If you’re still calling it Gila River Arena, don't feel bad. Everyone does it. Honestly, it’s hard to keep up with the revolving door of names that have graced the side of that massive building in Glendale. First, it was Glendale Arena. Then it became the weirdly punctuated Jobing.com Arena for a good chunk of time. In 2014, it finally landed on Gila River Arena, a name that actually stuck in the local lexicon for nearly a decade.
But things changed. In 2022, the Desert Diamond Casino stepped in and bought the naming rights. Now, the official sign says Desert Diamond Arena, and while the letters changed, the vibe of the Westgate Entertainment District still revolves around this one specific spot.
It is a weird time for the venue.
For years, this place was synonymous with the Arizona Coyotes. It was their fortress, their home, and eventually, the site of a very messy, very public divorce between the team and the City of Glendale. You’ve probably heard the stories about unpaid taxes and locked doors. It was a whole drama. But if you think the arena is sitting empty now that the NHL has moved on to Salt Lake City (via a brief pitstop at a college rink in Tempe), you’re totally mistaken.
The Current State of Gila River Arena (AKA Desert Diamond Arena)
The building is busier than ever. Seriously.
Without a 41-game home hockey schedule clogging up the calendar, the management team, ASM Global, has basically gone into overdrive. They are booking concerts like there’s no tomorrow. If you look at the 2026 schedule, it’s packed. We’re talking back-to-back nights of Lady Gaga in February for her "MAYHEM Ball," and a massive celebration for RUSH in December. It’s a shift from sports-centric to entertainment-dominant.
The city actually commissioned an economic study a few years back. The results were kinda shocking to people who love sports. It turns out that a sold-out concert by someone like Harry Styles or a massive touring act actually generates more revenue for the city and local businesses than a random Tuesday night hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Who knew?
Well, the city officials in Glendale knew. That’s why they weren't exactly crying when the Coyotes packed their bags. They saw an opportunity to turn the former Gila River Arena into a premier West Coast tour stop.
Who is actually playing there now?
While the NHL is gone, professional sports haven't totally abandoned the zip code. The Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League moved their operations here in 2024. If you’ve never seen indoor football, it’s basically a track meet with pads on. It’s fast, loud, and fits the arena's 18,300-person basketball/concert configuration perfectly.
Then you’ve got the Arizona Ridge Riders. They’re part of the PBR Team Series (Professional Bull Riders). It’s exactly what it sounds like—cowboys, dirt on the arena floor, and a lot of adrenaline. They’ve been holding down the fort during the late summer and autumn months.
2026 Major Events at a Glance:
- January 24: Parker McCollum (Country fans are going to swarm Westgate).
- February 14-15: Lady Gaga (Valentine's Day at the arena is going to be chaotic).
- March 6: Nine Inch Nails (The "Peel It Back" tour is one of the most anticipated of the year).
- March 13: Conan Gray.
- April 28: Hatsune Miku (Yes, the digital pop star is still a massive draw).
- December 1-3: RUSH (Fifty-something anniversary tour).
Why the Location Still Wins (And Loses)
If you’re driving from Scottsdale or the East Valley, you know the pain. The 101 is a nightmare. It always has been. This was the big complaint for twenty years: "It’s too far."
But once you’re actually there? Westgate is arguably the best entertainment setup in the state. You can park once, grab a beer at Yard House, walk 200 feet to the arena entrance, and then hit up Salt Tacos y Tequila after the show. It’s a cohesive ecosystem. You don't get that at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix, where you're constantly crossing light rail tracks and navigating city blocks.
The arena itself sits at 9400 W. Maryland Ave. It anchors a $1 billion district that includes State Farm Stadium (home of the Cardinals) right next door. On a night when both venues have an event, the traffic is basically a final boss battle.
Pro tip: Use the "Bassline Bar" experience if you're heading to a show in 2026. It’s a separate ticket upgrade, but it lets you into the building 60 minutes before the general public. You get a private bar, a private bathroom (huge plus), and an outdoor smoking section which is the only place in the venue you can actually step outside.
Understanding the Logistics
The seating capacity varies depending on what’s happening. For hockey—if they ever brought a team back for an exhibition—it holds 17,125. For basketball or the Rattlers, it’s closer to 18,300. But for a massive end-stage concert, they can squeeze in about 19,000 people.
Premium Seating
If you’re feeling fancy, or if your company is footing the bill, the suite level is actually pretty solid. There are 87 luxury suites. Unlike some older arenas where the suites feel like a claustrophobic box, the ones here have decent sightlines because the bowl was designed specifically to keep people close to the action.
The "Club" level (3,000+ seats) is also a middle-ground option. You get the private escalator entrance and better food. Honestly, the food in the general concourse is... fine. It's arena food. You're better off eating at Westgate before you walk in.
Is the Coyotes Drama Truly Over?
Sorta.
The team's assets were sold to Ryan Smith and moved to Utah. But the original owner, Alex Meruelo, initially kept the "Coyotes" branding and rights with a promise to build a new arena elsewhere in the Valley. That plan eventually fizzled out when he walked away from a land auction in North Phoenix.
So, for now, the "Arizona Coyotes" as a name is in a state of suspended animation. But one thing is for sure: they aren't coming back to Glendale. The relationship between the city and the team's former management reached a level of toxicity that you rarely see in professional sports.
The city has moved on. The arena has moved on. The fans? They’re mostly just glad they can finally see a Nine Inch Nails or Lady Gaga show without worrying about whether the ice underneath the stage is melting correctly.
The Verdict on Your Visit
If you’re heading to the venue formerly known as Gila River Arena, just call it "the arena in Glendale" and everyone will know what you mean. It’s still one of the most comfortable places to see a show in the Southwest. The acoustics are surprisingly good for a building that was originally built to house a sport played on a giant sheet of ice.
Actionable Next Steps for Attendees:
- Pre-purchase parking: Seriously. Don’t try to pay with cash at the gate. They don't take it. Use the ParkWhiz app or the arena’s official site. If you're going to a major show like Gaga or RUSH, the VIP parking is actually worth the extra $40 just to avoid the 101 exit crawl.
- Check the Bag Policy: It’s strict. Small clear bags only. If you bring a backpack, you’re going to be walking all the way back to your car.
- Arrival Time: If you aren't doing the Bassline Bar, arrive at Westgate at least three hours early. Eat at one of the restaurants (Mama Gina’s or Hotshots) and then walk over. It beats sitting in 5:00 PM traffic on the 101.
- Explore the Terrace: If the weather is nice (which it usually is in Arizona during concert season), the Desert Diamond Terrace has great views of the White Tank Mountains and a full bar that’s usually less crowded than the main concourse bars.
The name change from Gila River Arena to Desert Diamond Arena might seem like a small detail, but it represents a total shift in how Glendale views this building. It’s no longer a hockey rink that occasionally hosts singers; it’s a world-class concert hall that happens to have some dirt on the floor for the occasional bull rider.