Construction began on April 3, 2002.
After they relocated from Winnipeg in 1996 and they had spent their first 7+ seasons playing at America West Arena (now Talking Stick Resort Arena), the Phoenix Coyotes moved to Gila River Arena on December 26, 2003.

Although not an old arena – it had opened as the new home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns only 4 years earlier on June 6, 1992 – it was primarily designed for basketball and was quickly retrofitted for hockey.
The arena floor was barely large enough to fit an NHL regulation size hockey rink and several seats on the upper level actually hung over the boards.
That obstructed the views for up to 3,000 spectators.
As a result, before the team's second season in Phoenix, its hockey seating capacity was cut down from 18,000+ seats to 16,210 — then the second-smallest capacity in the NHL.
After the Colorado Avalanche moved from McNichols Sports Arena into Pepsi Center in 1999 and the Toronto Maple Leafs moved from Maple Leaf Gardens into the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) later in the same season, Talking Stick Resort Arena was the smallest NHL venue.

When the Coyotes were sold to a partnership led by Phoenix real estate developer Steve Ellman, that group committed to build a new arena in the neighboring Phoenix suburb of Glendale.
With a lease agreement signed with the City of Glendale in 2001, the venue officially opened midway through the 2003–04 NHL season as Glendale Arena.
The National Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting hosted the very first sporting event in the new arena, a 16-12 2004 NLL season opening victory against the Vancouver Ravens on December 26, 2003.
The very next evening, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted their first game before a standing room only crowd of 19,052 in their new home, that resulting a 3–1 loss against the Nashville Predators.
Their first win in Glendale was on December 31, 2003 with a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Gila River Arena was originally scheduled to host the 2006 National Hockey League All-Star Game, but it was cancelled.
Under terms of the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that was signed to end the 2004–05 lockout, the All-Star Game would not be held on the same year as the Winter Olympics.
This is to allow NHL players to participate for their native countries.
Many expected Glendale to eventually get the 2009 NHL All-Star Game as compensation.
Instead, it was then awarded to Bell Centre to celebrate the Montréal Canadiens centennial.
Then the Coyotes were to be awarded the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, but due to their ongoing bankruptcy case, potential ownership changes and the threat of a possible franchise relocation, National Hockey League officials decided to reopen bidding to host the game.
It was held at PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center) on January 30, 2011.

Between 2004 to 2013, the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series (formerly the Bud Light Cup) bull riding tour was held at Gila River Arena (except 2006 at Chase Field).

Since 2005, the arena has been the host venue for the Arizona state high school basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading tournaments in a mega-event called "February Frenzy", resulting from a formal agreement between the City of Glendale and the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).

The Arizona Sting did not play after the 2007 season and fully ceased operations in 2009.

Prior to the 2009–2010 season, this was the only current NHL arena that never hosted a playoff game.
At that point, the Phoenix Coyotes' previous playoff appearance was in April 2002 when they still played home games in downtown Phoenix.
However, the team finally ended that drought by qualifying for the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Once again, it was short lived with a 7-game Western Conference Quarterfinals loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
The Coyotes lost to the Red Wings again in 2011, but they got swept in 4 consecutive games.

Playoff hockey returned to Gila River Arena for a third straight spring after the Phoenix Coyotes finished the 2011–12 NHL season with a 42-40 record and 97 points.
That was enough to secure the franchise'
Construction began on April 3, 2002. After they relocated from Winnipeg in 1996 and they had spent their first 7+ seasons playing at America West Arena (now Talking Stick Resort Arena), the Phoenix Coyotes moved to Gila River Arena on December 26, 2003.
Although not an old arena – it had opened as the new home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns only 4 years earlier on June 6, 1992 – it was primarily designed for basketball and was quickly retrofitted for hockey. The arena floor was barely large enough to fit an NHL regulation size hockey rink and several seats on the upper level actually hung over the boards. That obstructed the views for up to 3,000 spectators. As a result, before the team's second season in Phoenix, its hockey seating capacity was cut down from 18,000+ seats to 16,210 — then the second-smallest capacity in the NHL. After the Colorado Avalanche moved from McNichols Sports Arena into Pepsi Center in 1999 and the Toronto Maple Leafs moved from Maple Leaf Gardens into the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) later in the same season, Talking Stick Resort Arena was the smallest NHL venue.
When the Coyotes were sold to a partnership led by Phoenix real estate developer Steve Ellman, that group committed to build a new arena in the neighboring Phoenix suburb of Glendale. With a lease agreement signed with the City of Glendale in 2001, the venue officially opened midway through the 2003–04 NHL season as Glendale Arena. The National Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting hosted the very first sporting event in the new arena, a 16-12 2004 NLL season opening victory against the Vancouver Ravens on December 26, 2003. The very next evening, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted their first game before a standing room only crowd of 19,052 in their new home, that resulting a 3–1 loss against the Nashville Predators. Their first win in Glendale was on December 31, 2003 with a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. 
Gila River Arena was originally scheduled to host the 2006 National Hockey League All-Star Game, but it was cancelled. Under terms of the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that was signed to end the 2004–05 lockout, the All-Star Game would not be held on the same year as the Winter Olympics. This is to allow NHL players to participate for their native countries. Many expected Glendale to eventually get the 2009 NHL All-Star Game as compensation. Instead, it was then awarded to Bell Centre to celebrate the Montréal Canadiens centennial. Then the Coyotes were to be awarded the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, but due to their ongoing bankruptcy case, potential ownership changes and the threat of a possible franchise relocation, National Hockey League officials decided to reopen bidding to host the game. It was held at PNC Arena (formerly RBC Center) on January 30, 2011.
Between 2004 to 2013, the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series (formerly the Bud Light Cup) bull riding tour was held at Gila River Arena (except 2006 at Chase Field).
Since 2005, the arena has been the host venue for the Arizona state high school basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading tournaments in a mega-event called "February Frenzy", resulting from a formal agreement between the City of Glendale and the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).
The Arizona Sting did not play after the 2007 season and fully ceased operations in 2009.
Prior to the 2009–2010 season, this was the only current NHL arena that never hosted a playoff game. At that point, the Phoenix Coyotes' previous playoff appearance was in April 2002 when they still played home games in downtown Phoenix. However, the team finally ended that drought by qualifying for the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. Once again, it was short lived with a 7-game Western Conference Quarterfinals loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The Coyotes lost to the Red Wings again in 2011, but they got swept in 4 consecutive games.
Playoff hockey returned to Gila River Arena for a third straight spring after the Phoenix Coyotes finished the 2011–12 NHL season with a 42-40 record and 97 points. That was enough to secure the franchise'
Gila River Arena