Maricopa, Arizona is a town rich in history and culture. While many visitors come for the sunshine and desert landscapes, those interested in sports will be pleasantly surprised by the areas sporting history. From early Native American games to modernday professional teams, there is something for every sports enthusiast.
One mustvisit location is AkChin Indian Communitys HimDak Museum (42507 W Peters & Nall Rd). The museum showcases the traditional games played by tribes throughout Arizonas history such as hoop rolling races and stickball tournaments. Visitors can watch videos about these pastimes or even try their hand at playing them onsite.
Another stop should be Copper Sky Regional Park (44345 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) where baseball fans can learn about former Major Leaguer Joe Garagiola Sr., who honed his skills growing up in nearby Chandler before going on to play for legendary manager Casey Stengel with the New York Yankees. A statue of him stands outside of Copper Sky Stadium along with banners commemorating his life and career.
For rodeo enthusiasts, visit Harolds Corral (6895 E Cave Creek Rd), home to one of Arizonas oldest rodeos which began in 1929 when local ranchers met up to compete against each other in roping and riding competitions outside this local hangout destination that still serves burgers with live music shows.
Last but not least is Sun Devil Stadium located inside Tempe Campus at Arizona State University(500 E Veterans Way ). This stadium has been a fixture since 1958 hosting countless football games including two NFL Super Bowls. It was also home to Pat Tillman who played college football here before joining the Army Rangers after September 11th attacks ultimately being tragically killed while serving overseas.
In conclusion, whether youre looking for ancient tribal traditions or modernday professional sports, Maricopa has a rich sports history that is worth exploring. From the HimDak Museum to Copper Sky Regional Park, Harolds Corral and Sun Devil Stadium, visitors can gain an impressive perspective on the areas sports legacy while enjoying everything else this pleasant southwestern town has to offer.
Websites:
www.himdakmuseum.org
football.asu.edu
Twitter handles:
42507 W Peters & Nall Rd
Maricopa, AZ
United States
44345 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Maricopa, AZ
United States
6895 E Cave Creek Rd
Maricopa, AZ
United States
500 E Veterans Way
Maricopa, AZ
United States