80 2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE attractions by Jake Poinier W ith pro teams in all four major sports — football, baseball, basketball and hockey — the Valley of the Sun is one of just 13 cities in the U. S. to offer what's known as the Grand Slam. The action starts in downtown Phoenix, with neighboring sports complexes, Chase Field ( home of the Arizona Diamondbacks) and US Airways Center ( Phoenix Suns). Just a short ride up the 101 Freeway, the town of Glendale's Jobing. com Arena ( Phoenix Coyotes) and University of Phoenix Stadium ( Arizona Cardinals) combine to create an impressive skyline on their own, with newly built state- of- the- art arenas. Of course, the action hardly stops there. Greater Phoenix boasts just about any kind of sports competition you could want, with an event occurring just about 365 days a year on every kind of playing field, court, rink, track or course you could want. Here's a quick look through the binoculars — there's not a bad seat in the house! A super stadium University of Phoenix Stadium, a $ 355 million facility with North America's only roll- out playing field, took center stage in February 2008 as the host of Super Bowl XLII and the New York Giants' victory over the unbeaten New England Patriots. The resident Arizona Cardinals ( the nation's oldest continuously run professional football team) nearly captured the Lombardi Trophy themselves this year, losing in the final seconds to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. No matter what kind of fan you are, the Valley's a winner In the Big Leagues photos: the arizona republic attractions

2009 GREATER PHOENIX ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIVING HERE 81 For more information onValley employment, visit jobs. azcentral. com In addition to having hosted the 2007 BCS Championship Game, University of Phoenix Stadium also serves as the annual site for college football's Fiesta Bowl — and grappling aficionados can look forward to WrestleMania in 2010. Cut to the ' Chase' Completed in spring 1998, Chase Field's 49,000 seats, retractable roof, natural turf field, and a swimming pool in the rightfield stands make it a one- of- a- kind experience. The Arizona Diamondbacks' brief history is a proud one: In 2001, the team notched a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. In 2007, the club earned a trip to the National League Championship, but lost to the Colorado Rockies. The 2009 season looks bright, showcasing a potent mix ABOVE: Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald LEFT: " The Big Cactus" himself, Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neil OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP: Cardinals' Edgerrin James, in a game against the St. Louis Rams. BOTTOM: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren celebrates a win with catcher Chris Synder. photos: The arizona republic