Join the Hunt

Official Review by Jason Bartel, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The Phoenix Coyotes don’t actually play in Phoenix.  In December 2003, the Coyotes moved a few miles west from US Airways Center to Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, which was the first part of the new Glendale sports facilities.  They played their first game in the building, then the Glendale Arena, on December 27, 2003 against the Nashville Predators.  The name changed to Jobing.com Arena on October 25, 2006.

Jobing has replaced USAC as the premier entertainment venue in the Valley of the Sun, hosting some of the biggest music artists in the business, as well as the Harlem Globetrotters and high school basketball tournaments.  One of the main reasons that the Coyotes needed to move out of US Airways Center was because there were obstructed seats at both ends of the arena, forcing fans to look up at the video board if the puck was in the end closest to them.  Jobing was designed so that the concourse areas would be open to the ice, allowing for some standing room areas, especially on the upper level, and every seat having a perfect view of the ice.

The Coyotes moved to Phoenix in 1996 from Winnipeg.  The franchise has struggled on the ice forever, with the first ever division championship and playoff series wins happening in the 2011-12 season.  They went on to lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Finals, but the success gained the Coyotes some fans that they hadn’t had before.  Although there are always rumors of the Coyotes moving to another city, usually a Canadian city, they are still in Glendale, and they are on the verge of reaching an agreement with an ownership group to keep the team in Arizona.

Food & Beverage    4

There is a very diverse selection of food and beverage in the arena. All of it is pretty expensive though. For example, a hot dog, chips and soda combo is going to cost you around $15. The main concession stands have hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, beer, soda...all the typical arena food. There's also specialty beer stands throughout the concourse.

There are a couple of stands that serve Papa John's Pizza. If you're feeling healthier, Boarshead Deli offers fans deli sandwiches and a couple other small items. Mexican food is served at Tortilla Flats, which specializes in a monster $15 nacho plate. There's also a cheesesteak stand and Vienna Beef stands which sell chili dogs.

All the food is expensive though. Jobing.com Arena sells Pepsi products. I would recommend eating before the game at Westgate City Center, but if it's not possible for you to do that, then be prepared to spend a lot on food.

Atmosphere    5

When you enter the arena on the north side, you notice right away that it feels a lot more open than most arenas. The concourses almost all open up to the ice, allowing fans to stand and watch the game if they so desire. The upper concourse even has a shelf for people to put their food on as they watch the action from the top of Jobing. The look itself is very sleek and modern. The walls are all sand colored, with the seats being Sedona Red. Very easy on the eyes.

The entire arena was designed with fan comfort in mind. The seats all angle towards center ice, and are very comfortable, both in the lower and upper bowls. The upper bowl is a little steep, so not ideal for people who can't walk as well. The upper concourse goes along the top of the arena, so the entire upper bowl is below the concourse. The main area is in the center of the arena, with the lower bowl being below it. There really is no bad seat; you can see everything from everywhere. Jobing also has a ton of suites, 87 of them to be exact. You can host huge groups in these, most of them seat about 30 but some can hold up to 50 people.

The Coyotes logo faces the west side of the arena, with the benches being on the east side. The Coyotes attack twice towards the south end, which are sections 105-110 and 205-210. The center scoreboard has a lot of info throughout the game, including stats for players that are currently on the ice for both teams. The video boards are all on the center scoreboard. All four of them show live game action, as well as instant replays and other features throughout the game. Also right above the lower bowl are two banner video boards that show the score on each end, but just have ads along the side during the game. As with any typical NHL game, there's music blasting during every stoppage of play, but the sound system in Jobing is really nice, which of course is part of it being one of the best concert venues in the country.

Neighborhood    5

Part of the design of Jobing.com Arena was surrounding it with a huge entertainment district. It took a couple of years after the Coyotes moved to Glendale to get this built, but it makes game days an event for hockey fans now. This area is now known as the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District, which spans along 3 miles of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy. The arena is part of Westgate City Center, which offers many restaurants, stores, and a movie theatre. The restaurants that share a sidewalk with Jobing include: McFadden's, Margaritaville, Hell's Half Acre, and Saddle Ranch. Walk a little farther into the shopping center and you'll find Johnny Rocket's, Yard House, Coldstone Creamery, and many other dining options.

If you feel like catching a movie before or after the game, the AMC movie theatre is located on the opposite side of the area from Jobing.com. If you are planning a trip to Glendale, there are hotels right in the area, including the Renaissance Hotel, which is almost attached to the arena. There's an outlet mall that was recently built called the Tanger Outlets, where you can find even more shopping. It is on the west side of the main Westgate parking lot.

At the right time of year, you can combine a Coyotes game with another game nearby. Just south of Jobing.com Arena is University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL's Cardinals. In October, November and December, there are times when the two teams play on the same day. If you're going to a Coyotes game in March, just two exits south along the Loop 101 is Camelback Ranch, home of Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers spring training. Or you can drive a little farther north and go to Peoria Sports Complex, which is home to the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.

Fans    3

Getting the fans to Jobing.com Arena has been an issue, and that issue still remains. The Coyotes are doing their best with the ticket packages and deals that they offer for almost every home game, and the team has done their best by being the most successful professional team in the state the last few years.

The fans that do show up are into the game from start to finish though. They still manage to fill the place with noise even though it's less than half full. Chants get started pretty easily during the game, you would never guess the amount of people from the amount of noise. Make sure to howl after every goal, and take part in the chant "He shoots, he scores, hey goalie, you suck. It's all your fault, it's all your fault, it's all your fault." Yes, there are a lot of visiting team fans that are at the games too, but that happens with all Phoenix-area teams since a lot of people that live here are transplanted from somewhere else.

Access    5

Jobing.com Arena is located just east of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy at the Glendale Rd. exit. There is a ton of free parking all around the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District on Coyote game days. If you feel the need for premium parking, there is a $10 valet lot just east of the arena, and a $10 parking garage attached to the Renaissance Hotel.

Most fans enter through the north entrance, which is where the ticket office is, and the largest gate. Security is very simple; just make sure to take everything out of your pockets because everyone goes through a metal detector as they enter. It makes the process a lot faster if you are prepared, kind of like at an airport.

Walking around the arena is very easy, even during intermissions. The concourse is very wide, and the food lines never get too long. There are plenty of bathrooms as well, keeping the walking area nice and clear.

Return on Investment    4

Tickets for Coyotes games are very reasonable. You can buy an upper level ticket for a game during the week, and just move down to the lower bowl if there's room for you (which there usually is). For any games on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, if you have a valid student ID you can buy "The Best Seat in the House" for just $25 (normal upper level ticket price).

A lot of games also have special ticket deals where you can buy them in a group of four, and get food and drink with them as well. You can find other specials for games throughout the season here.

Extras    4

Each period has a couple of fan giveaways, led by the Coyotes' Paw Patrol, which are their cheerleaders. If you're sitting on one of the ends, you are way more likely to get some free Coyotes gear, since there aren't a lot of people at the ends. After the game, if you show your ticket stub at McFadden's, you get 20% off your meal. There are additional specials you can take advantage of at Westgate City Center with your ticket stub.

The entertainment district itself is an extra point. There's so much to do within walking distance from the arena. You could literally spend an entire day without having to drive anywhere and not get bored. Some nights there are events going on in the plaza between the arena and shopping center hosted by Fox Sports Arizona or XTRA Sports 910 or KTAR 620. The ability to have standing room crowds is good for the club too, especially when they're in the playoffs. And the fact that the upper concourse designed for that is very unique and very cool.

The franchise's only divisional championship banner hangs proudly at the north end of the arena. There are some retired numbers on the west side as well, including past legends like Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, Dale Hawerchuck, and former Coyotes coach and part owner Wayne Gretzky. Current captain Shane Doan will surely be up there one day, as he has spent his entire career with the Jets/Coyotes franchise. He's the only player left that was a part of the team that moved in 1996.