Footprint Center, the downtown Phoenix basketball arena that’s home to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and concerts by the Jonas Brothers, Tool (who will return for two shows in 2024) and Rod Stewart, is within walking distance of at least 10 hotels.
Suns fans will swarm the arena for home games throughout the NBA season, including upcoming faceoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. Come July 2024, Footprint Center will host the WNBA All-Star Game.
And the coming months are scheduled to bring highly anticipated concerts from artists like the Eagles and Bad Bunny, who previously sold out nearby Chase Field.
Here are downtown Phoenix hotels within walking distance of Footprint Center.
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Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.2 mile, about a 4-minute walk via Jefferson Street.
This boutique hotel with 450-square-foot guestrooms and amenities including in-room yoga mats and aromatherapy is the closest hotel to Footprint Center. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix is part of the CityScape complex of dining, restaurants and entertainment, and is close to many downtown landmarks. The hotel recently renovated its rooftop bar and gave it a new name, Eden, as part of a refresh of its food and beverage offerings.
Details: 2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-253-6633; https://www.hotelpalomar-phoenix.com.
Courtyard Phoenix Downtown and Residence Inn Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.2 mile, about a 4-minute walk via Central Avenue and Jefferson Street.
These two Marriott hotels occupy the same building on Central Avenue, next to the historic Luhrs building. Courtyard offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, while Residence Inn is all suites with kitchens. Courtyard’s fourth floor is home to Little Rituals, which Tales of the Cocktail recently named the best hotel bar in the U.S.
Details: 132 S. Central Ave., Phoenix. Residence Inn, 602-603-2000; Courtyard, 602-603-2001; https://www.marriott.com.
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.2 mile, about a 5-minute walk via Second and Jefferson streets.
One of two Hyatt hotels in downtown Phoenix, this hotel across from the Phoenix Convention Center has 693 rooms and suites that attract group travel business as well as people in town for ballgames and concerts. Its options range from 300-square-foot rooms with city views or balconies to a family suite with a king bed and a sofa that converts to a bunk bed. If you’re feeling opulent, reserve the 1,400-square-foot presidential suite on the 21st floor, which has a dining area and wet bar. The Hyatt Regency is also where you’ll find the revolving restaurant The Compass, which offers 360-degree views of the city skyline.
Details: 122 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-252-1234, hyatt.com.
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.3 mile, about a 7-minute walk via First and Jefferson streets.
Easily recognizable for its distinctive exterior comprising of a row of aluminum fins and a corner that lights up at night, the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown’s character doesn’t stop there. A step inside reveals an abundance of modern urban decor. The rooms, each at least 354 square feet, include 55-inch TVs and 24-hour room service. The Renaissance, which recently hosted President Joe Biden, is also home to the speakeasy Melinda’s Alley Find it by looking for a single red light under a mural called “Malinda” at the hotel’s north wall.
Details: 100 N. First St., Phoenix. 602-333-0000, marriott.com.
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.4 mile, about a 10-minute walk via Third and Jefferson streets.
At 1,003 rooms, the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown has the most of any hotel in Arizona. It’s a critical hub for metro Phoenix’s convention business, and it’s close enough to Footprint Center that you might find fans in Suns shirts among the educators, health-care workers or gamers in town for a convention. The Sheraton recently introduced new business amenities to cater to corporate travelers and locals who work remotely, such as private workspaces called studios that were designed to accommodate small meetings. Visitors can sample Sonoran-style cuisine using local and Indigenous ingredients at Carcara restaurant, or imbibe with a downtown view at the fourth-floor Breeze Bar & Grill.
Details: 340 N. Third St., Phoenix. 602-262-2500, marriott.com.
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Hotel San Carlos
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.4 mile, about a 10-minute walk via Central Avenue and Jefferson Street.
Baseball fans who also like historic haunted places will find the best of both worlds at Hotel San Carlos. The Italian Renaissance-inspired hotel, built in 1928, is among Arizona’s most haunted hotels, a history that stems from two months after its opening when a young woman named Leone Jensen jumped to her death from the seventh story of the hotel. Guests and employees have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a woman roaming the halls. But it’s not only ghost hunters who can appreciate the hotel. Fans of classic Hollywood films can stay in rooms and suites where actors including Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy once slept.
Details: 202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-253-4121, https://www.historichotelsancarlos.com.
Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.4 mile, about a 10-minute walk via N. 1st St. and Jefferson St.
Hampton Inn, the popular Hilton brand, has an 11-floor, 210-room hotel at the corner of Polk and 1st streets. It’s not only within walking distance of Footprint Center, but also a short walk from Valley Metro’s light rail station at E. Van Buren St. and N. Central Ave. The hotel offers both guestrooms and suites, with free wifi and free hot breakfast among its amenities.
Details: 77 E. Polk St., Phoenix. 602-710-1240, hilton.com.
The Westin Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.4 mile, about a 10-minute walk via First and Jefferson streets.
One of the Westin’s three metro Phoenix properties, the Westin appeals to all types of travelers: spacious rooms for people traveling with families, different types of meeting spaces for business travelers and amenities like in-room massages and an outdoor swimming pool for those looking for a relaxing escape. The downtown Westin also promotes its status as a pet-friendly hotel and the city views from the rooms.
Details: 333 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-429-3500, marriott.com.
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.5 mile, about an 11-minute walk via Central Avenue and Jefferson Street.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s downtown Phoenix hotel is housed in an art deco-style building at the corner of Monroe Street and Central Avenue that dates to the 1930s and was featured in the opening scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller “Psycho.” It’s a short walk to abundant dining and nightlife venues along Central Avenue. If catching a glimpse of the city skyline is on your to-do list, the hotel’s Floor 13 Rooftop Bar — not for the triskadecaphobic — has a roomy sundeck and ample spots for lounging. And yes, the menu features Hitchcock-inspired drinks.
Details: 15 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-343-0006, hilton.com.
Hyatt Place Phoenix/Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.5 mile, about a 11-minute walk via Adams Street, First Avenue and Jefferson Street.
This 238-room hotel, including seven suites, is made for people who enjoy being at the center of everything. It’s close to restaurants and shops, a short walk to concert venues like Arizona Financial Theater and the Van Buren and not far from Footprint Center. Rooms have one king or two queen beds and a separate sitting area with a sofa; suites have kitchens.
Details: 150 W. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-388-4888, hyatt.com.
AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Downtown
Distance from Footprint Center: 0.7 mile, about a 15-minute walk via Fifth Street.
Across the street from the Sheraton in the Arizona Center development, AC Hotel stands out for its European influence, evident in the Spanish-style decor throughout and dining that includes croissants for breakfast at the AC Kitchen and tapas at the AC Lounge. Like the Sheraton, the AC Hotel offers rooms and suites with a convenient location to Footprint Center.
Details: 414 N. Fifth St., Phoenix. 602-258-1771, https://www.marriott.com.
The Edith:A new hotel brand is coming to downtown Phoenix
Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
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