Phoenix Mass Vaccination Site Moving To Tempe

TEMPE, AZ — The Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 vaccination site at Phoenix Municipal Stadium is relocating to Tempe's Desert Financial Arena on Monday.

The new site will be completely indoors, allowing for vaccinations to continue during the scorching summer months in the Valley.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the new facility, which normally plays host to Arizona State's basketball and volleyball teams, will play a key role in the state's ongoing vaccination efforts.

“Arizonans have come together to protect our communities and expand vaccinations quickly,” Ducey said. “I’m grateful to all the volunteers, staff members and health care professionals who are helping Arizonans get vaccinated, and to Arizona State University for their continued partnership.”

Those that received their first COVID-19 vaccination dose at Municipal Stadium will receive their second at Desert Financial Arena, the health department said.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow expressed support for the department's decision, saying the indoor facility will serve the state well during the summer.

"We all know that in Arizona it gets hot before the calendar says it’s summer, so we are pleased to put Desert Financial Arena to use as a new, indoor, air conditioned point of distribution," Crow said. "The nimble teams that have pivoted and reconfigured through testing and the conversion this winter to vaccinations are taking the lead in the redeployment from outdoors to indoors and we expect a smooth transition.”

The Municipal Stadium site, which is located in the parking lot of the ASU baseball stadium, has administered more than 171,000 doses since opening Feb. 1, according to the department.
The state's decision to move its Tempe location to Desert Financial Arena comes after it announced the drive-thru location at Glendale's State Farm Stadium would relocate to Gila River Arena, home of the Arizona Coyotes.

The state's other Valley site, located at Chandler-Gilbert Community, already relocated to an east Mesa distribution center operated by Dexcom this week.

For more information on finding a COVID-19 vaccination site, visit AZDHS' vaccination finder site.