Glendale, Arizona - An economic
success story in the heart of the Valley
There are many destinations that are great to visit, but only a few offer a quality of life which makes them desirable places to call home. For the residents of Glendale, Arizona, remarkable growth, coupled with beautiful natural surroundings and top-quality amenities at their doorsteps are just a few of the reasons thousands of people in recent years have chosen to call Glendale home.
Being one of the region’s largest economic engines with a record number of new developments, a surge in population, and numerous new retail, hospitality, entertainment, and industrial employers, Glendale continues to drive opportunity for young entrepreneurs as well as leading edge companies around the globe.
Glendale’s elected leaders had planned for this growth over the last several years, leading to a 10-fold increase in certain industries’ growth rates in a short period of time.
Glendale is comprised of four distinct character areas: the Loop 101’s Sports and Entertainment District, its Downtown, the Loop 303 industrial corridor, which includes Luke Air Force Base, and the Arrowhead region
Sports & Entertainment District
Anchored by Desert Diamond Arena and State Farm Stadium, the city of Glendale’s Sports and Entertainment District is the hottest spot in the valley of the Sun. Glendale’s all-star lineup of experiential retail establishments with more than 3,000 hotel rooms including a dozen existing hotels and three additional planned such as VAI Resort, the State’s largest, all together make this district unlike any location in the Southwestern United States. VAI is set to open in late 2023. With over 1,200 luxury hotel suites and rooms, a large state-of-the-art 360-degree concert stage, 13 elevated fine dining concepts, flowing white sand beaches, and pristine Caribbean-blue water, it will become one of the premier resort destinations in the U.S. A 52,000 square foot island will be a center point for this unique 56-acre entertainment resort.
Desert Diamond Casino’ expansion plan will further add to the hospitality offerings with two hotel towers. The most recent gaming addition, BetMGM Sportsbook, just opened on the Great Lawn at State Farm Stadium.
There is over a billion dollars’ worth of world class experiential retail under construction in Glendale presently with over a half billion dollars of additional investment anticipated in the area in the coming year. This firmly cements Glendale's reputation as an unrivaled sports and entertainment mecca in the country.
Downtown
Downtown Glendale features a city center prime for programming. City-owned Murphy Park anchors downtown and serves as the launching point for event programming. This area also boasts a diverse mix of hyperlocal businesses and specialty shops.
With all the character, and the built environ¬ment that is a true illustration of an authentic city center; Downtown Glendale is a pedestrian-friendly, urban environment with red-brick sidewalks, short, walkable blocks, established shade trees and a historic residential district which continues to see home values rise.
Glendale is moving forward with a recently approved $72 million Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project to allow Glendale to further improve services and encourage development in this unique downtown.
Loop 303 Industrial Corridor
Glendale’s rapid growth is reflected in the roughly 23-million square feet of industrial buildings which have been developed “under roof” in less than three years. The thriving Loop 303 corridor is becoming an economic juggernaut for many companies, specifically those from California, who are discovering they can cut costs and offer their employees a better quality of life in a city dedicated to their economic success. In addition, the region can support an additional 75 million square feet of industrial development.
Arrowhead- North Glendale
The area is known for its medical and retail options. All major hospital systems in Arizona, Abrazo, Banner, Dignity, Phoenix Children’s and Mayo Clinic, have operations in Glendale. In addition, there are many specialized medical facilities. These include cancer treatment centers, kidney disease and hypertension centers.
Glendale is also home to 50,000 college students at several different universities, including a campus for Arizona State University right on the border with Phoenix, Midwestern University, Arizona Christian University, and Glendale Community College. Many of its graduates choose to stay in the area to live and work following graduation, especially as more employers locate to the city so they can retain home grown talent.
Glendale’s general fund experienced a revenue increase of 40 percent between 2010 and 2020. Moving forward Glendale is focused on continuing to attract high-end developers who are the best in class within their industries.