A Look at Arizona Sports Beyond the Major Leagues

Hockey

Looney Tunes taught us that roadrunners and coyotes are a natural match, so it’s fitting that the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes brought on the Tucson Roadrunners as their American Hockey League affiliate in 2016. Puck fans can catch 36 home games at Tucson Convention Center from October through April — with tons of family-friendly theme nights and promotions along the way — and a deep run in the Calder Cup playoffs could extend the on-ice play all the way into June.

Soccer

Phoenix Rising Football Club has brought professional soccer action to the Greater Phoenix metro for almost a decade, now playing as part of the USL Championship. In 2024, they’ll strive to retain their league title at the newly completed Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium on Washington Street just north of Sky Harbor Airport.

Indoor Football

In Arizona, the gridiron action doesn’t end with the Super Bowl. The Arizona Rattlers captured five championships in 24 seasons in the Arena Football League before moving to the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2017, where there garnered another championship win. Starting in March, they’ll call Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena home. The Tucson Sugar Skulls joined the IFL as an expansion team in 2019, quickly building an avid fan base at Tucson Convention Center.

Tennis

The 2024 Arizona Tennis Classic, part of the ATP Challenger Tour, annually showcases future stars in men’s professional tennis from around the planet. On March 11-17, 2024, at Phoenix Country Club, you might just spot the next Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andre Agassi.

Baseball’s Spring Training

Since 1947, MLB teams have headed to the desert to work out pre-Opening Day kinks via Cactus League Spring Training games. Today, a total of 10 ballparks around Greater Phoenix host 15 teams in February and March — with more than 200 games played in 30 days. Chicago Cubs fans flock annually to Sloan Stadium in Mesa, while Arizona Diamondbacks faithful can catch their squad’s early season games at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, which they share with the Colorado Rockies against a McDowell Mountains backdrop.

Running

Weather and altitude training have contributed to Flagstaff’s title as the “running capital of the world.” The mountain town is home of the HOKA-sponsored Northern Arizona Elite team, which has trained top speedsters for everything from international track meets and marathons to World Championships and Olympics. Around the state, desert terrain provides the perfect test for a wide range of grueling ultra-marathons, including the Cocodona 250 (a point-to-point race from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff), the Black Canyon 100K from Spring Valley to New River, and the Navajo Parks Race Series 50-mile Monument Valley Ultra.

Cycling

In 2023, El Tour de Tucson celebrated its 40th year as one of the country’s premier cycling events, with more than 9,000 cyclists two-wheeling it through 102 miles in the shadow of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Off the beaten path, gravel biking continues to soar in popularity. The Chino Grinder north of Prescott tops out with the 120-mile Full Grind and offers three shorter options. Starting in Patagonia and looping through the Borderlands, the Spirit World 100 is renowned for its rugged terrain and stunning landscapes. The 100-mile Bear Howard Gravel Race in Flagstaff includes a quad-burning out-and-back climb up Saddle Mountain, north of the San Francisco Peaks.