Gila River Arena

Nothing compares to the Shark Tank IMO, but this was great arena to watch some hockey!
Workers at the concession stands were friendly as were ushers.
Fans there were courteous and I didn’t get into any brawls haha
Any arena is going to be overpriced, but I don’t mind paying $ 12 for a tall can as long as I got some live hockey to go with it.

Most people look down on the coyotes for their location and skill. That is true, but the location is just fine. This very good arena for numerous reasons. Some say lots of really nasty things about the coyotes and that’s sad because the coyotes offer a great time no matter how bad they might be losing by. For starters, the exterior is very Arizona looking and the concourse and bathrooms are clean. The board sucks and is in desperate need of an upgrade. Also, their slogan «We are all Coyotes» is lame because humans are NOT pathetic little dogs that kill housepets. The towers in the corners of the venue are cool and bring a unique thing to look at. The Coyotes i think need to stop listening to all the haters and should continue what they are doing mostly as an organization.

Great place. Seats around 16,000 plus. Hotel next door. Many restaurants and shops, all within walking distance. Clean as a pin. Large parking areas. Parking was free for our event. Stadium seating, lots of snack and coffee options. This arena really can accommodate capacity of people here.

When you think of a professional National Hockey League arena you know what you expect…
Full size and well maintained ice surface. Plenty of seating with excellent sight lines. Arena food, overpriced snacks and drinks ($ 5 bottle of water?!?). Clean and safe environment. Parking, hopefully affordable with easy exit to the freeway. Helpful and mostly friendly staff. And a parking lot and entry free of ticket scalpers!!!
Well… You will find just that this arena has hit the mark with all but the last part!!!
This is a newer arena and it shows, only in a good way.
When there is a good hockey team paying a visit to this arena, it is definitely worth the price!
Don’t worry about the local fans! (This is truly a great asset to the home team.) They are great fans of their team, but not all hyped up (or drugged up (or in Philly, just plain brain damaged)) to the point of harassment to other teams and fans! Big WTG to the home team fans, spirited group without the attitude!
All in all, I will definitely check to see when the CAPS play here next season!!!

AWESOME view even sitting in the cheapest seats. They’re huge! Cool stadium. Sound is great. What more can you say about an arena? Of course food and drinks are gonna be over priced… get used to it.

My buddy had never been to an NHL game before. He cruised down from Vegas this weekend, and we decided to go to a Coyotes game. He got us tickets through a rewards program at work, and they were right near the goalie. Section 102, Row F. Best seats I have ever sat in at a hockey game. Parking was $ 20.00, right outside the entrance (I have since learned that there is free parking available). Seats were comfy, ushers were friendly and nice, and everything was great! My buddy even got a puck! I guess during warmups, a puck flew over the glass, and the guy next to us didn’t see where it went. During the National Anthem, when my buddy was about to sit down, he looked under his seat, and saw the puck! Great souvenir for being his first NHL game! Coyotes lost 2 – 0, but it was a great time. I really liked the arena and would definitely come back!

Great place to watch a game. Not the most food choices. All the seats are good, as it’s a relatively small arena. Plenty of parking nearby.

Finally reviewing after our second visit to the Arena (the first time it was
and the Coyotes were from «Phoenix»). Warning… It’s a long one…
The first visit was awesome. Boyfriend drove from LA and I drove down from Flagstaff. We got there early, got FREE PARKING, and had a great dinner at Margaritaville. Sure, the Kings lost and we had overpriced, terrible seats, but it was still a good experience. An experience that was on the bucket list before I moved back to So Cal.
The second visit was meh. Boyfriend, his sister, and I decided at noon that we were going to pull a turn-​around for the Kings/​Coyotes game and we hopped in a rental car and drove out. The trip was easy-​going and we got to Glendale in record time. Then, we hit the parking nightmare. No longer was the parking free. We got stuck in crazy lot traffic, circled and sat for over 20 minutes, and paid $ 20. All this while numerous lots were strategically «closed.» (Here’s to supply and demand…) We missed the start of the game but were able to catch a majority of the first period.
On first intermission, we went to grab some food. Not wanting to get too far from our seats, and miss any more of the game, we got in line for some hot dogs and nachos. Well, they ran out of hot dogs. How does an arena run out of hot dogs less than 20 minutes into the game? We thought maybe it was just the concession stand we were at but, no, it was every concession stand. We ended up with some carnitas nachos and some carne asada nachos that were not great at all. A little later in the game, I saw someone with poutine from Smoke’s Poutinerie! If I would have known that was an option, I would have traversed the different levels to find it. We did get some Timmy Hos, however. I love having the option for Canadian eateries.
Price-​wise on Stub Hub, our tickets were comparable to Kings games at Staples Center which is odd with the amount of tickets that are available up until game time. We usually like to sit in the higher levels to see the entire rink and we can afford more games that way. Comparing to Staples, the upper levels are much steeper, the scoreboard is a bit dated, as well as the tvs in the claustrophobic concourse, and the arena is much emptier. However, most of the fans you meet at the game are congenial and know their team. The poor Coyotes get a bad rap for being a desert team without much wide-​spread support. One neat aspect of the arena are the standing tabletops above the seats on the upper levels. You literally can stand and watch the game while eating your food or waiting for a stoppage of play, not a luxury we get from the enclosed arena at Staples. The Westgate area that surrounds the arena is neat, with many options to grab some grub or drinks before the game, or just kill some time. We even got a free sample of a whole loaf of bread when walking out of the game. Great for our late trip back home.
Also, we still laugh about that silly Sandstorm dance. Thanks for the memories.
So, long story short… Learn from our mistakes.
— Get there early for free parking.
— Grab something to eat before you go in (they may run out of hot dogs!)
— Buy tickets closer to game start on Stub Hub, you will probably get a better deal.

Visited this arena for the first time because an actual, real NHL team was in town to face the lowly Coyotes, and we were very pleased with every facet of the facility.
First off, free parking is always great. Next, stuff to do before the game, like dining and shopping is always good. The in-​game entertainment was on par with other NHL arenas, although the mixing was very strange. I’m pretty sure you can hear the bass from this arena in the international space station.
Also comfortable seats, friendly ushers, and a good variety of vendors. I also enjoy getting emails from this arena whenever discounted tickets are available when the Coyotes play actual competitive hockey teams. Hockey fans go to see and appreciate other teams than just their own.

Great place to watch some Arizona Coyotes games! Although I am a Devils fan at heart, I still frequent here to get my hockey fix. You can always find free parking although you’ll have to walk farther to get to the stadium (get that cardio in, peeps!). If you arrive early, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops to waste a little bit of time in before the game.
Once inside, the arena itself is easy to navigate, but there are plenty of ushers on hand to help you if you’ve lost your way. There are some standard food selections inside (hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, beer) but there are also some specialty vendors who sell fare like poutine (yum!). Nothing like noshing on some gravy fries smothered in cheese curds to get you in the Coyote spirit.
One thing that always makes me kind of sad is how empty the arena always seems to be during game time. I guess Arizonans aren’t into hockey like the other parts of the US. The upside to this is that there is always plenty of seating to move to if you don’t like the location of the tickets you bought.
The arena is always having drawings and promotions. I actually watched a guy shoot a goal on the ice and win a BMW! Lucky dude, for sure!
So head out, support your local Arizona Coyotes, and have a good time!

I came here a couple of times for concerts. It’s not a bad venue. If anything… it’s pretty generic venue. I wish that the seats were better and that maybe it’s a little smaller. I have had close up seats and the FAR AWAY seats. And those FAR AWAY seats are really terrible. But I guess that’s what an arena is.
Sound system is pretty good.

I really can’t say anything bad about the Gila River Arena, I have seen games & many shows at the arena, nosebleed seats, suits, or floor seats, and no matter where I am sitting I always have a good view and a fun time.
The staff has always been friendly and helpful, never an issue. There is parking that you can pay for, but let me give you a little tip, if you come a little early, the parking behind the AMC is free, why paid the 20 to 30 bucks for parking when you can get it for free, then go blow that money you just save on going out to eat and not be in rush because you might miss the show, or check out the Outlet center across the street. Also another tip, if you wait apx 30 to 45 minutes at the event is over, getting out of the parking is easy peasy, go grab a dessert or drink at one of the places that’s still opened.

Took in a Coyotes game (against Edmonton) with my girlfriend and we enjoyed the experience.
First thing I would note, we didn’t park there, so I cannot comment on parking. The stadium itself is clean, easy to navigate, and has a pretty good amount of concession stands and bathrooms available.
The price for tall-​boy beers is prohibitively expensive though. For two, I paid nearly $ 40.00 if I remember correct. That’s not cheap. They were imported beers, so that definitely plays a role in the price for sure.
The seating we had was upper-​level, surrounded by old Canadian snowbirds watching their beloved Oilers. The view we has was good, despite the length away we were. The overall atmosphere of the stadium is nice, family-​oriented, and comfortable.
As a big guy, my seat was a little small though. That’s my only gripe. But other than that, I think the Coyotes have a nice stadium. It’s clean, well-​ran, and suitable for families.
I would definitely come back for a game sometime.

GREAT VENUE! Very accommodating staff but be ware of the upper tier seating — it is a steep vertigo inducing angle that had us sick to our stomachs. Lower levels are worth the price upgrade. Parking is very convenient and West Gate makes a great place to start or end the night with drinks and food.

Seen many Coyote games here and it’s always a great time. Prices are on par with most other arenas, and the staff is friendly. Haven’t seen a concert here yet but will in the future.

Great arena. Clean bathrooms. Comfy seating. Nice staff. Good parking ($ 20.00) for the hockey game. Wicked gameboard. A «Tim Hortens» on the concorse. Plenty of decent food vendors.

Came here for the NKOTB concert a couple of weeks ago. It’s a large arena (it doesn’t seem that big from the outside) and I loved the stage set up. The stage was smack dab in the middle of the arena and the artists make full use of the stage, so that no matter where you’re seated you have a great view. Nelly (from my hometown), TLC, and NKOTB put on a great show here. The sound was great, lighting and effects went off seamlessly, and confetti topped off this throwback evening.
I do not understand why anyone would pay for parking, which I understand was @ $ 20+. Free parking is available at the Westgate Entertainment center. The walk from the building entrance to my seat inside the area took longer than the walk from my free parking space to the entrance.
Bathrooms were clean. We did not visit the concession stands, but passing by, they seemed to be in par with other concerts venues in terms of offering and price.
I’m totally going back for MaDonna!

Formerly called
arena, this is home to the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. The arena was made for hockey. It was supposedly created to be similar to Minnesota’s Exel Energy Center, and it really has the same look and feel.
I visit every other year when my Anaheim Ducks are in town, usually in April right around Easter time. I’ve only sat in the lower bowl, and every seat is good. In this visit, we came on Fan Appreciation night and was in section 115. The seats are wide, and a decent amount of leg room.
You can go online and get discounted family pack tickets. I had group tickets which cost $ 65 with our discount. It was cheaper to get the family pack for $ 50 a ticket, which included hot dog and a pepsi.
The arena has a variety of food, from the hot dog, pizza, sandwiches to froyo, Tim Horton’s doughnuts, and even cheesecake on a stick. The concession prices are very reasonable. My large soda was $ 6, and came in the souvenir cup. Stephen and I has their cheese steak sandwiches (located in sec 119).
They’re not your traditional Philly cheese steaks but a choice of 2 different concoctions:
— The Playmaker: Chicken or beef with melted American white cheese, bacon, an ale BBQ sauce, and fried onions
— or The Slapshot: Chicken or beef with American white cheese, pico de gallo (salsa) and chipotle aioli sauce.
Between the 2, I liked the BBQ one better, but both were just ok for $ 10. I’d prefer a traditional Philly cheese steak over this fusion mix.
During intermission I also got Tim Horton’s doughnuts for $ 2.50 and a cup of coffee (they add the milk to your coffee). The doughnuts are the Tim Bit holes, which came in a 10 variety pack You couldn’t go wrong for $ 2.50!
Overall a great experience. The fans were relatively nice, some heckling mean stuff since we beat their team. It was their «Fan Appreciation» night, and the team thanked the fans at the end of the game by tossing sticks and shirts out to the crowd, and saluting them.
They didn’t offer free wifi, which was a bummer. If you are willing to walk, you can park for free. Otherwise its about $ 8 – 15 for parking if you want to be up close.

This may be one of the best arenas in the NHL. The Gila River Arena was built from the ground up to be a hockey arena, and the views and layout of the place are top notch. Everything is clean and modern with a nice layout. It is the home of the Arizona Coyotes who have been struggling lately on and off the ice, but fortunately the arena experience is still good.
Now that the NHL has adjusted the season to encourage more travel to Arizona, it is much easier for fans to travel to Arizona to escape the snow at home and still see their favorite team play in the desert. Plus — and this is a big plus — they have FREE PARKING. This is unheard of anywhere else. There are also lots of restaurants and bars around the arena for pre and post game activities. Lots of visiting fans also make this a great experience for travelers.
The big downside is the location. The arena is extremely far from downtown and the Tempe/​Scottsdale area. Even with the freeways, it may take a long time to drive across town for a game. Concessions are a little weak with only a decent beer and specialty food selection, but all the basics are covered. Plus, they have hockey sweaters from most of the local Arizona school teams hanging on the lower lever concourse which is very cool.
Go Yotes!

Round 3, Game 1 Western Conference Finals. Go KINGS!
Came here during the 2012 epic Los Angeles Kings run to the Cup.
Tickets to this arena are very inexpensive, even for the playoffs. It’s a shame that Phoenix/​Glendale residents don’t come out to support their team. The Coyotes are actually a very decent hockey team. With that said, I’m a die hard Kings fan. This game was ridiculously fun to be a part of. It was almost a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ split Coyotes/​Kings fans. If you are hesitant to come for your team’s road game, don’t be. It’s not a hockey town, so there aren’t any rabid fans starting trouble.
The arena is actually very nice. It’s situated at the back of a large outdoor mall. (similar to the Grove or Americana) Kind of awkward for a hockey arena to be, but I get the appeal. Glendale doesn’t have much to offer, so this area is a great one-​stop kind of place. There are many sports bars to choose from and you’ll see lots of Coyote banners. It’s pretty cool that the businesses all support their home team. I only wish it were this easy finding a hockey sports bar in LA.
The reason for the minus 1 star is because the lower bowl seating area is very uncomfortable. Usually, the lower bowl is more comfortable than upper bowl. Because this arena was built for hockey, it’s a pretty great view anywhere.
The seats we got for Game 1 of the 2012 Conference Finals were upper bowl, Row A. When we had won that game, my boyfriend and I noticed, in the luxury suite directly beneath us, a gentleman sticking his head out to join us in our celebration. That man was Tim Leiweke, then CEO for the Kings. He grabbed someone else to say «hello» and it was Luc Robitaille. They both posed for photos, which only added to our high.
Walking through the shopping area, we saw Leiweke and Robitaille again, at dinner. On the walk to the player’s hotel, we passed Dustin Penner blowing a snot rocket in his suit. Jarrett Stoll stood outside, talking to a group of people. Inside, we saw Kopitar coming out of an elevator, but quickly got back in when he saw the small group of LA fans waiting for him. Leiweke and Luc came through the lobby again-​they were everywhere! According to some fans we spoke with, Tim was mingling at the hotel bar, buying drinks for all the fans who had made the trip out.
This Stanley Cup Playoff game felt like we were at an exhibition game. If your team is playing the ‘Yotes, you should definitely make the trip to see them.