For years, the old Fiesta Mall site has been one of Mesa’s biggest “what happened?” landmarks—a place where so many of us grew up hanging out, shopping, or meeting friends, only to watch it slowly decline, close, and eventually be demolished.

Now, that empty stretch of dirt may finally be getting the transformation Mesa has been waiting for.

Mesa City Council Unanimously Approves the Palo Theme Park District

This week, the Mesa City Council voted unanimously to create the Palo Theme Park District, officially opening the door to a massive mixed-use redevelopment of the 80-acre property where Fiesta Mall once stood.

The approval gives developers new tools to bring large-scale, multi-use projects to the area—potentially including:

• Restaurants and retail
  
  
• Hotels and lodging
  
  
• Office and commercial space
  
  
• Apartments, condos, and townhomes
  
  
• A full entertainment district with theme-park-style attractions
  
  
• And possibly the biggest headline: a proposed Major League Soccer stadium
  
  

Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman called it a major milestone for the city:
“I grew up in Mesa going to Fiesta Mall, so this is exciting.”

A Possible Home for MLS or a Professional Women’s Soccer Team

One of the biggest talking points from the proposal is the pursuit of a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise or a National Women’s Soccer League team.

Arizona has tried before, but previous attempts fell short due to two big issues:

1. No dedicated stadium
   
   
2. Heat concerns
   
   

But now, the MLS has shifted its schedule to align with major international leagues, meaning most games would fall during Arizona’s cooler months—making Mesa a far more viable location.

City leaders say nothing is guaranteed yet, but establishing the district is a crucial first step.

Why This Redevelopment Matters to Mesa Residents

For many longtime locals, the Fiesta Mall site is more than just land—it’s nostalgia.
It’s where teens hung out after school, where families shopped, and where memories were made.

Today, it’s just dirt and fencing—a literal blank slate.

Residents have shared everything from excitement to relief:

• “It looks like a graveyard… it would be nice to bring in families and make it communal again.”
  
  
• “It’s been vacant forever… anything would be a nice change.”
  
  
• “I grew up going to Fiesta Mall. My brother worked there. It’d be good to bring something fun back to this side of town.”
  
  

Mesa is ready for new life in this area—and this project could be the catalyst.

What’s Next?

While the vote is a major step forward, there are still many stages ahead:

• Developers must finalize their plans
  
  
• A stadium would need to be fully funded and approved
  
  
• MLS (or another league) would need to green-light a team
  
  

But the momentum is real.

For the first time in decades, the old Fiesta Mall space has a clear path toward becoming something vibrant, relevant, and exciting again.