22 Ways Phoenix Has Grown Since Its Last World Series

The home of Super Bowl LVII, the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and the WNBA All-Star Game is now proud to host the Fall Classic as Phoenicians watch their Arizona Diamondbacks continue their historic run to win a second World Series trophy. The City of Phoenix is proud to support its hometown team, while providing a safe, fun experience for those with tickets to the game or those wanting to enjoy the festive downtown atmosphere.

While the City of Phoenix is no stranger to hosting major events, it has been 22 years since the Diamondbacks won the 2001 World Series, and over the last two decades, Phoenix has exploded. Here are 22 ways Phoenix has grown in the last 22 years:

1. In 2001, Phoenix was the 6th largest city in the country with approximately 1.3 million residents. In 2023, Phoenix has risen to 5th largest with 1.6 million calling the desert oasis home.

2. Downtown Phoenix is where education, innovation, and opportunity converge to create an electrifying community! Since 2001, 12,110 residential units have been built downtown. An additional 3,897 units are currently under construction.

3. With Arizona State University’s addition of a Downtown campus, more than 15,000 students are now attending classes Downtown, compared to zero in 2001.

4. The population of downtown Phoenix has tripled since 2001.

5. There are currently more than 230 bars and restaurants in downtown Phoenix. In 2001, there was well below 100.

6. The City has seen a nearly 150 percent increase in businesses in downtown Phoenix since 2001 and nearly 80 percent are locally owned and operated.

7. Several other downtown points of interest were built since 2001:

Arizona Financial Theater
Japanese Friendship Garden
Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse
Arizona State University Downtown Campus/Thunderbird School of Global Management
UA College of Medicine and Phoenix Bioscience Core
Bioscience High School
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
Westin/Freeport McMoRan
Phoenix Children’s Museum
CityScape
Block 23
Valley Metro Light Rail
Phoenix Convention Center (formally known as Civic Plaza)/ Symphony Hall – renovations took place in 2009 to connect the two facilities
Civic Space Park
Hanny’s was still an abandoned department store

8. Phoenix has worked hard to ensure the growth is sustainable. For example, In 2001, the City of Phoenix’s annual water usage was about 111 billion gallons. Even with an increase to our service population, in 2022, the City reduced its annual water usage by about 12 billion gallons. We are using less water now, even with more DBacks fans here! Step up to the plate and help us save water for future generations. It’s a team effort. Load the bases and apply for a water-efficient toilet incentive, a smart irrigation controller incentive, free xeriscape plans, or score a home run with all three! Learn more ways to become a water conservation champion.

9. The Tres Rios Wetlands did not exist in 2001. Approval for the environmental restoration project was granted in 2000, with construction taking place from 2007 to 2012. Highly treated water from the nearby 91st Ave. Wastewater Treatment Plant flows through the seven-mile section along the Salt and Gila Rivers in southwestern Phoenix. This project, along with other partnerships, enables the City to recycle 97% of its treated wastewater. Learn more: Water Services History of Tres Rios on phoenix.gov.

10. Since 2001, Phoenix has strategically dedicated staff to priority focus areas of residents and the City Council by launching new offices without increasing the total number of city staff. These offices include the Office of Innovation, the Sustainability Office, Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, the Office of Environmental Programs, the Office of Homeless Solutions and the Office of Public Health. Phoenix is dedicated to creating a greener, more innovative and healthier future for residents.

11. The city has been working towards a circular economy since 2001 by investing in waste diversion facilities. For instance, the city opened its second Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in 2006 and upgraded for $4.5 million in 2019. The facility currently processes over 120,000 tons of recycled material every year. The city’s first MRF at 27th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road is being rebuilt with $25 million of equipment to increase its efficiency and processing capabilities. It is expected to be up and running again by late 2024. Additionally, the city launched its first state-of-the-art 27th Avenue Compost Facility in 2017. This facility can process up to 55,000 tons of organic material. Learn more about zero waste education in Phoenix.

12. Phoenix is also home to more than 41,000 acres of amazing desert parks and mountain preserves, with over 200 miles of trails, but not all of them were available to residents in 2001. For example, since the last World Series in Phoenix, Phoenix Parks and Recreation acquired and developed the 10,000 acres that makes up the Sonoran Preserve in north Phoenix. Remember to follow Take a Hike. Do it Right. Hiking safety guidelines when enjoying our preserves.

13. The last time the DBacks were in the World Series, this type of traffic signal didn’t exist in Phoenix! The Street Transportation Department has buil t more than eight 5 HAWK (High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk) signals to help make it easier and safer for people walking to cross busy streets. Phoenix began installing HAWK signals in 2009 when they were approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

14. Micromobility options are much more vast in Phoenix now than they were during the last World Series run. Residents and visitors today can rent e-scooters and e-bikes through the City’s Shared Micromobility Program.

15. Transportation options have also increased dramatically since 2001. During the last World Series in Arizona, baseball fans did not have a fast and convenient option to get to downtown Phoenix. Now, Valley Metro Light Rail has two stops (3rd Street and Jefferson and 3rd Street and Washington) are just a short walk away from Chase Field. And with 12 park-and-ride locations along the rail, passengers can easily park their car at one of these locations and ride straight to the game.

16. Light Rail connects to the PHX Sky Train® allowing those flying into Arizona, another option to get to downtown or their accommodations. In 2001, the PHX Sky Train® didn’t yet exist! In 2023, the PHX Sky Train® operates between the 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station, East Economy Lot, Terminal 4, Terminal 3, 24th Street PHX Sky Train® Station, and the Rental Car Center.

17. The PHX Sky Train® isn’t the only thing new at Sky Harbor International Airport since the home team was in the World Series.

In 2001, there were six concourses at Terminal 4. There are now eight.
Terminal 3 is now modernized – a three-phase project that was completed in early 2020.
2022 had approximately 25% more passengers than 2001! In 2001, 35,437,051, 2022 total passengers flew through Sky Harbor and last year, there were 44,397,854 total passengers.
Even the Air Traffic Control Tower grew! In 2001, the tower was 181 feet tall and it is now 326 feet tall.
Rental car companies were dispersed throughout the terminals in 2001; now, customers have a more seamless experience with rental car counters housed in a consolidated Rental Car Center west of the airport.
Sky Harbor’s Navigator Buddies, the dog teams of furry friends and their handlers to help de-stress passengers during travel, weren’t around in 2001! In fact, the Navigator volunteer program was in its infancy. It began in 2000.

18. In 2001, Phoenix voters approved the expansion of the Convention Center, which was then known as Phoenix Civic Plaza. The $600 million project, which consisted of two phases, tripled the size of the Center, making it one of the top 20 convention venues in the United States to date. The expansion added what is known now as North and West buildings and increased the facility’s overall square footage from about 320,500 square feet to nearly 1 million square feet.

19. The Phoenix Fire Department has been committed to keeping our growing city safe throughout the decades – in 2001, firefighters worked from 48 fire stations across the city, and today, there are 59.

20. In 2001, Phoenix Public Library was a 13-location library system. Today, Phoenix Public Library has 17 locations. In 2001, Phoenix Public Library’s website offered only basic, simple information about Phoenix Public Library services could be accessed through the website and most items checked out were physical books, CDs, and magazines. Today, phoenixpubliclibrary.org hosts almost 16.5 million visits a year and circulates approximately 9.4 million electronic items a year.

21. The City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department’s Adaptive Reuse Program helps small businesses revitalize existing buildings to preserve their history. The program has helped several downtown Phoenix hotspots come to life that locals and visitors alike can enjoy during and beyond the World Series: