Parking -April 2026 Womens Final 4 - Mortgage Matchup Center

Question

We're flying in to attend the NCAA basketball Final 4 on Fri 4/3 and Sun 4/5 (yes, Easter weekend). In my research, I'm not seeing references to ancillary or cash lots around the arena area. I do see parking garage options but I try to avoid those. Since the game might end 11:00-11:30pm on Good Friday, some parking places don't appear to be open that late either unless they make exceptions for big events. We're not staying near a light rail station so I've ruled that out. Any suggestions for parking? I don't mind prepaying, if needed, and we don't mind walking around a mile to and from parking if it's safe. Thank you.

Answer

Large events at the Footprint Center (which was formerly known as the Talking Stick Resort Arena and before that the US Airways Center—sometimes referred to in older posts as the “Mortgage Matchup Center”) always trigger expanded parking options downtown, including extended hours and event-specific lots. Even though you’re not seeing many “open surface lots” listed online, Phoenix absolutely activates numerous lots and keeps garages open late for major sports weekends like the NCAA tournaments.

Because you’ll be attending the Women’s Final Four on a holiday weekend and you’re okay with walking up to a mile, you’ll have several good, safe options that avoid the busiest garages directly next to the arena.

Below are the most reliable and practical parking choices for downtown Phoenix during major events:

Jefferson Street Garage (near Chase Field) – This is a large event garage that always stays open late for major sports. It sits about 0.4 miles from the Footprint Center and is one of the easiest in/out options. Although it’s technically a garage, it’s much less congested than the structures immediately next to the arena. You can usually prepay for events.
Phoenix Convention Center Garages – The East, West, and North buildings all have garages that extend hours during national events. These are safe, well-lit, and about 0.4–0.7 miles from Footprint Center depending on which one you choose. They typically offer prepaid parking during major tournaments.
Chase Field Surface Lots (A, B, C) – These lots are sometimes opened for basketball events, especially when it’s something like the Final Four. They remain open late and offer easy, uncongested access. They are also well within a safe walking distance (roughly 0.5 miles).
Arizona Center Parking – A garage, but a very easy in/out one about 0.5 miles away. They usually extend hours for major events and allow prepaid reservations.
Surface lots south of the stadium district (3rd Street, 5th Street, Buckeye Rd area) – These independently run lots aren’t always listed in official event pages but almost always open for Suns games, Diamondbacks games, and NCAA events. They are usually cashless now (card only) and stay open until crowds clear. They offer plenty of open-air parking and safe walking routes back to the arena along 5th or 7th Street.
CityScape Parking (Central & Washington) – Reliable, attended, and kept open late for events. About 0.3 miles away. While technically a garage, it is generally more organized and easier than the immediate arena garages.

Additional suggestions if you want the most predictable, stress-free parking plan:

Prepay through ParkWhiz or SpotHero – For big Phoenix sports weekends, these platforms list official and third-party event lots early. This is the easiest way to guarantee your spot and confirm extended hours.
Avoid the arena’s attached garages (1st Street or 2nd Street) – They fill quickly, are slow to exit, and are exactly what you want to avoid based on your preferences.
Walkable areas are very safe – Downtown Phoenix around the sports district, convention center, and Arizona Center stays well lit and busy until well after events let out. A one-mile walk in any of the recommended zones is safe, straightforward, and common for fans.
Arrive 45–60 minutes early – This allows you to choose the least congested surface lots and avoid post-work traffic if you’re going on a weekday.

Overall, your best combination of convenience + safety + avoiding garages is likely a Chase Field surface lot or one of the independent surface lots between Jefferson and Buckeye. If you don’t mind a garage, the Jefferson Street Garage is the single most reliable and hassle-free option.

With prepaying and arriving a bit early, parking for the Women’s Final Four will be smooth and easy even on Easter weekend.