Competition is always in season in Tempe
In recent years, Greater Phoenix has become widely known as a stage for national and international sports. Each year fans flock to the WM Phoenix Open, Cactus League Spring Training, the Fiesta Bowl and so much more. Special mega events have included Super Bowls, Final Four tournaments and NASCAR Championship Weekend, to name a few.
The Valley also welcomes fans of local and visiting teams to experience game day in Tempe. Nestled in the heart of the metro area, fans and athletes agree that Tempe is the perfect city for collegiate, professional and recreational sports. With an ever-evolving roster of teams, leagues and seasons to choose from, it’s never been easier to be a sports fan in Tempe.
On non-game days, Tempe is also the place for pursuing your own sporting and recreational interests — from hitting the links to finding your rhythm on the pickleball court and everything in between.
Here’s your guide to game day in Tempe.
SPORTS
Desert Financial Arena
Originally opened in 1974 as ASU Activity Center, Desert Financial Arena is a six-story, 14,000-seat indoor arena that has witnessed historic victories, record-breaking performances, and unforgettable moments for generations of sun Devils. It has been home to legendary basketball players, including James Harden and Briann January, wrestler Anthony Robles, gymnast Pam Godward and, most recently, the volleyball team that earned the title of Big 12 champions in 2025.
ASU Men’s Basketball
ASU Women’s Basketball
ASU Wrestling
ASU Volleyball
ASU Gymnastics
Mountain America Stadium
Mountain America Stadium, Arizona State University’s venue for Big XII football, has hosted a roster of legendary players and cultural icons since opening in 1958. For more than four decades, it’s been the backdrop of unforgettable games, including the Arizona Cardinals (1988 – 2005), the Fiesta Bowl (1971 – 2006) and Super Bowl XXX (1996). Additionally, the stadium hosts the annual Pat’s Run, which draws over 35,000 participants in support of the Pat Tillman Foundation each April.
500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, AZ 85287 | 480-727-0000
ASU Football
Each fall, ASU students, faculty, alumni, family and fans converge for Sun Devils home football games, including Big 12 Conference opponents. Mark your calendar for the 2026 ASU football season at Mountain America Stadium:
- Sept. 5, 2026 vs. Morgan State
- Oct. 3, 2026 vs. Baylor
- Oct. 10, 2026 vs. Hawaii
- Oct. 24, 2026 vs. Kansas State
- Nov. 7, 2026 vs. Colorado
- Nov. 21, 2026 vs. Oklahoma State
Mullett Arena
Located on Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus, Mullett Arena is a state-of-the-art facility with versatility. Throughout the year, this 5,000-seat venue hosts hockey, basketball, arena football, wrestling events, live concerts, a variety of ice skating opportunities and more. This venue is also home to Mountain America Community Iceplex.
411 S. Packard Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-564-3497
Valley Suns
Since 2024, the NBA G League’s affiliate of the Phoenix Suns — the Valley Suns — have been facing off against opponents on the hardwood at Mullett Arena. The regular season, which runs from November to March, promises a high-energy, family friendly experience that gives fans the chance to watch top emerging basketball talent in this uniquely up-close and personal venue. Check out home games for the 2025-2026 season schedule . Tickets available here.
Arizona Juggernauts
Making their Tempe debut in spring 2026, the Arizona Juggernauts are a new professional indoor arena football team competing in the International Arena League (IAL). The team’s inaugural season will include the following home games at Mullett Arena:
- May 2, 2026 vs. the Las Vegas Rockers
- May 16, 2026 vs. the Cincinnati Slingers
- June 21, 2026 vs. Pennsylvania Benjamins at 2:30 p.m.
- June 27, 2026 vs. Düsseldorf Warriors
- July 4, 2026 vs. Utah Great 8’s
- July 18, 2026 vs. the Las Vegas Rockers
Game time is 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise listed. Please note game dates and times are subject to change. Stay tuned for ticket sales here.
ASU Men’s Ice Hockey
The Sun Devils ice hockey program is an NCAA Division I team competing in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The program, which transitioned from a top-tier ACHA club team to NCAA Division I status in 2015, has rapidly established itself as a competitive force in college hockey. Mark your calendar for the 2025-2026 ASU Ice Hockey season. Tickets available here.
Phoenix Rising FC Stadium
Home of the Phoenix Rising FC, the 2023 USL champions, this outdoor stadium is located just 5 miles west of Downtown Tempe. From March through October, this team invites fans to experience the electric energy and laid-back, family friendly atmosphere in its home pitch. Check out the home games for the 2026 season. Tickets available here.
3801 E. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Tempe Diablo Stadium
Founded in 1968, Tempe Diablo Stadium is now the longest continually operational ballpark in the Cactus League. The Los Angeles Angels arrived at this iconic ballpark in 1993 and are under contract with the city through 2035. This intimate, single-level ballpark has a game-day capacity of under 10,000 — making it one of the most intimate, up-close-and-personal spring training venues in the Valley of the Sun.
2200 W. Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-350-5265
Cactus League Spring Training
Between the end of February and the end of March, Cactus League Spring Training brings 15 MLB teams to 10 stadiums across Greater Phoenix to play more than 200 games. Make Tempe your home base and chart your course with spring training schedules for the entire Valley of the Sun.
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels swing into Tempe each spring, and you’re invited. Join The Halos as they host noteworthy visiting teams for the Cactus League Spring Training experience at Tempe Diablo Stadium — home to this up-close and personal Angels tradition since 1993. Whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or someone who simply enjoys a day in the sun, Tempe, Arizona, is a grand slam of a spring getaway. Tickets are available here.
RECREATION
Golf:
Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills
In 2024, this executive golf course embarked on a rebrand as Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills: Arizona’s only fully lit, 18-hole golf course and practice facility that’s available day and night. For more on Grass Clippings at Rolling Hills, check out our Golf Guide here.
Holes: 18 | Par: 59 | Yardage: 3,428 | Type: Public/Municipal | Style: Traditional/Executive | Slope: N/A
1415 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85288 | 480-530-9880
Papago Golf Club
Papago Golf Club is a championship 18-hole golf course located less than 4 miles from Downtown Tempe, in the heart of Papago Park. For decades, Papago has earned Top 100 Public Course honors and you’re invited to check out what makes these links so unique. For more on Papago Golf Club, check out our Golf Guide here.
Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7,333 | Type: Public/Municipal | Style: Traditional | Slope: 130
5595 E. Karsten Way, Phoenix, AZ 85008 | 602-275-8428
Ken McDonald Golf Course
Consistently ranked as one of the area’s top daily fee golf courses, this 18-hole championship course — located 6 miles from Downtown Tempe — promises an excellent round of golf for an affordable price. For more on Ken McDonald Golf Course, check out our Golf Guide here.
Holes: 18 | Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,743 | Type: Public/Municipal | Style: Traditional | Slope: 125
800 E. Divot Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283 | 480-878-3332
Racket Sports:
Electric Pickle
The first-ever Electric Pickle has landed in Tempe. This concept combines the ultra-trendy sport of pickleball with a globally inspired restaurant, multiple bars and an outdoor entertainment space for all ages. With nine state-of-the-art pickleball courts — as well as bocce ball or cornhole, cozy fire pits and live-music stage outdoors, private cabanas and other shade areas — this sporty spot is popular year-round. Inside the two-story restaurant, you’ll find Full Swing Golf Simulators, a pro shop, two full-service bars and plenty of seating options.
8688 S. Emerald Drive, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-520-4000
The Picklr Tempe
For the no-nonsense pickleballers out there, The Picklr offers eight indoor courts, a pro shop, players lounge, AI coaching — player assessment technology to produce or update your Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) — and all the other bells and whistles you’d expect from a dedicated pickleball gym.
1315 W. Elliot Road, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-739-2370
Conquer Padel Club
If you like pickleball, we’d like to introduce you to the sport of padel, the fastest-growing sport in the world. The demand brought Conquer Padel Club, a cutting-edge facility — featuring six state-of-the-art courts dedicated to padel — to Tempe. Padel is unique in that it’s a larger, enclosed court where the walls are fair game.
7760 S. Priest Drive, Suite 108, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-864-7500
Rock-Climbing:
Arizona Bouldering Project
Tempe’s new indoor rock-climbing gym is a multi-use facility that offers both open gym and programming centered around 19,000 square feet of indoor climbing walls and boulders — as well as a fitness center, yoga studio and more — and all skill levels are welcome.
2626 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-716-9014
Phoenix Rock Gym
Experience the vertical world of climbing as never before – indoors at the Phoenix Rock Gym. Explore the thirty-foot high walls with over 15,000 sq. ft. of climbing surface.
1353 E. University Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-921-8322
