This may be one of the best arenas in the NHL. The Gila River Arena was built from the ground up to be a hockey arena, and the views and layout of the place are top notch. Everything is clean and modern with a nice layout. It is the home of the Arizona Coyotes who have been struggling lately on and off the ice, but fortunately the arena experience is still good.
Now that the NHL has adjusted the season to encourage more travel to Arizona, it is much easier for fans to travel to Arizona to escape the snow at home and still see their favorite team play in the desert. Plus - and this is a big plus - they have FREE PARKING. This is unheard of anywhere else. There are also lots of restaurants and bars around the arena for pre and post game activities. Lots of visiting fans also make this a great experience for travelers.
The big downside is the location. The arena is extremely far from downtown and the Tempe/Scottsdale area. Even with the freeways, it may take a long time to drive across town for a game. Concessions are a little weak with only a decent beer and specialty food selection, but all the basics are covered. Plus, they have hockey sweaters from most of the local Arizona school teams hanging on the lower lever concourse which is very cool.
Go Yotes!