Arizona sports are simply pure Americana complete with the friendliest and loudest tournament on the PGA tour, the fastest cars in NASCAR, the bleacher crowds and cracker jacks of Spring Training, and a team in every major professional sports league. Arizona has become a national sports Mecca.
If you don’t believe us, let the numbers speak for themselves. The first ever National Championship BCS Game was held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on January 8, 2007. Andre Magee shot 332 yards for the 1st ever par 4 hole-in one in PGA tour history at the FBR Open in Scottsdale; and don’t forget Tiger Woods’ famous 9-iron, 155 yard hole-in-one at the Open’s infamous 16th hole (the rowdiest hole on the PGA tour). ASU holds 129 total National Championships, with 136 former Sun Devils performing in Olympic Games. Thirty-one home runs have been hit into the Chase Field pool in right field. Arizona was host to the 2008 Super Bowl, and looks forward to events such as the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, the NCAA Men’s Basketball West Regionals and is already working on future Super Bowls and possibly a Final Four.
With the addition of three new teams for 2009 and 2010, Arizona’s Cactus League Spring Training fans will consume even more hot dogs than last March’s bleacher-packed 1.3 million fans downed. The Cleveland Indians will premiere their 2009 season at the brand new Goodyear Ballpark, with the Cincinnati Reds joining them in 2010. The Los Angeles Dodgers along with the Chicago White Sox are making the move to the brand new Glendale Camelback Ranch Spring Training Facility. Other teams include the Chicago Cubs in Mesa; the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Tempe; the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A’s in Phoenix; the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners in Peoria; the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in Surprise; and, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in Tucson.
The Greater Phoenix area is one of 13 metropolitan areas in the U.S. to have at least one team in each of the four major professional sports. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL, is home to the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the 2008 Super Bowl. Located nearby, the 17,000- seat Jobing.com Arena serves as home to the NHL Coyotes. Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix is home to MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks and the NBA Phoenix Suns play only a block away at US Airways Center. (So do the women’s Phoenix Mercury.)
Phoenix International Raceway is home to the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series Racing, while Firebird Raceway hosts NHRA events. The nearby Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving teaches aspiring racers to drive like the pros. Other facilities around the state offer a variety of motor sports from dirt-bike racing to high performance go-cart action. January is auction month in the desert. The 2009 line-up includes: the annual Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction bringing thousands of car collectors from around the world to the Valley of the Sun, Russo and Steele gearing up for the 9th Annual nationally televised Sports & Muscle in Scottsdale Auction, and RM Auctions’ 2009 Automobiles of Arizona will mark its 8th year at the prestigious Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.
Phoenix Greyhound Park
If your group is looking for something new and exciting, Phoenix Greyhound Park is the best BET in the Valley. Located at 38th Street and Washington, it combines exhilarating greyhound racing with delicious food for a complete entertainment experience. Each group party can be customized to fit different budgets and needs. Whether the group is 20 or 400, they are sure to have a winning experience. 3801 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 85034, 602.273.7181, phoenixgreyhoundpark.com
Speedway Raceway
Rev up meetings, fire up tired employees, thank your customers, appreciate employees or simply take a “fast” break. SPEEDWAY is the INDOOR KART racing venue of choice. We can accommodate groups of all sizes at the BEST rates in Arizona. Centrally located in Phoenix. 2425 S. 21st St., Phoenix, 85034602.619.7223, speedwayraceway.com |
Arizona amazes visitors with its vibrant variety of natural and cultural experiences any time of year. No other state can claim such remarkable biodiversity, four-season splendor and larger-than-life natural contrasts than Arizona. Vast and unspoiled, Arizona’s landscape is exceptional. Northern Arizona boasts snow-covered peaks, sandstone spires rising a thousand feet from the canyon floor, and dark green, pine forests revealing fields of wildflowers. Undulating sand dunes and sapphire lakes define Western Arizona, while majestic saguaros and Native American petroglyphs are synonymous with the Sonoran Desert of Central and Southern Arizona.
Arizona’s weather is ideal for just about anything outdoors – enthusiasts can enjoy biking, hiking, Jeep tours, ballooning, horseback riding, or rock climbing year-round. Grab your hat (or helmet), smear on some sunscreen and carry plenty of water – then get out there!
Seemingly, genuine timeless discoveries and off-the-beaten path experiences await around every corner in Arizona. Jeep and Hummer tours can take you to hidden canyons, abandoned gold mines, mystifying ruins and legendary movie locations. (Those who thrive on hands-on adventure can opt for ATVs.) Knowledgeable and entertaining drivers-slash-guides weave tales of history and folklore into their informative narratives while pointing out the scenery. Groups can combine a tour with stops to pan for gold or a have a black-tie dinner in the desert.
You gotta do it! You are in Arizona after all – home of John Wayne’s movies and arguably the capital of all things cowboy. A fine horse will put miles between you and civilization – if not literally, at least mentally and spiritually. Horses and riding trails are prevalent throughout Arizona. You can book a daytrip with a local outfitter or spend a several days at an authentic dude ranch. Either way, you and your trusty steed will wend among towering saguaro cacti – Saguaro National Park in Tucson has the world’s largest concentration of them – or through the pine-covered forests of Northern Arizona. At Arizona’s guest ranches, city slickers are given every opportunity to mingle with authentic cowboys and soak up their irrepressible western charm.
Arizona is one of the foremost mountain biking destinations in the country with annual bike races scheduled around the state. El Tour de Tucson in November is perhaps the best known – but with names like Whitetanks Whirlwind, Mcdowell Meltdown, Gardner Grind, Prescott Punisher and Mogollon Masher – there’s seemingly endless opportunities statewide to torture yourself.
Whether your group includes mostly seasoned pros in search of extreme singletracks – or more likely – individuals just looking for a pleasant escape from meetings, Arizona has a trail for you.
The Arizona State Parks Trails Program maintains a system of more than 600 non-motorized trails. Dozens of breezy paths sweep through valleys and over hills, while challenging terrain puts even the hardiest riders to the test. In the Valley of the Sun, hikers can climb the 1,000-foot rise to the summit of Camelback Mountain or tackle the slightly easier Piestewa Peak – both offer expansive views of the valley below. South Mountain Park – the largest municipal park in the U.S. – has a labyrinth of cactuslined trails that expose hikers and bikers to native flora as well as cultural treasures such as ancient Indian petroglyphs.
The 3,200-foot climbs of the McDowell Mountain Regional Park – a 22,000-acre jewel in the lower Verde River Basin – reward hardcore fat-tire enthusiasts with outstanding views and swift descents. At the other end of the spectrum, the gentle trails that snake through Papago Park are a joy for riders of all abilities. Various adventure companies offer hiking and biking tours with guides to enlighten participants to Arizona’s history, wildlife and geology of the routes. The website, azbikeped.org, provides a wide variety of resources and information about biking, including places to bike, safety issues, important laws and policies, maps and organizations.
For those who prefer an easier climb into the sky – book a hotair balloon or glider tour to witness jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets. Arizona’s clear and calm skies offer blue sky sightseeing along with impressive views of scenery on the ground below. Even though you travel at five or six miles per hour, there’s virtually no sensation of motion because you’re flying with the wind – kind of like a magic carpet ride. Most balloon operators offer touchdown breakfasts with gourmet food, champagne and keepsake flight certificates.
When one thinks of whitewater rafting in Arizona, an image of the Colorado River rushing through the Grand Canyon comes to mind. There is also the Verde River and The Salt River, which offer unique whitewater experiences and have less rafters. In the whitewater world, the Colorado is “the big one,” and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is to water adventure what El Capitan in Yosemite is to rock climbing – the ultimate symbol and experience. However, there are raft trips in the Canyon for people who are not fans of whitewater rafting, yet want to see awesome canyon vistas and look into the deep waters of a beautiful river. Half-day smooth water float trips perfect for groups are offered.
Salt River Canyon provides some excellent whitewater rafting opportunities within an easy drive of Phoenix or Tucson. The Salt River is situated along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau between mountain and desert ecosystems. The result is an interesting variety of fascinating geology, giant Saguaro cactus, Indian ruins, and desert canyons carpeted in Sonoran Desert wildflowers. Single- and multi- day trips are available with rapids up to Class 4. Single day trips are 10 miles and often include a pack lunch and possible short hikes in side canyons. Near Mesa, the Lower Salt River provides perfect currents for a day of tubing, swimming and cooling off. You’ll see wild horses, blue herons and majestic mountains along the way. The season runs from March to May.
The Verde River is Arizona’s only national wild and scenic river. The section from near the town of Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir runs most of the way through the Mazatzal Wilderness. This is almost an untouched pristine riparian area. While the Verde River can be floated practically any month of the year, its primary river-running season is February to April with the best being March and April.
In addition to Arizona’s rivers, well over 100 lakes provide countless opportunities to cool down. Ever wanted to learn how to roll a kayak or paddle or by the light of the moon? Tempe Town Lake (right in downtown Tempe) offers classes on both, as well as an abundance of water-filled fun to individuals and groups. On the banks of the lake, visitors can rent single and double kayaks, pedal boats, canoes, row boats, electric boats and enjoy a sunset cruises with Rio Lago Cruises. Charters are also available for groups as large as 35.
There are more than 16,000 acres of desert lakes surrounding the Phoenix-metro area, including Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, Saguaro, Bartlett and Horseshoe reservoirs, and the ever-popular Lake Pleasant. Great for corporate outings, the Desert Princess II
Riverboat offers public day cruises, brunch, lunch and fantastic sunset dinner cruises on Lake Pleasant. And, Canyon Lake offers dinner boat cruises aboard the Dolly Steamboat.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Rock climbing is one of those sports that does both, although it should be noted that climbing is more about balance than brute strength. Meaning, those that get the concept of keeping the weight over their feet – versus sticking their bottom out – will do well. Local adventure companies allow groups to opt for a few hours scaling The Monk or other walls at Camelback Mountain, or signing up for a full day on the myriad routes in the McDowell Mountains. In addition to breathtaking views, your group will come away with a whole new lexicon. Below are just the A, B, and Cs (literally).
Anchor – a fail-safe attachment point for protection.
Approach – the path or route to the start of a technical climb. Although this is generally a walk or, at most, a scramble, it is occasionally as hazardous as the climb itself.
Belay – protects a climber from falling using a rope – a really good practice.
Belay device – a mechanical device used when belaying, various types include ATC, grigri, Reverso, Sticht plate, eight, tuber, and the Munter hitch.
Belay slave – someone that volunteers for, or is tricked into, repeated belaying duties without partaking in any of the actual climbing.
Beta – advice and/or instructions on how to successfully complete a particular climbing route – not always that helpful, sometimes just annoying.
Bucket or Jug – a huge handhold – especially nice for gumby’s (beginners).
Brain bucket – also known as a helmet. It can save your life, but only while worn.
Crack Climbing or Jamming – to ascend on a rock face by wedging body parts into cracks – pretty much as uncomfortable as it sounds.
Crank – to pull on a hold as hard as possible.
Crux – the most difficult portion of a climb, usually the point you bail.
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