Glendale's VAI Resort marks construction milestone, plans late 2024 opening

The first phase of what will be the largest resort in Arizona is planned to open by the end of 2024, with the remaining portions to open by the middle of 2025.

VAI Resort, located near Loop 101 and Cardinals Way, has been under construction in Glendale since 2021.

Phase one, which will include the first hotel tower, called the Amphitheater Tower, the amphitheater and the Mattel Adventure Park, is about 70% complete, Grant Fisher, CEO of VAI Global Development, said. The amphitheater marked a construction milestone in November with the placement of the 47-foot tall “V” shaped structures that will hold the roof over the $40 million amphitheater stage.

Fisher said the company had gone through “almost 100” iterations of what the stage and performance venue would look like. When designing the site, he said they considered all aspects, including views from all seats in the theater as well as the views from the overlooking hotel rooms, which will be sold like suites for different shows, and acoustics from all angles.

The stage can accommodate more than concerts, Fisher said, adding it could be a venue for a future NFL or NBA draft, or a fight night.

“The party will not stop after the encore,” he said.

By the time the first phase opens for construction, Fisher said the construction on the remaining three hotel towers and retail and restaurants will be internal to the buildings, so hotel guests and concert attendees’ experiences should not be hindered by construction.

Three restaurants, located in the Amphitheater Tower, will also open in the first phase, Fisher said.

2,000 permanent jobs anticipated

The first phase will create about 700 permanent jobs, and when all phases are open, it should create about 2,000. By January, there will be about 800 construction jobs at the VAI site.

The full resort sits on 60 acres and will include four hotel towers, the concert venue, 12 restaurants, retail shops and will be built around a “swimming oasis,” that will have a white sand beach and will include a “party island,” with a bar and other entertainment. The entire development, including hotel pools and the swimming oasis, is expected to use about 5 million gallons of water.

Concert announcements coming 2024

Howard Weiss, vice president of entertainment for VAI Resort, said he is having conversations about which artists will perform on the opening weekend, but no performers have been announced yet. Weiss said performances and residencies will begin to be announced early next year.

Apart from Mattel, no other retail or restaurant tenants have been announced at VAI, but Fisher said those tenants should be announced next year.

Tommy Fisher, CEO of Fisher Industries and Grant Fisher’s father, said VAI will put Glendale, Arizona and the country on the map for top-tier entertainment venues, and said he expects VAI to attract visitors from Europe, Asia and around the world.

“My goal is when you come to VAI, there is never buyer’s remorse, and everyone wins,” he said.

$2.2 billion in taxes over 25 years

According to an economic analysis done by Applied Economics, and presented to the Glendale City Council, VAI is expected to generate $2.2 billion in sales, property and bed taxes to the city, county and state over the next 25 years.

A parking garage that will be used by VAI was the subject of a disagreement between Glendale and the Arizona Cardinals, though VAI was not named as part of the lawsuit over the garage.

The Cardinals claim that Glendale was required to consult the team’s leadership when making alterations to the sites that had been designated for use by people attending football games and other events at State Farm Stadium.

The garage, which was planned to begin construction in January, was to be built on a parking lot that had been part of the Cardinals’ parking plan. A Maricopa County Superior Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order, which blocks the city from granting permits to construct on the lot, in the case. The case’s first hearing is scheduled for December 4.

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Glendale's VAI Resort hits milestone, on track to open late 2024