The Phoenix Coyotes used to call this place home. Frank Sinatra performed one of his last concerts here. Lady Gaga tore up the stage during her Monster Ball Tour.
The US Airways Center, then called America West Arena, opened in 1992, with Ralph Marchetta as event manager. Twenty years have passed, and Marchetta continues his work there as general manager.
Marchetta started his work at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum out of high school. He started in the parking lot and eventually moved up to event management.
He moved to US Airways Center in March 1992. Marchetta originally started working on the operational side, and then began booking events. Now he oversees everything about the building.
Gerri Sandy, Marchetta’s administrative manager, said that a typical workday for Marchetta is made up of many meetings, both internal and external.
“There’s a lot that goes on to make the building work,” Sandy said, listing several kinds of meetings among Marchetta’s responsibilities. The center has more than 500 part-time employees who work the events, and they are all under Marchetta’s management, Sandy said.
The center hosts between 120 and 170 entertainment events each year and one of Marchetta’s main responsibilities is booking those shows.
“His knowledge in booking and negotiating deals for shows as well as his relationships in the industry enable the US Airways Center to get the top acts,” Sandy said.
Martin Dickey worked with Marchetta at the Memorial Coliseum for three years and echoed Sandy’s remarks.
“He’s passionate about live entertainment and music,” Dickey said.
Dickey added that Marchetta is a very hard worker and would take on jobs other people didn’t want to do. Marchetta would paint the lines and numbers for the grandstand’s 6,000 seats and burn the oil spots off the parking lot with propane torches.
Some of the most memorable events for Marchetta at the center were also some of the first. George Strait gave the first public concert in the arena and two sold-out Metallica shows came not long after, Marchetta said.
“U2 was probably one of my favorite concerts,” Marchetta said. The band performed at the center in 2001. “It was right after September 11 and U2 has always been my favorite.”
Marchetta called 2012 “one of the best concert years in a while.” This year, the center will host Roger Waters, Madonna, Van Halen and Neil Diamond.
The arena underwent $70 million of major renovations in 2003 and more renovations are likely to come.
“We are at a pretty critical crossroads in the history of the building.” Marchetta said. He added that while the building itself has aged well, the next two years will bring big decisions in keeping the space current.
“It’s positioned well for the future,” he said.
The center recently unveiled 16 new theater boxes. The four person boxes come with complimentary food, wine, beer and a parking spot. Half of the theater boxes have already been sold.
“When people see how good the experience is they (will) really like it,” Marchetta said.
His job itself has also changed over the years. Marchetta said he has become more focused on the competition that’s out there.
“It’s about how we can improve the experience for guests,” he said.
Marchetta’s favorite thing about his job is experiencing the events firsthand. He said he loves when concerts or basketball games are sold out because of the fan excitement.
In addition to his responsibilities at the center, Marchetta is a senior vice president of the Phoenix Suns.
He is also involved in the community. According to Sandy, he serves on the board of directors for Phoenix Sister Cities and the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix.
“He’s great and he cares about the employees,” she said. “He has a great sense of humor and he’s easy to talk to.”
Contact the reporter at alabril@asu.edu
