Desert Financial Arena at a glance
Desert Financial Arena is Arizona State University's indoor arena on the north edge of the Tempe campus, home to Sun Devils men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics, plus graduations and concerts. It opened in 1974 as the ASU Activity Center, became Wells Fargo Arena in 1997 and took its current name in 2019 under a naming-rights agreement with Desert Financial Credit Union. Many fans and older maps still use the Wells Fargo name.
For a Sun Devils basketball game, the best seats are the lower-level sideline sections near midcourt, which RateYourSeats identifies as F and T, with F1 and T1 directly above them in the upper level. ASU lists the official capacity at 14,198, a figure the university says will shrink once its multiyear renovation is complete.
Reading a map with letters instead of numbers
Unlike most arenas, this one labels its sections with letters. The pattern, consistent across ASU's own venue guide, Stadium Journey and RateYourSeats, works like this:
- Lower level: single letters, A through Z, skipping I and O to avoid confusion with numbers. According to Stadium Journey, the lower level runs up to row 22, which sits beside the walkway that divides the bowl.
- Upper level: the same letter followed by a 1, so K1 sits above K. Upper rows continue from about row 23 to about row 43. Some upper sections are further split with a 2, such as A2 or Y2.
Because the letters run around the bowl, F and T face each other across the court at midcourt, and the K through P run sits behind one basket. ASU's guide also places first aid behind Section Q on the east side and the ticket office on the west side.
Accessible sections
ASU lists accessible seating in sections B, C, D, H, J, K, Q, S, U and W. Stadium Journey notes that the stairways have no handrails, so row 22, next to the walkway, is the practical choice for anyone who wants to avoid steps.
Where to sit for Sun Devils basketball and other events
Basketball
- Midcourt: F, T, F1 and T1 are the center sections. A seat in the lower half of F or T is the best view in the building.
- Sideline: RateYourSeats rates D1, E1, G1, H1, R1, S1, U1 and V1 as strong sideline views, a good compromise when midcourt is gone.
- Student end: Stadium Journey places ASU's student section behind one basket in K through P, with K1 through P1 above. It is the loudest part of the building and home to the Curtain of Distraction, the student tradition in which people pop out from behind a black curtain during the second half to distract opponents. Sit nearby for atmosphere, elsewhere for a quiet view.
Volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics
These sports use a smaller part of the floor. Lower sideline seats are close to the action, and for gymnastics, a raised seat helps you follow several apparatus at once.
Concerts and shows
For an end-stage show, lower sections angled to the stage beat distant upper seats behind the floor. The upper-level corners are the weakest seats for any event.
Capacity and the renovation in progress
ASU lists the capacity at 14,198. Capacity has moved over the years: in 2010 a temporary wall closed part of the upper bowl and cut seating from 13,947 to 10,754, and the wall came down in 2018, restoring roughly 14,100 seats.
In October 2025, ASU announced an estimated 100-million-dollar, multiphase renovation. Construction started in May 2026 and is scheduled for completion in December 2029, with most work done between April and October so teams can keep playing at home. The plan includes:
- a new court, padded lower-bowl seats with cupholders and wider premium seats;
- four courtside seats between the ASU bench and the scorer's table;
- loge boxes with about 120 seats and theater boxes at the bottom of the upper bowl;
- a courtside club, new restrooms, a new sound system and a center-hung video board.
ASU says the work will reduce capacity, with the new figure set once designs are final, and that season-ticket holders will be reseated. Expect section names and premium areas to change during the project.
Parking, light rail and the bag rules
Light rail is the simplest way in. The Valley Metro Veterans Way/College Avenue station is about a six-minute walk west of the arena. Rideshare drop-off is near the main entrance.
Parking: ASU's venue page calls the West Surface Lot the most convenient, and parking there is free for volleyball, women's basketball, wrestling and gymnastics; men's basketball and other events can carry a fee. Lot 58, east of the arena, holds accessible parking with a valid placard and the appropriate ASU parking pass. ParkMobile handles payment at ASU lots.
Entrances: for men's basketball, ASU opens the north, southeast and west doors, and students use the south entrance.
Bags: Sun Devil Athletics enforces a clear-bag policy on game days. As of 2026, approved bags are clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear plastic bags and small bags up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches; there is no bag check. Concerts and non-athletic events may follow the promoter's rules. Check the Sun Devils clear-bag page before you go.
Fifty years on Veterans Way
The arena opened on April 29, 1974, replacing Sun Devil Gym as ASU's basketball home. It was built for about 8 million dollars and stands six stories tall. It hosted the NCAA wrestling championships in 1974 and 1978, NCAA women's basketball tournament games in 2015 and 2016, and a 2014 double-overtime upset of top-ranked Arizona, 69–66. James Harden played his college games here.
The building has also been a concert stop: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played on November 5, 1980, and U2 brought The Joshua Tree Tour on April 2 and 4, 1987. More history is on Wikipedia's Desert Financial Arena entry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Desert Financial Arena the same as Wells Fargo Arena?
Yes. The building opened as the ASU Activity Center in 1974, was Wells Fargo Arena from 1997 to 2019 and has been Desert Financial Arena since 2019.
What is the capacity of Desert Financial Arena?
ASU lists 14,198. The renovation running from 2026 to 2029 will reduce that figure, and ASU has not yet announced the new total.
Why are the sections lettered?
The arena uses letters around the bowl, A through Z without I or O. Upper-level sections add a 1, so T1 sits directly above T.
Where are the best seats for ASU basketball?
Sections F and T at midcourt in the lower level, or F1 and T1 above them. The student section is behind one basket in K through P.
Where do I park for Desert Financial Arena?
ASU recommends the West Surface Lot, which is free for volleyball, women's basketball, wrestling and gymnastics. Accessible parking is in Lot 58, and light rail stops about six minutes away.
Does Desert Financial Arena have a clear-bag policy?
Sun Devil Athletics applies a clear-bag policy on game days, allowing clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches and small bags up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check current rules for your event.