While Tuesday’s event was in celebration of Desert Diamond Arena’s 20th anniversary, it at times became a showcase for the potential of the Glendale arena’s next 20 years.
Opened in December 2003 and primarily known as the newest NHL arena — the home of the Phoenix, now Arizona, Coyotes — the former Glendale Arena, Jobing.com Arena and Gila River Arena is now known as Desert Diamond Arena, a bustling concert venue.
With the Coyotes now playing in Tempe, 2023 was the arena in Westgate’s first full calendar year without a hockey game. Desert Diamond blossomed as a concert venue, with a record 450,000 guests in 2023 and blew past its peak year record for gross revenue, with an increase of 156% from 2022.
