University of Phoenix Stadium

Official Review by Jeff Summers, Stadium Journey Correspondent

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Rising out of the Arizona desert, the University of Phoenix Stadium dwarfs the landscape. The architects who designed the venue describe its unique shape as a representation of a barrel cactus indigenous to the area. From a fan’s perspective it more closely resembles a space ship from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind with its metallic silver facade.

Built in 2006, the University of Phoenix Stadium is home to the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals and the home of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl for college football. Besides sporting events, the stadium is also home to several conventions and special events.

Located in Glendale, Arizona just west of Phoenix, the University of Phoenix Stadium is easily accessed via the Loop 101 North freeway and sits adjacent to Jobbing.Com Arena, home of the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes. The football and hockey venues anchor the area and are clearly seen just east of the freeway.

Tailgating is allowed and encouraged. Fans are requested to take one parking spot for each vehicle with tents up to 10’x10’ allowed. Charcoal grills are not permitted in the stadium parking facilities although gas or propane can be used.

Besides the parking facilities, the stadium also features expansive lawn areas that are suitable for tailgating. The largest of these is Sportsman’s Park and is home to the largest tailgating party on property. Before every game tailgaters at the park compete to be named tailgater of the game.

The University of Phoenix Stadium has a capacity of 63,400 permanent seats in a football configuration. This seating capacity can be expanded to 72,200 with the addition of temporary seats in the end zones and upper decks.

There are several unique features at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The venue itself has a retractable roof opening over the playing surface. The outside panels of the stadium are made up of alternating silver metal and glass. The metal reflects the desert sun and reduces cooling requirements. The glass panels allow sunlight into the stadium and give the fans a scenic view of the surrounding area.

The playing surface is natural grass. The grass and soil are four feet deep and sit in a rectangular box. The box sits atop 76 railroad wheels allowing the entire playing surface to roll along railroad tracks. This allows the grass to be moved outside. The turf tray weighs an impressive 18.9 million pounds and is moved 741 feet via electrical motors at 1/8 miles per hour.

Sight lines are extremely good from all angles and the seats have adequate leg room to accommodate larger fans. The seats face directly down to the playing surface meaning there may be times when you have to turn left or right to see the action. The seats have adequate space left and right to allow this without invading the personal space of the fan next to you.

Overall the University of Phoenix Stadium is an engineering marvel and a great place to enjoy a game. It is not just the local fans who rave about this facility. Recently Sports Illustrated rated this stadium as the best new venue of the 2000 decade. Whether it is football, soccer, basketball, or any of the other countless events staged within its walls you are sure to enjoy your experience at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Food & Beverage   4/5

The food selection within the stadium is varied and is presented by 47 concession stands throughout the ballpark. You will find typical sports venue foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza. You will also find local favorites including a very good BBQ selection.

During football season you will find even more choices wandering around the tailgating areas outside. The fans are very friendly and many will invite you into their parties. These are some incredible cooks that should not be missed. Beer comes in two sizes including Small ($6.75), Large ($8.75), 16 oz bottle ($7.25).

Atmosphere   4/5

The retractable roof is awesome allowing games under the stars. The natural grass playing surface on rails that roll outside is amazing. Good sightlines from all seats.

There are video boards at each end zone giving fans a view of the game replays as well as out of town scores. Flanking the south end zone are sound “thermometers” that rise from the stands to roof structure. These “thermometers” measure crowd noise in the stadium and light up as the crowd gets louder.

Besides the field action, the University of Phoenix Stadium also has large columns that provide team and stadium information in almost a guided tour type of atmosphere. Each of the six levels in the stadium has a mural painted to showcase the natural beauty of Arizona. The upper deck’s mural shows the Arizona night sky complete with constellations and locations of planetary observatories in the state.

Neighborhood   3/5

Located in Glendale Arizona, the stadium is on the western outskirts of the valley away from many of the cultural activities of the Phoenix area. Besides the football stadium there is the hockey venue. Businesses are beginning to be built up around the area but it still feels somewhat isolated from the rest of the Valley of the Sun.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, 6751 N Sunset Blvd

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville is a chain restaurant and is a must-go venue for any of the loyal “Parrot Heads” that follow Jimmy Buffett. The restaurant is located in Westgate which is adjacent to Jobing.com Arena and the University of Phoenix.

The food selection is typical bar style foods with appetizers, grill items, and sandwiches. Most of the menu items represent the beach fare made famous in Jimmy Buffett’s music. While these may seem a little out of place in the Arizona desert, they are very good and at least while dining you feel like you are lounging around the beach.

Two of the specialty dishes that come highly recommended are the Coconut Shrimp and the Mahi Mahi Taco Platter. Both of these dishes were extremely good and were served with sides that made them a very filling meal.

The atmosphere is laid back which is what you would expect. The restaurant is decorated in island décor with an abundance of Hawaiian and tropical items. It is a great place to unwind after you team was beat. So take a trip to Margaritaville and forget all your cares in the world.

Saddle Ranch, 9375 West Coyote Blvd

Saddle Ranch is perhaps best known as the famous chop shop located on Sunset Strip in California. The company expanded opening a new location in Glendale Arizona in the Westgate City Center area surrounding Jobbing.com arena and the University of Phoenix Stadium.

The restaurant is best known for its country-western atmosphere and its famous steaks. The Saddle Ranch definitely fits into the old west view of Arizona and looks as though it has just escaped a western movie screen.

The Saddle Ranch continues the country motif offering music and a mechanical bull that gives patrons an opportunity to try their hand at bull riding or an entertainment venue where you can laugh at your inebriated friends who suddenly think they are cowboys.

Besides lunch and dinner, the Saddle Ranch also offers an outstanding brunch which includes an incredible French toast that must be tried. For pre and postgame, they offer several appetizers to get started. Of these, the specialty is the sweet potato fries. These are glazed sweet potatoes that are fried.

From an entrée perspective, the Saddle Ranch offers a large selection of salads and sandwiches for those on the go. The Steak sandwich is especially good topped with sautéed onions and mushrooms. If you get this I recommend going for the sweet potato casserole that is topped with candied pecans.

As you would expect, the Saddle Ranch has a great selection of steaks and pork chops. Of the steaks the best is perhaps the Porterhouse Steak that is dry aged to bring out the flavor. The steak comes with several choices for sides including the aforementioned sweet potato casserole.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Saddle Ranch has several desserts that will satisfy nearly everyone. The half baked chocolate chip cookie served with a scoop of ice cream and chocolate is a great selection as is the S’mores platter where you can roast your own marshmallows.

The Saddle Ranch is as much an entertainment venue as it is a restaurant. It offers you the opportunity to experience a little of the old west while being pampered with excellent food. It’s a great place to relax before or after a game.

Fans   4/5

The Arizona Cardinals fans have long felt they were the doormats to the NFL but since the team moved to the University of Phoenix Stadium the fan base has grown in loyalty and commitment. The games are loud and the fans are passionate giving the home team a distinct advantage especially with the roof closed

Access   4/5

There are abundant parking facilities surrounding the University of Phoenix Stadium with 14,000 spots available on site with an additional 12,000 adjacent to the stadium. The parking facilities open four hours before game time and remain open for one hour after the game ends.

The venue itself has an abundance of restrooms including family restrooms to allow parents to assist their children. When designing the University of Phoenix Stadium the architects took fan feedback into consideration. One of the most consistent comments they received was the lack of restroom facilities especially for women. As a result the stadium was designed with 30 men’s restrooms, 35 women’s restrooms, and 12 family facilities. This has resulted in longer lines for men than women, definitely a departure from normal sports facilities.

Return on Investment   4/5

The Arizona Cardinals have several price points for tickets allowing most fans to find a price point they are comfortable with. The concessions are fairly priced in line with the other sports venues in the area.

Extras   4/5

It is a unique venue with the retractable roof, retractable turf, and interesting architectural elements. The team goes out of its way to cater to tailgaters and the fans are very friendly even to those wearing the opposing team’s merchandise. Guest Relations was very helpful, and the local law enforcement is in abundance making sure traffic flows well before and after the game - even during events such as the BCS Championship and the Super Bowl.

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