Just What Kind of Sports does Arizona Have?

This article is provided by one of Phoenix.org’s guest writers. We are still in the process of finding a local writer to compose our weekly sports column. If you know of an individual that would like the exposure that will come from a weekly column on the Valley of the Sun’s most trusted resource site then have them contact Phoenix.org.

Just What Kind of Sports does Arizona Have?

Arizona Cardinals

As hot as temperatures can get, Phoenix is even hotter when it comes to sports. As a host to numerous sporting events and home to a thriving sports culture, Phoenix has what every sports enthusiast needs. It offers an array of sports bars, sporting events, and a deep well of sports history. Including basketball, football, NASCAR racing, Phoenix has everything a sports enthusiast could want.

Not every city can claim that it is home to numerous sports franchises, let alone that it represents all four major professional sports leagues in the United States. Two of the Phoenix teams carry the city’s name and play within the city limits.

The first of these professional teams is the Phoenix Suns of NBA fame, who started their career at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum over forty years ago. In 1992 the team changed playing locations to the US Airways Center, which used to be known as the American West Arena.

The teams of Phoenix have not just crossed sports boundaries. By being great teams, they have also participated in historical social movements. As one of the original eight teams pioneering basketball for women, Phoenix Mercury helped launch the Women’s National Basketball Association over ten years ago.

Phoenix also is home to several amazing locations for sports events. Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Suns hold court at the United States Airways Center, which has served as the home for the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games. Similarly, the arena football team the Arizona Rattlers play at the US Airways Center.  Other teams continue to move to the Phoenix area, such as the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League, who moved to the Jobing Arena  over a decade ago.  In addition, the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is home to the Phoenix Flame, the team of International Basketball League fame.

Also, the collection of teams known as the Cactus League determined that the favorable climate of was a good reason to conduct spring training in Tuscon and the nearby Phoenix metro area. How could they not? Though temperatures often escalate close to 100 degrees, Phoenix has the most reliable precipitation of any state. Rainfall is sparse, allowing teams to practice outside with little worry over weather-based interference.

This weather becomes particularly beneficial for sporting events other than football and basketball. Phoenix also hosts the Phoenix International Raceway, a major venue for NASCAR racing events.

Benefits of Owning a Home in Phoenix

This article is provided by one of Phoenix.org’s guest writers. We are still in the process of finding a local real estate expert to compose our weekly real estate column. If you know of a real estate professional that would like the exposure that will come from a weekly column on the Valley of the Sun’s most trusted resource site then have them contact Phoenix.org.

Benefits of Owning a Home in Phoenix:

Image Source: http://freshome.com/2008/03/19/home-interior-design-by-timothy-corrigan/

In Phoenix you will find some of the best reasons to get involved in real estate. Whether you are buying or selling a home, Phoenix is a place rife with opportunities to increase your financial equity and find satisfaction in owning a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. Just a few of the reasons to live in Phoenix include its expected household income, high school graduation rate, college degree attainment rate, and the successful marriage rate.

Getting involved in real estate first involves deciding to stop renting a home so you can own one. Renting restricts your options on what you can do to improve your home. Your landlord determines whether or not you can make certain types of improvements, or if you can make any improvements at all. And should the landlord agree to let you make alterations, it still does not make sense to spend your money on alterations that you do not own. When you leave, the landlord will appreciate the money you spent improving his or her property.

And given that landlords often attempt to keep costs to a minimum, they will likely look to keep repairs and improvements at their cost to a minimum as well. So not only does renting keep you from enjoying the long-term benefits of any improvements you make on the home, it ensures that many repairs and modifications will be done at your expense.

Consider instead the wonderful benefits of owning your own home. Especially at a time like now when the price of a home has never been more affordable. When you own a home you can do whatever you want. And whatever you do to improve your home is a benefit for you to appreciate. Any added value to the home is now money you can add to your bank account should you ever sell your home.

What if you have already purchased a home? Are you now ready to sell it? If so, it is likely you are reeling from a plethora of emotions. Selling the home you have invested time and money into may leave you nervous about leaving behind the place you formed cherished memories in, or anxious about moving to a new place. Or you may be excited about the prospect of moving to a new place with new adventures.

Perhaps the most important advice as you take the steps to sell your home is to first contact a Real Estate Professional. Sensible home owners rely on these professionals to provide a “Competitive Market Analysis,” which gives you an at a glance picture of what your home is worth and what you can expect to make on its sale. The reason you do not stop at one is that each Professional may offer a different perspective. One may offer a view that shows expected profits lower than you expected, while another may suggest your profits could be higher than you dreamed. Gather information from each of them to determine the most informed conclusion.

5th Annual Phoenix WorldFEST March 26-28, 2010

03.26.10 –03.28.10
Phoenix

Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST
March 26-28, 2010
FREE Admission

Celebrate the world we live in at the 5th annual Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST, held in collaboration with Alliance Beverage Distributing Company. WorldFEST is a celebration of diversity featuring the cultures, arts and food of Phoenix’s sister cities and much more. Visitors can see, hear, smell, taste, touch and actively participate in this hands-on, multicultural festival with FREE ADMISSION.

LOCATION:
Heritage & Science Park
115 North 6th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Map of Heritage & Science Park

HOURS:
Friday, March 26, 11am-10pm
11am-1:30pm: WorldLUNCH
4pm-10pm: World of Beers

Saturday, March 27, NOON-10pm
Arizona Cornhole Tournament
NOON: Sister Cities Parade
NOON – 5pm: KidsWorld, Sister Cities Village, and International Performers on the Friendship Stage
Noon-11pm: World of Beers, Food, and Live Music

Sunday, March 28, Noon-5pm
Pacific Rim Day
Noon: Sister Cities Parade
1pm-5pm: KidsWorld
1pm-5pm: Pacific Rim and Hospitality Industry Sunday

http://www.phoenixsistercities.org

57th Annual Arizona Boat and RV Show and Sale in phoenix-March 26th through March 28th

03-26-2010 through 03-28-2010
Phoenix

Arizona State Fairgrounds

The Boat and RV Show & Sale you’ve been waiting for!

Arizona State Fairgrounds 3/26-3/28

800-657-3050 or www.greenband.com

Adults $6
Seniors $5
3 day pass $10
Children 12 & under FREE
Friday, March 26th NOON - 7:00pm
Saturday, March 27th, 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday, March 28th,10:00am - 6:00pm

Fairgrounds Antique Market Feb. 13-14, 2010 Phoenix

02.13.10 –02.14.10
Phoenix

Featuring verbal appraisal clinic $5 per items proceeds benefit National Alliance of Mental Illness, free workshops & seminars, $4, Sat 9 am – 5 pm, Sun 10 am – 4 pm, 602-717-7337 or www.azantiqueshow.com

www.azantiqueshow.com

27th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Family Faire – “Arizona’s Irish…Proud Past, Present & Future” March 13, 2010

03.13.10 –03.13.10
Phoenix

Parade at 10 am with pipe bands, marching bands, floats, Irish step dancers, Faire follows parade until 6 pm, $10, 2 stages of Irish music and dancers, crafts, genealogy, Irish clubs, kids area, 602-280-9221 or www.phxirish.com

http://www.phxirish.com

The Arizona Marathon 2010 Feb. 14, 2010 Glendale

Phoenix Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival

If you are interested in sewing, needle work, crafting or any related hobby in our around Phoenix then take some time and visit the annual Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival in Phoenix. The Festival is being held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and will last for three days.

For more information visit the website at http://www.quiltcraftsew.com/

If you would like to add something to the events calendar at Phoenix.org then take the time to contact us here.

6th Annual Subway FanFest with the Arizona Diamondbacks Feb. 13, 2010

02.13.10 –02.13.10
Phoenix

D-BACKS GEAR UP FOR 6th ANNUAL SUBWAY® FANFEST FEB. 13
26 D-backs Players, Coaches, Broadcasters and Alumni to Attend Event at Chase Field

The Arizona Diamondbacks will host the sixth annual SUBWAY® D-backs FanFest on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The free event will include autographs and photograph sessions, memorabilia and sports card sales, and interactive games and opportunities with current players, coaches, alumni and broadcasters on the field at Chase Field.
D-backs slated to attend include players Brandon Webb, Justin Upton, Dan Haren, Chris Young, Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds, Kelly Johnson, Miguel Montero, Ian Kennedy, Clay Zavada, Ryan Roberts, Augie Ojeda, and Edwin Jackson. D-backs alumni participating include Kelly Stinnett and Quinton McCracken. Coaches participating include manager A.J. Hinch, first base coach Matt Williams, bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock, third base coach Bo Porter, and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. Broadcasters Daron Sutton, Mark Grace, Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Oscar Soria and Miguel Quintana will also be in attendance. All participants are subject to change without notice.
                                                                                                                        
Autograph sessions with D-backs personnel will require a $5 donation to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and will be limited in quantity. Players will also participate in photo sessions. 

Fans can also purchase season tickets during the event through the Select-A-Seat program, which will highlight available seats for the upcoming season throughout the ballpark. Fans will have the chance to purchase D-backs mini-plans at SUBWAY® FanFest. Both 10-packs and six-packs will be available in multiple seat locations, and this will be the first opportunity for fans to purchase the best seats to the best games before the single-game ticket on-sale on March 6.

Other SUBWAY® D-backs FanFest highlights include:
•    D-backs home clubhouse tours
•    Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation “Yard Sale” and D-backs’ wives silent auction
•    Family Fun Zone featuring D-backs speed pitch and T-ball inflatables and interactive inflatables
•    D-backs Training Centers Wiffle ball fields and clinics and a baseball skills area, which will feature groundball and fly ball practice and the 90-foot dash
•    Sports card and memorabilia show
•    Sports 620 KTAR will broadcast live throughout the day
•    FOX Sports Arizona will be taping promotional spots with fans for their “Be A Fan” campaign

For up-to-date information regarding the SUBWAY® D-backs FanFest, please visit dbacks.com/fanfest or call 602.462.FEST (3378).

http://www.dbacks.com/fanfest

9th Annual Ceramics Studio Tour Phoenix (ASU) Feb. 27-28, 2010

02.27.10 –02.28.10
Phoenix

Presents work of more than 40 professional ceramic artists in Phoenix metro area, a rare opportunity to view working and living spaces of participating artists and view demonstrations of wheel-throwing, hand-building and glazing techniques, functional and sculptural artwork on exhibit and for sale, free, 10 am – 4 pm

http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/ceramicsresearchcenter/index.php