10 for anything bigger than 12 inches wide. I was stern with the guy and told him my purse is definitely smaller than 12 inches and asked for a ruler he rudely replied I know my lockers and that won't fit. I stopped arguing and out my bag away and it didn't even take up half the locker space... waste of time and money I had to hold my wallet so they were literally just holding my bag in a random truck outside... also a single beer is $15. Cocktails range from $14-$25. The food is reasonable for being at a sporting event but a $15 beer?! Wtf. Don't bring any vaping devices they WILL make you throw it away. There is no smoking section. These were the best seats I've been able to sit in, I loved how close we were. I remember coyotes games hyping up the crowd a lot more when I was younger now it's just basic chants. read more

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First time seeing a concert here and I was impressed! They seemed to manage the crowd fairly well and the arena was clean and staff was accommodating to my broken foot and even offered handicap seats since I am non weight bearing. I was impressed with the staff, cleanliness, and audio and visual. Parking was a little costly, but at least it is close to the colosseum. read more

Gila River Arena - Mercy Me Concert- stage - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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The last stop in Disturbed's headlining tour in the U.S. was here at Gila River Arena and I like to hope we gave David Draiman a good send off. :) We got here close to when the concert started and went with the garage parking due to convenience ($15). From there it was a short walk to the entrance where there were long lines but they moved fairly efficiently due to good planning from the staff. Everyone helping us, from the ticket scanner to the gentlemen showing us where our seats were located, was friendly and polite. This was a nice venue for the show. We had a pretty good view of the stage from where we were (2nd section closest to the stage, mid row). The acoustics were great. As far as temperature level in the arena it was good, not too cold or hot. Getting out of the parking lot wasn't too bad, surprisingly. We were out in a short amount of time. It's a bit of a drive for us to the arena but compared to other concert venues this one is pretty good! read more

Gila River Arena - View from stage before the show, Section 110, mid row. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona

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I've been to multiple Coyote's games here, as well as several concerts. It's not a large arena, but that's okay because it gives it a homey feel when attending events here. The security check points to get in aren't bad, and overall the stadium is pretty well managed. The restrooms are plentiful and cleaner than can be expected. There aren't any obvious structural issues or neglected maintenance as you walk around, which is always a good sign. The employees of the arena have always been friendly and helpful in my experience. The only down side is the seats are just too friggin small. I'm a little guy, at 5 foot 6 and they feel cramped even for me. It's pretty much an expected thing now with stadiums and airlines ... the seats are just gonna be a drag, but it's still worth noting. read more

Gila River Arena - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Glendale, Arizona