If you’re looking for Wells Fargo Arena ASU, you’re technically about six years too late, but honestly, everyone in Tempe still knows exactly what you’re talking about. The iconic octagonal slab of concrete sitting on the east side of Arizona State University’s campus underwent a massive identity shift in 2019. It’s now called Desert Financial Arena. But names are just stickers on a door, right? The soul of the place—the sweat, the 14,000 screaming fans, the "Curtain of Distraction"—remains exactly where it’s always been since 1974.
It’s a weird building. Let's just be real about that. From the outside, it looks like a giant, sun-bleached spaceship that landed in the middle of the desert and decided to stay. Inside, it’s a steep, vertical wall of sound that can make life an absolute nightmare for visiting Pac-12 (now Big 12) teams.
The Name Change That Confused a Generation
People still call it Wells Fargo. It’s like how Chicagoans still say Sears Tower. Back in 1997, Wells Fargo dropped a chunk of change to put their name on the building, replacing the original, albeit generic, "University Activity Center." That deal lasted over two decades. When it ended, Desert Financial Credit Union stepped in with a $1.5 million-a-year agreement to rebrand the joint.
It wasn't just about the sign on the front. This was a signal. ASU was trying to modernize an aging facility that, frankly, was starting to show its age in the joints. You’ve probably noticed the seats are a bit tighter than modern arenas. The concourses? They get crowded. But that’s the charm. It’s an old-school basketball cathedral.
Why the Location Matters
Located at 600 East Veterans Way, it’s basically the heart of the athletic district. You’ve got Mountain Lion Stadium (now Mountain America Stadium) right next door. You’ve got the intramural fields. You’ve got the bustle of Mill Avenue just a short walk away. It’s a quintessential college town setup. If you're visiting for a game, you aren't just going to a stadium; you're entering a specific ecosystem of Sun Devil pride.
The Curtain of Distraction: A Global Phenomenon
You cannot talk about Wells Fargo Arena ASU—or Desert Financial Arena—without talking about the 942 Crew. They are the student section. They are loud. They are relentless. But their greatest contribution to the sport of basketball is a literal black curtain.
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The "Curtain of Distraction" started as a simple idea: hide something weird behind a curtain and open it right as the opposing player is shooting a free throw. It sounds stupid. It works.
- The Science: Harvard actually looked into this. Well, maybe not Harvard, but statisticians definitely did. The distraction supposedly costs opponents about one to two points per game.
- The Guests: We’ve seen Olympic legend Michael Phelps in a speedo (the "MP Effect"), celebrities, and students dressed as everything from unicorns to Elvis.
- The Impact: It turned a standard college basketball game into a viral content machine.
I remember watching a game against UA where the curtain opened to reveal a guy in a tutu dancing with a mop. The shooter missed both free throws. It’s psychological warfare at its finest, and it only happens here.
More Than Just Men's Basketball
While Bobby Hurley’s squad gets the lion's share of the headlines, the arena is a workhorse. It hosts:
- Sun Devil Women’s Basketball: Led for years by the legendary Charli Turner Thorne, this program actually turned the arena into a fortress long before the men’s team found their recent rhythm.
- Gymnastics: If you haven’t seen a gymnastics meet here, you’re missing out. The floor acoustics make every landing sound like a thunderclap.
- Wrestling: ASU wrestling is a powerhouse. Watching a match in the center of that massive floor is intimate and intense.
- Volleyball: The speed of the game feels different when you're sitting in those lower-level risers.
The versatility is what keeps the building alive. On a Tuesday, it might be a career fair with thousands of students in cheap suits. By Friday night, it's a mosh pit of gold shirts and "Fear the Fork" chants.
Surviving a Gameday: Pro Tips from a Regular
If you’re heading to the arena, don’t just wing it. Tempe traffic is a monster that eats schedules for breakfast.
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Parking is the biggest hurdle. The structures around the arena fill up fast, and they aren't cheap. My advice? Park near Mill Avenue or use the Light Rail. The Smith-Martin/Apache Blvd station is a bit of a hike, but it beats sitting in the Packard Drive parking garage exit for forty-five minutes after the final buzzer.
The Clear Bag Policy is real. Don't show up with a backpack. They will make you walk all the way back to your car. Just get a small, clear plastic bag or a clutch. It’s annoying, but it’s the world we live in now.
Hydrate. It’s the desert. Even inside an air-conditioned arena, the dry air and the screaming will wreck your throat. The concession prices are typical stadium prices—high—so drink a gallon of water before you head in.
The Future of the Building
There has been endless talk about a new arena. For a while, there were rumors of a joint venture with the Phoenix Coyotes (before they moved to Utah), but that fizzled out. For now, Desert Financial Arena is getting "refreshed" rather than replaced.
They’ve updated the video boards. The sound system doesn't sound like a blown-out car speaker anymore. The lighting is LED and crisp. But let's be honest: the building needs a major overhaul to compete with the shiny new toys in the Big 12.
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The charm of the old Wells Fargo Arena ASU is its history. The 1980 NCAA Tournament games were played here. Legends like Byron Scott and James Harden danced on this hardwood. You can feel that when you walk in. It’s not a corporate, sterile box. It’s got grime and character.
What to Expect Inside
The seating is steep. This is a huge advantage for fans because even the "nosebleeds" have a pretty decent sightline. You feel like you're on top of the action. However, if you have vertigo or hate stairs, be warned. You’re going to be climbing.
The food is... fine. It's hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels. If you want a gourmet meal, eat at Postino or Chuckbox on University Drive before you head over. You’re there for the atmosphere, not a Michelin-star experience.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you are planning to visit the former Wells Fargo Arena ASU (Desert Financial Arena) soon, here is exactly how to handle it for the best experience:
- Buy tickets early for the UA game. The Territorial Cup is the only game that consistently sells out weeks in advance. If you wait until gameday, you’ll pay triple on the secondary market.
- Download the Sun Devil Athletics app. Paper tickets are basically dead. Have your digital ticket loaded in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay before you get to the door because the Wi-Fi at the entrance can be spotty when 10,000 people are trying to use it at once.
- Check the theme. ASU loves a "Gold Out" or a "Black Out." If you show up in the wrong color, you’re going to feel like an outsider. Check the Sun Devil MBB Twitter (X) feed a few days before.
- Visit the Hall of Fame. Before heading to your seat, walk around the concourse. The history of ASU athletics is plastered on the walls, and it’s a great way to kill twenty minutes while waiting for tip-off.
- Stay for the Alma Mater. Even if the game is a blowout, watching the students sing "Alma Mater" at the end with their forks up is a cool tradition that captures the vibe of the school.
The name might have changed from Wells Fargo to Desert Financial, but the intensity of the "Bank" (as some still call it) hasn't faded. It remains one of the most underrated venues in college sports. Get there early, wear gold, and be ready to yell until you lose your voice.