Arizona Mounts Theme‑Park Push as Glendale’s Mattel Park Slips to 2026 and Mesa Creates 80‑Acre Zone

Overview

• Glendale’s Mattel project is planned as a largely indoor attraction with about 160,000 square feet of air‑conditioned space plus shopping, dining and hotel elements.
• The Glendale opening timeline has shifted from an earlier target to a projected 2026 debut, reflecting schedule delays reported this year.
• Mesa approved a theme‑park zoning district covering 80 acres at the former Fiesta Mall site to enable future attractions and related uses.
• The Mesa plan includes space for a proposed multiuse soccer stadium aimed at attracting a Major League Soccer franchise.
• No park developer has publicly committed to building in Mesa, keeping the city’s theme‑park ambitions in a preliminary stage even as Arizona positions itself as a potential rival to Central Florida.