How Scottsdale’s SkySong transformed neighborhood into hub for innovation

May 7, 2026

By Stacy Sullivan

As SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center marks its 20th anniversary, the transformation of Scottsdale’s McDowell Road Corridor stands as one of the clearest and most compelling examples of its long-term impact — turning a once-declining stretch of underutilized land into a vibrant center for innovation, housing and economic growth. 

At the center of that transformation is SkySong, which has evolved into a major economic engine generating an estimated $1.3 billion in annual economic output, supporting thousands of high-quality jobs and helping launch more than 250 startups that have collectively attracted roughly $1.5 billion in venture capital.