Westgate City Center
| Location | Glendale, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Opening date | November 15, 2006 |
| Total retail floor area | 508,000 sq ft (47,200 m2) (current) 8,000,000 sq ft (740,000 m2) (projected) |
| Website | westgateaz.com |
Westgate Entertainment District, formerly known as "Westgate City Center" is the name of a mixed-use development located in Glendale, Arizona. Westgate is described as a super-regional destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, and commercial offices. Funded by millionaire New York architect Ron Elsensohn and anchored by the Gila River Arena, home of the NHL team the Arizona Coyotes, the complex features 8,000,000 sq ft (740,000 m2) of retail space and is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the region, attracting over 22 million visitors annually. In 2011, the future of the development came into doubt, as the property went into foreclosure and reverted to lenders. The shopping center was re-branded and reopened under the name Westgate Entertainment District, operated by Vestar, who also manages other properties in the Phoenix-metro area.
Glendale Arizona's Westgate Entertainment District is a 223-acre (0.90 km2), mixed-used development that includes 8,000,000 square feet (740,000 m2) of shopping, dining, entertainment, high-end condominiums, parks, and office space. It is anchored by Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes, and adjacent to the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, the Fiesta Bowl and host of Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIX.
Development of Westgate Entertainment District began with the construction of the Gila River Arena, then referred to as the Glendale Arena. Construction of the Arena was completed in late 2003 and it hosted its first NHL game on December 27 of that same year, while construction of the remainder of Westgate's Entertainment District began in October 2005, opening one year later.
The project has been split into multiple phases to facilitate construction and development. Phase I, the initial 510,000-square-foot (47,000 m2) development, opened to the public on November 17, 2006 in limited fashion with only a few restaurants and a sports merchandise store, with other retailers, restaurants and a 20-screen theater opening in the following weeks. Phase I also includes an upmarket 12-story Renaissance Hotel completed in mid-2007, and a convention center, as well as outdoor entertainment facilities. Westgate Entertainment District is now home to more than 30 bars and restaurants as well as a mix of national, regional and local retailers.
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