As the Final Four returns to Glendale for the first weekend of April, the city, local merchants and entertainment complexes believe they are better prepared to capture the windfall and recognition that comes with one of the country’s biggest sporting event.
But city officials, property owners and restaurant proprietors are quick to say, the main reason the second time around will be bigger is all the small and large destinations that have opened near State Farm Stadium in the past seven years.
In 2017, Topgolf had not opened, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley was open in a much smaller building and Westgate Entertainment District was not full of tenants.