With collector car auctions, the WM Phoenix Open — the “greatest show on grass” — and Super Bowl LVII, Metro Phoenix is the place to be in the beginning of 2023. This is Arizona’s fourth time hosting the Super Bowl, headlining the big game in 1996, 2008 and 2015. More than 1 million people visited downtown Phoenix and 500,000 visited Scottsdale during the week of the 2015 Super Bowl. The game produced record days for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Metro light rail system, and lots of fun events throughout the Valley. Here are 10 of the must-attend events that will happen in the Valley during Super Bowl week.’
LEARN MORE: 10 cannot-miss Super Bowl week parties in Arizona
Super Bowl experiences
Phoenix will have two Super Bowl experience events. The “Super Bowl Experience presented by Lowe’s” at Hance Park will be a free, outdoor experience for visitors and will have the first-ever official Super Bowl watch party on game day. The Phoenix Convention Center’s “Super Bowl Experience” is a paid event that will allow attendees to test their skills in interactive NFL games and get autographs from their favorite players and legends. Tickets start at $20 and kids 12 and under can attend for free.
West Fest
BetMGM will kick off festivities for the Big Game weekend with the first BetMGM West Fest hosted at Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District. The outdoor concert will feature performances by Marshmello and NGHTMRE on Friday, Feb. 10 and Tim McGraw and Bailey Zimmerman on Saturday, Feb. 11. For tickets, please visit www.westgateaz.com/westfest.
Opening night
Arizona’s capital will host the “Super Bowl Opening Night presented by Fast Twitch” on Feb. 6 at Footprint Center after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will showcase players and coaches for the first time during Super Bowl week, and tickets will be $20. Footprint Center will also host the “Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest,” a three-night music event that will feature artists across all genres.
NFL events
The NFL awards show, “NFL Honors,” will take place on Feb. 9 at the Phoenix Symphony Hall, and the league will announce its MVP, Coach of the Year, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and more. The Taste of the NFL, the league’s culinary event, will start at 4 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Chateau Luxe. All the proceeds will go to GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger fund.
Get your run on
Mesa will host the “5k-9 Fun Run presented by PetSmart” on Jan. 7 at Riverview Park, where visitors and their pets can take part. The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, the NFL’s gospel concert, will also occur at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Mesa Center for the Arts.
Cities get in on the fun
Scottsdale will have the “ESPN Main Street Tailgate” that will bring live Super Bowl coverage on Feb. 8. Tempe will host the “FanDuel Party” at Tempe Beach Park that will be a “nonstop party with competitions, hospitality, celebrity interviews and more.” The city of Glendale will host Fox Sports, the Super Bowl’s official broadcast partner, and provide week-long coverage leading up to the game.
