Totally closed due to the pandemic. That hotel derives most of its business from the Convention Center, and there's nothing going on there now. I pass by the hotel several times a day, and it's sad to see barriers blocking the driveway normally used for valet parking and pickup/dropoff.

My buddy who works in the Chase office at University and Mill just moved back into the office on Monday. As for me (Homesite/Amfam) it seems we're staying home except for those who's jobs can't support working from home.

Yeah - I honestly think that it’ll eventually return to ‘near normal’. Even Carvana engineering will return to their offices in Tempe - but not until late into next year. In the near term using them as collaboration spaces. So perhaps more people will work from home - but I’d expect how office space is utilized to change a bit. WFH for most people just doesn’t work - unless you have the right space and invest in the right setup (desk, chair, internet, etc).

I mean - would Amazon still be committed to 100 Mill for office space if they didn’t plan on utilizing that space - in addition to the space they have across the street?

More CEOs now are realizing the importance of getting employees back into the office as the pandemic weights on. Personally, I'm over working from home now. I need to be in an office a few days a week.

Personal I wouldn't mind going the office. Home just isn't home when you're there 24/7

This isn't one size fits all but personally I hate working from home. My house is my castle, it's my happy place, it makes me feel a sense of relaxation. If I started bringing work home with me that would make my home feel less like a home. Guess I could use the guest house but it's just not the same. I like coming into the office to make work feel like work and home feel like home.

I returned to my office on a regular basis in September. I enjoyed the privilege of working from home while my children were unable to attend school or summer camp, but now that that they're back at school, I'm happy to be back on site. Echoing what others have said, having two distinct places for work and the rest of my life is helpful.

NCAA to hold 2026 Women's Final Four in Phoenix
 

Another "mega" event coming to downtown Phoenix in 2026. The good thing about the Women's Final Four is that all events and games will be held in TSRA and downtown.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...n-phoenix.html

Great news! And the fact that this will actually be held downtown is a big win for Phoenix. Still, this really makes me question why Central Station dropped the hotel portion with 3 championship playoffs coming to Phoenix in a 4 year period? :shrug:

I agree Crested ,seems to me they could have found another hotel company to take those floors.

https://atarihotels.com/news/gsd-gro...-firm-gensler/

Looks like this may still be a thing!

https://www.gensler.com/projects/atari-hotels

Also found this. Phoenix doesn’t seem to be mentioned, but something like this would be very different and cool.

This hotel looks like something straight out of Tron or Ready Player One. :takemymoney:

A couple news articles on the Las Vegas hotel mention Phoenix, but who knows:
https://news3lv.com/news/local/a-fir...as-atari-hotel

Hopefully the Phoenix hotel is still on but man after seeing the Vegas renderings, can't help but feel the Phoenix version is so underwhelming. Any chance the new renderings for Vegas will apply to all cities, including Phoenix? Or will they all have their own distinct look?

Phoenix Rendering from earlier in the year:
https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/...2Fatari-05.jpg

That Phoenix rendering looks stupid underwhelming compared to that Las Vegas rendering haha I don't even want the hotel anymore if Vegas is going to get that. That has to be the coolest looking hotel I have seen in awhile. I hope Phoenix does get something similar to the Vegas rendering.

I agree and really prefer the Vegas version. Ours looks like the Extended Stay variety. :uhh:

So this basically confirms the rumors I've read. Vegas getting the first Atari Hotel. Probably a good thing after seeing these renderings. I'm sure the architects will go back to the drawing board to give us a little something more stellar when it comes to Phoenix.

The other thing I would like to change is for the hotel to be adjacent to Central Ave instead of 1st St. Even though it's only 1/2 a block, it doesn't seem to be quite the right spot for it IMO.

I'm sure if the Developer could tuck inside the Phoenix version some structured activity where guests are guaranteed to lose money that the building could then become a lot more flashier like the Vegas version.

Hotel envy aside...it’s good to hear that the Phx is still on the books.

In other news, US Bank is closing its downtown branch.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...lEO7SDq4cnoNW0