Phoenix/Scottsdale Area

Don't stay by the stadium. It's a very residential suburb.

Scottsdale is probably the most party centered activitiy you get.

If you like the outdoors and hiking, a day trip to Sedona would be a great option.

30-45 mins in good traffic, but worth it as that area has anything and everything you could want.

I second not staying by the stadium. Although there is stuff to do in Westgate in front of stadium (shopping , bars, restaurants). Yardhouse is chain restaurant there but really good. Lots of great beer on draft.

They did just open a Top Golf though right by stadium in Glendale FYI.

ETA: Highly recommend a day trip to Sedona. Less than a 2 hour drive to get there.

When following your team to a city for a bowl or championship game you have several options:

1. Find out where the team is staying, there will typically be an alumni group staying there too. Lots of fans from your tribe in one place, if you want to celebrate with your people rather than "strangers" this is the way to go.

2. Stay near the venue, it will be packed with fans from both teams, sports fans in general, and tourists. This option can be fun if you like meeting people with similar interests but from other regions (and other teams).

3. Stay near the party place, regardless of team or venue. If you are more interested in seeing the city itself than being part of a traveling tailgate. Hang out with locals and tourists, some who may be interested in your game or sports in general, some who are just out to have a good time.


Depending on the event and city these 3 may all be in the same area or may be miles apart (Houston and Phoenix for example).

How do these 3 apply to Phoenix?

1. Stay with the team (or nearby). Find out where the team and alumni are staying, probably on one of the LSU boards here or check directly with the school's athletic dept. They are likely staying at a moderately high end resort near the stadium (Glendale) or in North Scottsdale. Rooms will sell out quick and be expensive. The atmosphere will be awesome.

2. Stay in Glendale by the stadium. Westgate is next door and has plenty of entertainment (food, drink, shops, music, etc). There will also likely be Bowl related events at the stadium. Not your typical ASU or Scottsdale crowd, more of an Average Joe Sports Fan crowd but still can be fun.

3. Stay in North Scottsdale or Old Town Scottsdale. Both have great resorts, golf, food, drink, eye candy, shopping. Pockets of sports fans but more of a general vacation attitude.

With Uber and light rail it is possible to stay in one option and bounce to the other options very easily.

As for shite to do in Phoenix, search this board and you will find a dozen threads from the last 12 months that have great info. The likelihood of all of those posters catching this thread and retyping their answers is probably not high. "Use the search function" is not always intended to be an admonition, in this case it is your best bet.

search results for threads on Phoenix/Scottsdale

Lots of options - just depends on what you like, really! Tons of hiking around the area, and yes, if you've never been Sedona is a great, easy day trip. I've lived here 4 months now and have probably gone 6 times. Scottsdale probably has the most concentrated variety of great restaurant and nightlife options, but so do other areas...again, it just depends on your preferences!

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We stayed 2 nights in Phoenix and absolutely regretted it. I didn’t find there was a lot to do whatsoever.

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You would not have said that if you had stayed in Scottsdale

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The city is set up as a grid so you can honestly take a one road the entire way to the stadium in Glendale, will take about 35 minutes

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You mean take a surface street?

Look...my parents live right by the stadium in Glendale. I drive at least once a week to their house from my home in Scottsdale. On a good day with no traffic...it will take me 35-40 minutes on the freeway. With traffic...you are looking at closer to an hour, maybe even longer. Taking surface streets to the stadium from Scottsdale would easily take at least 50-60 minutes on a good day...closer to 70-90 minutes with traffic.

I'm not saying don't stay in Scottsdale, for those coming from out of town it really is your best option if you want lots of stuff to do close to you...just know the realistic drive time to Glendale so you can plan accordingly.

Just checked Uber...on a Sunday am with no events at the Stadium(Cards have an away game today)...cheapest Uber from where I live in Scottsdale (5 minutes from Old Town) to the stadium will cost almost $30(not including tip). Game day(a bowl game day no less)...expect that price to at least double or likely even triple with surge pricing.

Stay at Talking Stick casino & resort in Scottsdale. Between casino & top golf across the street you can stay pretty entertained.

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Stay at Talking Stick casino & resort in Scottsdale.

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I'm not staying there, but I'm going to a big New Year's Eve Party there with a group of friends from out there.