Super Bowl LVII: A guide for getting around downtown Phoenix and Glendale for Super Bowl events

PHOENIX - 2023's Super Bowl is bringing in huge crowds not only to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, but to all the events leading up to the big game.

At the center of it all, besides the game itself, will be the Super Bowl Experience at Margaret T. Hance Park and the Phoenix Convention Center, and for some, transportation could be a problem.

"We've got so much growth and development. Over 7,000 new apartments since the last time we hosted Super Bowl in downtown, so anyone who hasn't been here in a little while, it'll be a new experience to them," said Devney Majerle, the CEO of Downtown Phoenix, Inc.

"Parking is gonna be full, especially for ASU students coming from Tempe because a lot of them park in the open parking spaces here," said ASU student Abigail Mayer.

Here's what you should know before heading to Super Bowl events:

I want to drive to downtown Phoenix! What should I do?

The City of Phoenix is recommending that visitors going to and from the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center and Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix to utilize public transportation.

"There are tons of road closures in the downtown area," said Brittany Hoffman with Valley Metro.

Parking is expected to be a problem for some, as much of the area surrounding Margaret T. Hance Park will be closed.

An option for drivers is to park and walk the 1.3 miles from the Convention Center to Hance Park, or vice versa. Another option for drivers is to carpool.

Accessing downtown

The city of Phoenix's suggested routes on getting into the downtown area:

Get the latest Super Bowl traffic closures here.

From Sky Harbor

• Merge onto I-10 West Downtown Phoenix via the left ramp. Take Exit 148 for Jefferson St. and continue north toward Washington St. Turn left onto Washington St. and head west to downtown area.
• Head east on E.Sky Harbor Blvd . Merge onto I-10 W via the ramp on the left to Downtown Phoenix. Take Exit 145A for 7th St. Turn left and head south.

From north Phoenix

• Take I-17 South. Take Exit 199B for Jefferson St. Turn left onto Jefferson St. and head east to downtown area.
• Take I-17 South. Take Exit 200A towards Central Phoenix. Merge onto I-10 East. Take Exit 144A for 7th Ave. Turn right onto 7th Ave. and head south to downtown area.
• Take SR-51 South and merge onto I-10 W. Take Exit 145A for 7th St. Turn left onto 7th St. and head south to downtown area

From south Phoenix

• Take Baseline Road or Broadway Road from the east or west and head north on 7th Ave. or 7th Street to downtown area.

From west Phoenix

• Take I-10 East. Take Exit 144A for 7th Ave. Turn right on 7th Ave. and head south to downtown area.
• Take SR-101 South and merge onto I-10 East. Take Exit 144A for 7th Ave. Turn right on 7th Ave. and head south to downtown area.

From east Phoenix

• Take I-10 West to Phoenix. Take Exit 148 for Jefferson St. and head north toward Washington St. Turn left onto Washington St. and head west to downtown area.
• Take US-60 West and merge onto I-10 West to Phoenix. Take Exit 145A for 7th St. Turn left onto 7th St. and head south to downtown area.
• Continue west on Loop 202 to I-10 West Los Angeles ramp. Merge onto I-10 west and continue to Exit 145A for 7th St. Turn left and head south to downtown area.

Finding parking

Some assigned spots are reportedly going for $30 to $60 dollars per car. Others, like the Adeline valet parking, will cost $150.

"People can buy their parking spaces in advance. It's the Super Bowl parking app. Once you score that parking spot, you're pretty much home free," said Majerle.

To reserve a spot, people can use the SpACE Parking App. Prices range from $30 - $150. Check it out here.

For Super Bowl Sunday, fans can get parking permits at the stadium here.

Taking the light rail

The Valley Metro light rail spans from north Phoenix to the downtown area and stretches into Tempe before finally ending in downtown Mesa.

You can download the NFL OnePass app to get free fare to and from all the Super Bowl events downtown. You can learn more here.

"From Feb. 9-11, catch a train every 15 minutes until 7 p.m. and every 20 minutes between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m.," reads the Valley Metro wesbite. "On Feb. 12, trains will operate every 20 minutes until 2 a.m."

There are two stops next to Margaret T. Hance Park for those interested in attending the Super Bowl Experience: McDowell/Central Avenue and Roosevelt/Central Avenue.

Those visiting the Phoenix Convention Center can get off the light rail can exit on 3rd Street and Washington. If you're looking to got on the light rail from that area, you can board on 3rd Street and Jefferson or Washington and Central.

Respecting the ride

• No loud music on the train
• Avoid bringing drinks - if you do, try to bring drinks with a spill-proof lid
• Try not to take up too much space with bags or luggage

Valley Metro Super Bowl Gameplan
https://www.valleymetro.org/sbgameplan

Guides around downtown

So if you're downtown and are confused, you'll want to look for the people wearing orange shirts – they'll be able to answer all of your questions about downtown.

DTPHX Ambassadors are hard to miss, on purpose.

"Now it's new people every single day, and they're trying to just orient themselves and get familiar with the city so that when the Super Bowl events do kick off, they know OK game plan, this is where I'm going," explained Mariah Poocha, an ambassador.

You'll see them dispersed across downtown with maps and flyers ready to answer your questions ahead of the Super Bowl.

"It's been very exciting overall to see a lot of people in the downtown phoenix area," said Adrian Sanchez, an ambassador. "More lively than usual."

The top questions they're being asked so far are where to park, where to eat, shop and what's going on tonight? Sanchez says there are 230 places to eat downtown and 14 local pop up shops of local businesses at the Arizona Center.

The ambassadors will be around all week answering questions. You can call their hotline at 602-495-1500 or find more information here.

Driving to Glendale

Recommended routes for getting to State Farm Stadium:

Get the latest Super Bowl traffic closures here.

From the south:

• Take AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road / Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

From the north: 

• Take the AZ Loop 101 South. Exit at Glendale Avenue and make a right onto Glendale Avenue. Make first left onto 99th Avenue and then a left onto Maryland Avenue and continue over the bridge. State Farm Stadium will be on the right.

From the east:

• Via I-10: Follow the I-10 West towards Los Angeles. Take the AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road / Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.
• Using surface streets: Take Glendale Avenue West to 91st Avenue. Turn left onto 91st Avenue. State Farm Stadium will be on the right.

From the west: 

• Via I-10: Follow the I-10 East toward Phoenix. Take the AZ Loop 101 Freeway North. Exit at Bethany Home Road / Cardinals Way and make a right off the exit. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.
• Using surface streets: Take Glendale Avenue East to 95th Avenue. Turn right on 95th Avenue and follow it South. State Farm Stadium will be on the left.

Parking problems

A big issue people who drive to State Farm Stadium may face is parking, as many of the tickets sold do not include parking.

"Parking right now is just ridiculous," said one Glendale woman. "You really can't get a close parking spot for that good of a price."

The woman, who did not want to show her face on-camera, said she came up with the idea of renting out five parking sports on her property. She has posted a listing on craigslist.

"You can actually see venues from my car port," said the woman.

From the parking spot the woman is selling, it's about a five-minute walk to State Farm stadium, and it will cost $250 for the day of the Super Bowl.

"$350 if you want to do overnight, and then if you have an RV, you can park it for $500," said the woman.

The woman said two people have already made offers, and there are still three spots left. The woman also said she is shocked that more of her neighbors haven't rented out their driveways.

Some people living nearby say they didn't know quite how to go about it.

"We're thinking about it," said Tandice Dightmon. "Get some extra change. Food is going up. Everything is going up, so get some extra money can't hurt."

I'm from out of town and I don't have a car! What should I do?

Besides the standard rideshare, there's also the option of renting a car.

For example, a Scottsdale woman named Camesha Whitmore is made her cars available for other s via the car sharing platform Turo. Her cars, however, are all spoken for as of Feb. 3.

"They were actually fully booked by, like, the second week of January," said Whitmore.

For Whitmore, this all began way before Super Bowl LVII. It first started as a hobby.

"Turo has been surpassing my salary for quite some time, and it was a significant difference," said Whitmore. "I just quit my nine-to-five, because I found a new passion."

Turo's Chief Data Officer, Albert Mangahas, explains the benefits of using their app.

"One of the great perks about Turo is that selection," said Mangahas. "You're getting not a category of car, of midsize or compact. You're actually choosing the exact car you're going to get."

The experience is all contactless, making it easier for the owner and the renter.

"I will stick the key inside of something called a ‘Faraday Pouch,’ and it disconnects the key from the car," said Whitmore. "That way, I can leave the key inside of the car. When the guests lets me know they're at the car, I just unlock."

Turo officials say there are still several cars available on their platform in the Phoenix area.

You talked about the light rail earlier. Can we take the light rail to Glendale?

Phoenix's light rail system does not reach State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Read More Super Bowl Stories

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• Super Bowl LVII: Federal officials measuring radiation in the Phoenix area; here's what you should know
• The Super Bowl and Arizona: What you should know about the state's experience with the big game

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