Plan Your Meetings

Want attendees to get in the game?

Glendale’s sports facilities offer much more than group tickets and VIP seating. At the University of Phoenix Stadium at the Westgate City Center, planners can arrange banquets (capacity: 4,500) or trade shows (up to 626 booths) on the 160,000-sq. ft. stadium floor. Other fun spaces include the visiting team’s locker room (banquet capacity: 140), a 2,020-sq. ft. digital media room and a party loft for groups of up to 25. Ask sales managers about the 360 Teambuilding Adventure program. In the same complex is the Jobing.com Arena, where groups can watch the sunset from the Coyotes Terrace, enjoy ice hockey or a major concert from a 50-seat luxury suite, get down to business in the Media Lounge, or kick back and celebrate at one of the arena’s private clubs. Planners can reserve a 200-person party deck at the Camelback Ranch ballpark, where Cactus League baseball teams play. Behind the visiting and home team bullpens are additional gathering areas for 50 to 100 guests.

Want dramatic venues?

Aside from the sports arenas, Westgate City Center has its own attractions, including Waterdance Plaza — an open-air plaza with a sound/light/water show, state-of-the-art LED displays and space for thousands of people. From the center’s AMC movie theater, planners can work with National CineMedia to create a dramatic presentation or connect attendees to groups meeting in other locations. Planners can reserve the Arizona Broadway Theatre for private dinner shows (capacity: 400), or rent theatrical costumes, sets, backdrops or props from the organization. The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts has a 270-seat theater, a 100-seat blackbox theater, a visual arts gallery, classrooms and rehearsal space.

Want golf?

The Coldwater Golf Club has been voted “Best Course to Play on a Budget.” Staff can help planners arrange group outings or tournaments of more than 20 players. Golf clinics also are available. The Legend at Arrowhead Country Club is a picturesque and player-friendly Arnold Palmer-designed course. The club has indoor meeting facilities for 20 to 300 people. The Desert Mirage Golf Academy offers classes for beginning golfers as well as women-only classes and short game clinics on its 9-hole course.

Want out-of-the-box amenities?

At the Glendale Media Center, everything planners need to produce, film and broadcast a news segment, talk show or satellite press conference is at their fingertips. For the camera shy, a rooftop deck, a 4,000-sq. ft. conference room and a 30,000-sq. ft. expo hall also are available. Fireworks Productions of Arizona can create a custom pyrotechnic display to augment evening activities. If the event is sports-themed, Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders and mascot Big Red are available for special appearances and photo-ops.

Want high-energy events?

Sangria Luxe Lounge can get attendees in the swing of things with Latin dance lessons. The swank dance club also has private VIP areas and patio space. Rev things up at the Phoenix International Raceway, where groups can meet in one of the track’s bar/lounge areas, visit with NASCAR drivers before the race or enjoy a reception in the corporate village area by the track.

Want group tours?

Glendale and the West Valley offer 40 miles of hiking trails, many of which have picnic areas. Groups can horseback ride or mountain bike through Thunderbird Conservation Park, which is open from sunrise to sunset. Do something sweet for your group by scheduling a trip to the Cerreta Candy Company in historic downtown Glendale, where attendees can tour an actual chocolate factory that creates more than 70,000 pieces of candy a day. At the Bead Museum, guests will learn how beads have been created and used throughout history. The Glendale Arizona Historical Society can arrange for group tours of the 1897 Manistee Ranch and the 1898 Guest House at Sahuaro Ranch. The society also can provide educational speakers and storytellers. Arrange shopping or historic walking tours of downtown Glendale through the Glendale Visitor Center. Teach attendees about the unusual wildlife of the desert at the Xeriscape Botanical Garden.

Want to meet in a place with history?

The Glendale Women’s Club was founded in 1901 and provided much of the funding for the city’s first library and parks; its 1913 bungalow-style clubhouse can accommodate up to 200 people for meetings, banquets or other special events. The Sahuaro Ranch Park Historical Area is an 1886 homestead that is open for walking tours or private events. Planners may rent the whole 17-acre complex or choose a specific special venue, such as the barnyard, the fruit packing shed or one of the front lawns.