'Tempe Center for the Arts at Night' by caddymob on Flickr
Hopefully you know by now that we have an amazing new venue for Ignite Phoenix 3, but there’s a good chance that you have no clue how to get there.
For reference, Ignite Phoenix 3 will be taking place at the Tempe Center for the Arts (700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ); otherwise known as the TCA or the crazy Darth Vader helmet building you see next to the Tempe Town Lake.
So, how does an eager Ignite Phoenix attendee and/or presenter make their way to this amazing place?
Getting to the TCA via Foot, Bike, Bus, and METRO Light Rail
The easiest way for someone on foot, bike, or bus to reach the TCA is to first make your way to the METRO Light Rail. Just remember, all-day fare for the bus and METRO Light Rail is $2.50–an all-day pass purchased on the bus can also be used on the METRO Light-Rail and vice versa.
Once on the METRO Light Rail, use the Mill Avenue/Third Street Exit. From the exit, walk or bike North on Mill Avenue to the Tempe Town lake and then follow the lake in a Westward direction to the TCA–the trip is about 3/4 of a mile.
For more information on the METRO Light Rail, visit the METRO Light Rail How to Ride page and be sure to check out Jim Jeffer’s awesome METRO Light Rail printable map.
Getting to the TCA via Car
I’m assuming that if you’re driving to the TCA, then you won’t bother with the METRO Light Rail. Yet if you do want to drive AND take advantage of the METRO Light Rail, then feel free to use one of the eight Park and Ride METRO Light Rail centers and refer to the walking/biking directions above.
If you simply want to drive to the TCA, then you have several options depending on the direction you’re heading in from. If you’re heading East on the Loop 202 (Red Mountain Fwy.), then exit Priest and head South (make a right) until you reach Rio Salado Pkwy. At Rio Salado, make a left (head East) until you reach the TCA.
If you’re heading West on the Loop 202, then exit Scottsdale Road and head South (make a left) until you reach Rio Salado Pkwy. At Rio Salado, make a right (head West) until you reach the TCA. You also have the option of exiting on Center Parkway and taking Mill Ave–it’s a bit more tricky but I’ve included the route in the map below (dashed line) if you’re feeling adventurous. 
Regardless of which route you choose, make your way to the Tempe Center for the Arts this Wednesday, February 25th for an awesome night of presentations, networking, and inspiration! 
Sincerely,
~Tomas Carrillo and the Ignite Phoenix Crew
More from Ignite Phoenix
- Ignite Phoenix 6: Everything You Need to Know
- How Ignite Phoenix chooses presentations
- Ignite Phoenix #3 – All the info you need to have fun!
- Ignite Phoenix #3 Lineup
- Announcing Ignite Phoenix #3, coming to Tempe!
Ignite Phoenix Recommends
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Just an FYI, I visited the TCA yesterday and used the Center Parkway exit and would highly recommend it if you’re heading Westbound on the Loop 202 (all the turns are right turns–which means you don’t have to wait at a stoplight to make a left).
If you’ve never used that route, use the Priest/Center Pkwy exit (exit is after the Scottsdale Rd exit), and immediately make the first right as you exit the Loop 202 (if you go left, you will head all the way down to Priest).
The exit makes you turn right, then you’ll hit Washington where you’ll make another right. Then you will hit Mill Avenue and make a (you guessed it) right turn. Cross the Mill Ave bridge and make a right at Rio Salado and you should be familiar with the rest.
The route is shown as the dotted blue line in the second to last picture above. Personally, I think it beats using the Scottsdale Rd exit off the Loop 202.
Nice maps! Excellent directions.
Missing at least a simple list of bus routes that serve the TCA.
@andrewkfromaz – Unfortunately, there are no Valley Metro bus routes that serve the TCA–the closest you get is:
- Priest & Rio Salado on Route 56
- Mill Ave & Rio Salado using TIM Flash
- Mill Ave & 5th Street using Route 65
- 1st St & Ash using Route 62
I was not able to attend this in person but through the hashtags #ignitephx on and #ignitephoenix twitter was able to follow some stuff and found the website and live stream. I really enjoyed some of these presentations, and I’m impressed with the quality and subject matter. Makes me want to come up with something to present for the next Ignite Phoenix event myself.