By james art 
What you need to know about Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona’s sixth largest city, has over 200,000 residents. Its entertainment and sports facilities make it a hot spot.
The Republic
The mega-entertainment resort, set to become Arizona’s largest hotel, is taking shape as it looks to open next year.
VAI Resort, scheduled to open in 2025, is the most anticipated newcomer to the Phoenix metro tourism scene. Hospitality experts believe it could redefine tourism in Arizona, making it rival Las Vegas for music residencies with its 11,000-capacity amphitheater.
Other defining features — such as 5 acres of sandy beaches, a party island, spa and wellness center, luxury boutiques and 12 restaurants anchored by a steakhouse overlooking the amphitheater stage — aim to make VAI a destination in its own right.
Building an ambitious destination resort with so many features is no easy feat, and VAI delayed its opening several times as the project grew in size and scope. Here’s what we know about VAI Resort, what’s coming and when it’ll open.
What major resort is being built in Arizona?
VAI Resort is under construction in Glendale, Arizona.
The first phase of VAI will have 1,100 hotel rooms, an 11,000-seat amphitheater, sandy beaches with temperature-controlled water, a 50,000-square-foot, European-inspired “party island” called Konos Island, the Konos Sky Bar, which offers food and beverages 130 feet in the air and tethered hot air balloon flights where passengers can take in desert and mountain views from 400 feet above the ground.
VAI’s second phase will include a second concert venue: a multi-level indoor theater with a capacity of 2,000 people. Staff anticipate opening in late 2026.
The 9-acre Mattel Adventure Park will be adjacent to the resort.
What are they building next to Cardinals Stadium?
VAI Resort is under construction south of State Farm Stadium on Cardinals Way in Glendale.
Renderings of the finished resort show State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, visible from inside the VAI Amphitheater.
What happened to Crystal Lagoons?
Crystal Lagoons was the original name of VAI Resort when the concept was proposed to the Glendale City Council, which unanimously approved it in 2020.
Plans call for many features that the VAI Resort will have, including a man-made beach, amusement park rides and a helium balloon offering aerial views of the area. Crystal Lagoons would have had 630 rooms, compared to the 1,100 planned for VAI.
VAI Resort LLC purchased the property from Crystal Lagoons in 2022 and expanded its footprint from 48 to 60 acres.
Is VAI Resort opening in 2024?
No. The VAI Resort website has been updated with the new target opening date.
When does VAI Resort open?
The latest updates from the VAI gave a tentative opening date of late 2025.
Who owns VAI Resort LLC?
Grant Fisher is the owner of VAI Resort LLC.
His father, Tommy Fisher, owns Tempe-based Fisher Industries, which is involved in building the resort. The company’s website describes it as a family of businesses in aggregates and heavy civil engineering. Fisher Industries had its moment in the spotlight when it was hired for private border wall construction projects during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The latest construction photos from Fisher Industries, posted in September on the company’s Facebook page, show progress being made on the front entrance of the Amphitheater Tower, the VAI Amphitheater stage and the Konos Sky Bar.
How much will VAI Resort cost per night?
Room rates will range from $500 to $900 a night, Fisher said. He did not specify whether VAI Resort would charge a resort fee.
How many rooms will VAI Resort have?
VAI will have 1,100 rooms and suites in four towers:
- Amphitheater Tower: 318 rooms.
- Rhythm Tower: 311 rooms.
- Cadence Tower: 299 rooms.
- VAI Villas: 155 rooms.
It will be the largest hotel in Arizona, surpassing the 1,003-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.
It will also outsize the top hotels in the West Valley and Westgate Entertainment District, more than tripling in capacity.
West Valley’s largest hotel is the 343-room Bluegreen Vacations Cibola Vista Resort and Spa near Lake Pleasant, about 20 miles northwest of VAI Resort. It will have 23 more rooms than Westgate’s largest hotel, the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa.
How big is VAI Resort?
VAI is on 60 acres south of State Farm Stadium.
What is the economic impact of VAI Resort?
A 2023 economic analysis by Applied Economics presented to the Glendale City Council showed the VAI Resort could generate $2.2 billion in taxes for the city, county and state over the next 25 years, including $32.4 million annually for Glendale.
Is VAI Resort hiring now?
There were no job postings on the VAI Resort website job board as of October 15.
Does VAI Resort have a casino?
No. Although VAI is envisioned to compete with the mega-resorts of Las Vegas, it will lack one common feature that draws people to Vegas: a casino.
That’s because Arizona law only allows casinos on tribal land. It’s the same reason Caesars Republic Scottsdale doesn’t have a casino, even though other Caesars-branded properties — not just but including Vegas — have casinos.
What amusement park is coming to Glendale, Arizona?
Mattel Adventure Park is coming to Glendale.
It will have a Barbie Beach House with a Barbie Dream Closet Experience where guests can create their own Barbie sets and hologram technology is used to “bring Barbie to life right before guests’ eyes.”
There will also be two Hot Wheels-themed coasters: the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: Ultimate Ride coaster, which climbs 84 feet and descends a double-helix track, and the Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer, which will have a double circle and two corkscrews.
How big is the Mattel theme park?
Mattel Adventure Park is a 9-acre indoor/outdoor theme park.
Is Mattel Adventure Park Opening In 2024?
No. The Mattel Adventure Park website has been updated to change the opening date from “late 2024” to “Expect soon.”
Where is the Mattel theme park being built?
The park is south of the VAI Resort at 95th Avenue and Cardinals Way in Glendale. Hot Wheels trains are visible from State Route 101.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who has been covering travel and tourism since 2014. His work as a consumer travel reporter for The Arizona Republic aims to help readers manage the stress of travel and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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