Desert Financial Arena
Desert Financial Arena, known as “You-Ack”, is a basketball arena in Tempe, Arizona, home of the Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1974, making it 52 years old in 2026 and seats 14,198 for basketball. It ranks 7th of 16 in the Big 12 by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, about 11 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Tempe, Arizona
- Home of
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- School
- Arizona State University
- Conference
- Big 12
- Opened
- 1974
- Capacity
- 14,198
- Nickname
- You-Ack
- Former names
- ASU Activity Center (1974–1997)
Wells Fargo Arena (1997–2019) - Also home to
- Arizona State Sun Devils women's basketball
Arizona State Sun Devils women's volleyball - Size rank in D-I
- 37th of 360
Famous games at Desert Financial Arena
- Jan. 16, 1981: Arizona State beat No. 8 UCLA 78-74 in triple overtime before 14,384 fans at the Activity Center.
- Feb. 14, 2014: Arizona State upset No. 2 Arizona 69-66 in double overtime before 10,699 fans.
- 2015: The arena hosted NCAA women's tournament first- and second-round games, and did so again in 2016.
- Dec. 22, 2018: No. 18 Arizona State upset No. 1 Kansas 80-76 before 14,592 fans.
Game night
Getting there. The nearest transit stop is Veterans Way/College Ave.
Seating & views at Desert Financial Arena
Desert Financial Arena, opened in 1974 as the ASU Activity Center and later called Wells Fargo Arena, is a six-story building that seats about 14,100 for basketball in a lower bowl and an upper bowl. From 2010 a temporary wall closed off part of the upper bowl, cutting capacity to 10,754 during lean years; ASU removed it in 2018 as the men's team rose. Students enter through their own south entrance.
Parking & tailgating at Desert Financial Arena
The arena is on the ASU Tempe campus. The West Surface Lot is the closest option, and Lot 58 to the east is held for accessible parking with a state placard. Campus parking is paid on arrival through ParkMobile, and Sun Devil Athletics posts a basketball parking map each season. Valley Metro's Veterans Way/College Ave stop is the nearest transit, handy from Phoenix or downtown Tempe. Tailgating is a football tradition here rather than a hoops one.
Plan your trip to Desert Financial Arena
Arenas near Desert Financial Arena10
- 1G LeagueMullett Arena — Valley Suns same city
- 2NBAMortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix Suns 11 mi
- 3D-IGlobal Credit Union Arena — Grand Canyon Antelopes 11 mi
- 4D-IMcKale Center — Arizona Wildcats 99 mi
- 5D-IWalkup Skydome — Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 125 mi
- 6G LeagueAcrisure Arena — Coachella Valley Lakers 258 mi
- 7WNBAMichelob Ultra Arena — Las Vegas Aces 262 mi
- 8D-IThomas & Mack Center — UNLV Runnin' Rebels 266 mi
- 9D-IBurns Arena — Utah Tech Trailblazers 272 mi
- 10D-IAmerica First Event Center — Southern Utah Thunderbirds 303 mi
Questions about Desert Financial Arena
Where do the Arizona State Sun Devils play home games?
The Arizona State Sun Devils play at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
How many people does Desert Financial Arena hold?
Desert Financial Arena seats 14,198 for basketball.
When did Desert Financial Arena open?
Desert Financial Arena opened in 1974.
What is Desert Financial Arena’s nickname?
Desert Financial Arena is known as “You-Ack.”
What other arenas are near Desert Financial Arena?
Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix is about 11 miles away. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.