Phoenix stadium site to relocate inside Desert Financial Arena

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced Thursday that it will be relocating the Phoenix Municipal Stadium vaccination site into the Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Monday, continuing its transition of COVID-19 vaccination operations indoors.

The move comes as temperatures continue to rise and the summer months approach. Starting Monday, people will be able to visit Arizona State University’s venue for basketball and other events near Rural Road and University Drive to receive a vaccine shot inside, away from the heat.

The site currently at Phoenix Municipal Stadium located northwest of Arizona State University’s Tempe campus has administered nearly 200,000 doses to date. Those who received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the stadium and are awaiting a second will be scheduled at the new location, according to the Department of Health Services.

Patients will be able to park for free at a lot near the arena, which is also accessible by light rail and bus. Vaccinations will be administered on the arena’s main concourse, and arena seating will be available for patient observation following the shot.

Thursday’s announcement is one of several changes the state has implemented or planned in order to shift mass vaccination efforts indoors. The State Farm Stadium location transitioned to evening operation this week and will move inside Gila River Arena on April 23. The state also opened up the Valley’s first indoor, drive-thru vaccination site at Dexcom’s distribution center in east Mesa, near Loop 202 and Power Road, which replaces the outdoor site at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. The state plans to open another indoor site at WestWorld of Scottsdale on April 22 to serve the north Valley.