Phoenix has become one of the bigger sporting hubs in recent memory but why? Why does Phoenix get to host events such as the Super Bowl and the Final Four? I am here to tell you why.

The capital of Arizona is home to 1.625 million people and is the 5th most populated city in the United States. Obviously, a massive sporting event wouldn't go to a small populated town such as Green Bay because they wouldn't bring in any revenue but Phoenix has the most important factor in being a premier sporting hub which is people. The other obvious factor is you have to have an NFL Team in your area or it just won't cut it. It also helps that Phoenix has usually good sporting teams such as the Phoenix Suns right now. The Super Bowl is obviously played in an NFL Stadium but so is the Final Four. For all of these special events, there is a committee that votes and chooses a location to hold the big game or whatever it is. Next year, the Final Four will be hosted in Phoenix and will be played at State Farm Stadium. The amount of work that goes into these events is crazy. Especially in Phoenix because the stadium isn't actually in Phoenix it is in Glendale, but you have to put all the posters and signs and events in Phoenix because that is where everyone is staying and it has the biggest population. That is why it is key to have the side events like the Super Bowl Experience and Bracket Town. I was able to experience both in my lifetime and they did not disappoint. The festivities both hold are very fan interactive and it just allows you to be a kid again which is why both are massive attractions and a big part of the events. I was able to speak with a Super Bowl event planner but they requested to stay anonymous in my story. The event planner told me that planning the Super Bowl "is a year-round thing and we are already working on the Super Bowl next year in Las Vegas". So right after the Super Bowl ended on February 12th, It was the beginning of their Super Bowl planning season. Similarly to the Super Bowl event planners, NCAA Officials have already begun the process for the Final Four in 2024. Another massive event that was recently held in Phoenix was the World Baseball Classic. The World Baseball Classic is a Spring event that occurs every 4 years. All the baseball talent in the world collides and faces off in a tournament to crown who is the best at baseball. The Chase Center hosted 10 games this year for the tournament. The World Baseball Classic generated approximately $100 million in revenue and Phoenix generated a share of that. The biggest game of the tournament was Mexico vs the United States in which the Chase Center was sold out and Phoenix was buzzing. I was able to speak with a student at Arizona State University and a Phoenix Resident, Andrew Bohovich, about the Super Events, WBC, and all of the major sporting events held in Phoenix. Andrew told me that "seeing Phoenix like this with all the people is really cool to see," he later added that "we are so lucky as students that all of these events are coming to Phoenix because these events are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities." He also told me that he loved how to city was designed during Super Bowl week and thought it was very well executed.

These are just a few of the reasons why Phoenix is a massive sporting hub as events such as the NBA All-Star Game, WWE Shows, and even Monster Truck. After focusing all semester on this project, I hope that whoever is reading this understands the why's and hows of being a massive sports city and some of the attractions that it might bring.