Since 2005, the arena's been host to Arizona State's high school basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading tournaments, during an event called 'February Frenzy'.

The arena used to be home to NHL's Arizona Coyotes, NLL's Arizona Sting (who held the first sporting event in the arena in 2004), and currently serves as an occasional game for NCAA's Arizona State Sun Devils ice hockey team, and also served as a temporary home to Arizona Rattlers arena football team. It's name comes from a partnership between the Desert Diamond Casino company.

The arena opened in 2003, designed by HOK Sport.It is owned by the City of Glendale and operated by ASM Global, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). Desert Diamond Arena (formerly known as Glendale Arena between 20, Arena between 20 and Gila River Arena between 20), is an indoor multi-purpose venue, located in the Glendale area of Phoenix, Arizona.