Top Ten Reasons to Follow your Football Team to Arizona

Dec. 6, 2006
Contact: Jacki Mieler
jmieler@azot.gov or (602) 364-3697                                                                                          

Top Ten Reasons to Follow your Football Team to Arizona
Arizona welcomes Fiesta Bowl, Insight Bowl and BCS National Championship travelers

Although the regular season has come to an end, college football is far from over, and Arizona is home to two of the most exciting bowl games around.  The Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) offers the following list of the “Top Ten Reasons to Follow Your Football Team” to the Grand Canyon State for the Insight Bowl on Dec. 29, 2006 (Texas Tech vs. Minnesota), Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007 (Boise State vs. Oklahoma) or the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 8, 2007 (Ohio State vs. Florida).

1. Leave your Mittens at Home – The average daily high temperature in the greater Phoenix area in December and January is 65 degrees and sunshine is almost guaranteed.  Warm days and cool evenings provide the perfect backdrop for watching some incredible football and exploring one of the most exciting destinations in the U.S.
2. Sports Lover’s Paradise – These bowl games are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Arizona’s sporting events.  The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes will play host to the San Jose Sharks on December 30 at the Jobing.com Arena.  You can see last year’s NBA MVP Steve Nash in action with the Phoenix Suns against the New York Knicks on December 29, the Miami Heat on January 5 and the Golden State Warriors on January 7.  The Arizona State University men’s basketball team is also in action against Stanford on Dec. 28 and Cal on Dec. 30.  Even though the NFL season in Arizona will have come to a close, it is well worth doing a stadium tour of the new University of Phoenix Stadium (www.azcardinalsstadium.com) to get an inside look at this architectural masterpiece.  Schedules permitting, tours are offered Thursday – Saturday.
3. A Dose of Culture – The Grand Canyon State is a crossroad of cultures where many different traditions have met and combined into a unique tradition that defines Arizona.  Explore the historic locations dedicated to the state’s Old West, Mexican and Native American heritage. You'll find yourself intrigued, as well, by a remarkable array of fine-art venues, including historic theatres, colorful galleries, and renowned museums.  The Phoenix Art Museum recently unveiled a $41 million expansion (www.phxart.org) and Scottsdale’s Thursday ArtWalk (www.scottsdalegalleries.com) is a great way to connect with the local arts scene.
4. Bring Your Clubs – With more than 300 golf courses in the state, there is no reason your golf clubs should sit at home.  Ranging from rolling green fairways, to cactus-studded desert landscaping, Arizona golf is unparalleled.   Live the Arizona golf experience by playing one of the area’s reasonable daily fee courses or indulge at an incredible resort course.  You can play like the pros at TPC Scottsdale (www.tpc.com/daily/scottsdale/), which hosts one of the most popular stops on the PGA circuit, the FBR Open, at the beginning of February.  The award-winning We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, located in the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, just added a second course,  designed by the golf course architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, a must-see for all golf lovers.
5. Take a Hike – The Greater Phoenix area is home to some of the state’s most amazing hiking trails.  Camelback Mountain, uniquely situated in the heart of the city, offers a challenging hike with breathtaking views.  South Mountain Park/Preserve boasts 58 miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels.  The McDowell Mountain Regional Park covers nearly 22,000 pristine desert acres in Scottsdale.  Based on the central location of all of these hikes, you can easily squeeze some outdoor activity into each day.
6. Hit the Road – The timing of both bowl games is ideal for visitors to extend their stay and take advantage of all that Arizona has to offer.  The Phoenix area serves as an excellent hub for making day trips to Arizona’s nearby scenic attractions.  One of the most incredible ways to see the state is on one of Arizona’s 22 Scenic Roads.  Check out www.arizonascenicroads.com for an overview and itinerary planning assistance.  Sedona, which has been heralded as “The Most Beautiful Place in America,” is only two hours away and Tucson and Southern Arizona provide an easy getaway from the metropolitan area.
7. Relax and Rejuvenate – If cheering on your football team takes it all out of you, check into one of the area’s luxurious spas to recharge.  From traditional Native American healing treatments to innovative Asian practices, Arizona spas run the gamut when it comes to pampering.  In fact, three Arizona spas were named to Travel + Leisure’s “Top 10 Destination Spas in the World” list – Miraval – Life in Balance and Canyon Ranch in Tucson, and Mii amo in Sedona.
8. Shop ‘til you Drop – Didn’t get what you wanted for the holidays?  Come to Arizona to find exactly what you’re looking for. There are hundreds of indoor and outdoor malls, antique stores, clothing boutiques, gift shops, and art galleries – each offering the latest fashions and gifts that are uniquely Arizona.  Scottsdale Fashion Square (www.fashionsquare.com) is the largest shopping center in the Southwestern U.S. and will keep serious shoppers entertained all day.  Downtown Glendale (www.visitglendale.com) is consistently rated as one of the top antiquing destinations in the U.S.  And, Arizona Mills in Tempe offers designer goods at a fraction of the price (www.arizonamills.com).
9. The Grand Canyon – A trip to Arizona wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the state’s signature landmark – the Grand Canyon (www.nps.gov/grca)!  In fact, the Grand Canyon was just named by USA Today readers as one of the New Wonders of the World in a special poll they did with Good Morning America.  Whether you take a scenic flight with one of the companies that operates out of the Greater Phoenix area, or you hop in the car for the breathtaking four hour drive, the Grand Canyon is truly majestic in the winter.  Nothing compares to seeing the Canyon with a dusting of snow, and with fewer visitors than during the popular summer months, visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter offers the opportunity for solitude or quality time with friends and family.
10. Paint the Town Red - Don’t let Arizona’s laid back image fool you, because when the sun sets, things really start to come to life in the Valley of the Sun.  Art lovers can hit the First Fridays Art Walk in Downtown Phoenix on the first Friday of each month, making an evening out of perusing the galleries and indulging in some of the nation’s best cuisine.  Arizona is home to several James Beard award-winning chefs and Food and Wine “Best New Chefs in America,” and their culinary talents can be sampled in restaurants throughout the state.  The party doesn’t end after dinner, as the night clubs, jazz bars and cantinas continue in the revelry.

For additional media information, visit www.arizonaguide.com/pressroom.   For additional Arizona travel information, call toll free at 866-298-3312 or visit www.arizonaguide.com.

Editor’s Note: The Arizona Office of Tourism has a wide selection of images and scenic b-roll available upon request.