Streets flooded with baseball jerseys of all kinds. Chants of “let's go D-Backs” echo in the streets. Suns jerseys painted on the sides of buildings. Downtown Phoenix is emerging as a bustling hub of sports activity.
The city's growth is influenced by the surge in sporting events taking place in the area, according to Phoenix Urban Development Department. The diverse sports attract both residents and visitors, transforming the downtown landscape.
According to data compiled by the Phoenix Urban Development Department, the influx of sporting events has had a profound impact on the economic and demographic landscape of downtown Phoenix.
“The statistics reveal a notable increase in foot traffic, local business revenue, and overall community engagement.”
In 2023, Phoenix was the focal point of held numerous sporting events. Super Bowl 57 took place in Glendale, with numerous related NFL events taking place downtown. Chase Field hosted the USA Baseball games in March, attracting business and foot traffic.
In October and November, Chase field hosted the MLB Division Series, League Championship Series and the World Series.
Athena Cajudoy, an employee at the Hampton Inn Hotel located at East Polk Street , said she started to see an influx of customers during the months from August to October.
“The fans come when their team plays,” Cajudoy said. “We have a total of 200 rooms.” During the World Series, 195 of the rooms were occupied.
Recent statistics compiled by the Phoenix Community Alliance, an affiliate of Downtown Phoenix Inc. and the premier membership organization for downtown leaders reveal a significant increase in hotel bookings and occupancy rates, with a direct correlation to the numerous sporting events hosted in the downtown area.
The influx of sports enthusiasts and event attendees has attracted visitors from both near and far, according to Phoenix Urban Development Department.
The information for 2022 showed 11% growth in tourism since a $19.1 million economic impact in 2018 caused by tourism events. Approximately $10.1 million of economic growth was directly attributed to visitor, event, business, construction, worker and residential activity, according to KTAR News.
“It’s been great having all these major events down the street, people seem to be interested in the downtown area," said Darrell Spencer, a leasing consultant.
Hotel occupancy rates have seen a year-over-year increase of 18%, outpacing the national average compared to other American cities, according to Hotel Tech Report.
The major sporting events, including professional basketball and baseball games, have proven to be particularly lucrative for hotels in the downtown district.
The demand for accommodations during these periods has led to increased hotel room prices, contributing significantly to the economic vitality of the hospitality sector.
Louis Garcia, front desk manager at Kimpton Hotel said: “Our hotel is very well known because we are located right between the Foot Print Center and Chase Field, attracting a lot of tourism.”