What Are Gathering Grounds?
At Gamers Guild, we believe a local game store should be more than just a place to shop. It should be a welcoming hub where community takes root and grows. That’s why we created Gathering Grounds, a program that offers free public space for groups to connect, create, and collaborate. Whether you're leading a romantasy book club, organizing a crafting circle, or planning a game night for your favorite niche title, Gathering Grounds is here to help bring your ideas to life.
Our North Phoenix location was designed with community in mind. It features open seating, private rooms with AV capabilities, and a layout perfect for everything from casual meetups to organized tournaments. Our in-house kitchen and bar, Forks & Boards, serves up a full menu of food and drink options with something for every guest. For those who want a little extra support, we also offer optional services like event promotion, ticket processing, and digital marketing.
We’re proud to be a space where creativity, connection, and community can thrive. Whether you’re meeting once or making it a tradition, Gathering Grounds is your place to belong.
Who We Are: Our Mission and Code of Conduct
- A commitment to inclusivity.
- A commitment to safe and respectful interactions.
- A commitment to supporting marginalized communities.
Our Mission, Vision, and Code of Conduct are all built around the belief that businesses should be about more than just the bottom line. Our goal is to create a space where everyone feels welcome. We see our essential stakeholders as the people and communities who count on us as a safe and inclusive third space to enjoy games, good food and great company.
Our Gathering Grounds program was created as an extension of those values. By hosting your event here, you’re becoming part of a mission to build stronger, more connected communities in the Phoenix and Tempe area. We’re honored to be a home for your hobbies, your creativity, and your community.
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Always Welcoming Enviornment
At Gamers Guild we define ourselves by the communities and people we welcome, not who we exclude.
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Professional Support
Your Community Manager will help make your Gathering go off without a hitch!
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Free Game Library
When you host your Gathering at Gamers Guild, you'll have access to our library full of hundreds of games -- for free.
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Accessibility and Accommodations
Space for all your guests, whatever they need.
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Promotional Support
We'll help provide free promotional support to our community here at Gamers Guild.
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Free Reservations and Table Space
Never worry about finding a table! Your Community Manager will save a space for you.
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Access To A Full Bar and Restaurant
Your participants will never have to leave your Gathering, with food brought straight to them. Uncompromising quality with gluten free options and non-alcoholic beers and cocktails available.
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Multimedia-Ready
Each room includes a TV setup wired for sound. Perfect for digital play, movie nights, or campaign visuals.
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Comfortable Seating For Every Body
Cushioned chairs designed for all body times, perfect for long game sessions, focused meetings, or the perfect hang.
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Wired For Power
Enough plugs, ports, and power for all your devices.
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Food, Drink, and Everything-Else Service
Don't get up, we'll bring it to you. From gelato to crème brûlée martinis, our staff will take excellent care of your gathering.
Private Rooms Starting at $40
For Gatherings that want to control noise, traffic, or create a space to focus we offer private rooms for an additional fee. Your Community Manager will provide you with details while organizing your Gathering. Up to 20 people can enjoy our private rooms.
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Fresh Food Made In House For Your Gathering
While other companies bus in food from remote kitchens, your Gathering will enjoy a meal made on site. No heating packs or lost time sitting in traffic just fresh food made on site.
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Accommodations For Everyone In Your Gathering
Whether you're gluten free, or follow a restricted diet for religious or medical reasons, we know a clean kitchen is critical. Other venues may not be prepared to guarantee a gluten free or halal experience, but we are.
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Bar Favorites and Culinary Curiosities
Making room for everyone can be hard, but our onsite kitchen Forks and Boards offers food everyone will love. From brewery classics like chicken tenders to elevated pizza options we make planning for picky eaters easy.
Feed Your Entire Gathering Starting At $99
Fuel your Gathering with handcrafted food and drinks from our Forks & Boards kitchen. Our team will work with you to create a menu that fits your vibe, whether it's casual snacks, themed bites, or a fully catered feast. Great communities deserve great food and we’re here to serve it!
Does your Gathering have dietary accommodation needs? Our staff is trained to help serve appetizing foods no matter you needs, whether you have concerns about gluten, added sugar, or animal products.
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A Talented Team At Your Service
Our marketing team is at the top of their game, with decades of industry experience. They'll help you allocate your budget efficiently to increase awareness.
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High Powered Strategy and Intel
Our team has kept up to date with the latest news and trends in digital marketing, and can help make sure your ads are relevant.
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Expert Designers and Creators
Work with our expert creators to design eye-catching, best-in-class digital content that gets your Gathering noticed. Whether you're building buzz or filling seats, the Gamers Guild team is here to help your event shine.
Professional Marketing and Advertising Services Starting At $99
We’ll partner with you to create high-quality marketing assets that promote your Gathering and help it reach new audiences beyond our regular community. Our team can also help place your event in high visibility positions on platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram to boost visibility and attendance.
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Service With You In Mind
We make payments easy, with one lump sum payment instead of several small ones across different providers. In-store credit options are available too!
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5-Star Customer Service
Your transactions will be completed by helpful and enthusiastic staff eager to help make your Gathering a success.
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All Major Credit Cards Accepted
You won't be limited by gateways that won't accept certain providers. We're equipped to process transactions from all major credit card providers.
Payment Processing Starting at 7%
Whether you're teaching a class that requires costly materials, hosting your very own booster draft, or even trying to start your own business, stressing about payment shouldn’t be the hardest part of your Gathering. We’ll manage all transactions, provide detailed receipts for you and your guests, and ensure everything runs smoothly so you can focus on creating a great experience and not stopping by the bank for change.
General F.A.Q.
What is Gathering Grounds?
Gathering Grounds is our free program to help provide a third space for your Gathering! We'll make room for you and your community, free of charge, and help you with planning.
Is Gathering Grounds only for gaming events?
Anyone can use Gathering Grounds to host a Gathering even if it's not related to gaming. We want to make space for crafting circles, romantasy book clubs, and podcast production meetings. As long as your Gathering doesn't violate the spirit of our Code of Conduct, we have space for you!
Is it really free?
Yup, our Gathering Grounds event public space is free to use! While we do offer additional services for a fee, we pride ourselves on providing as many free amenities for your gathering as possible.
Who can reserve space with Gathering Grounds?
Anyone can work with our Community Manager to reserve the space they need. While Gamers Guild offers membership programs, we offer this free service as a part of our commitment as a third space.
How far in advance should I book?
We need about 72 hours to make sure we have everything ready for you. It's best to let us know as soon as possible, we have a vibrant community and dozens of events are hosted at Gamers Guild each week, the sooner you let us know the more likely we'll have your desired time available.
When will I hear from my community manager?
You'll hear back from us in about 24 hours to get any additional details!
Can I tour the space before booking?
Of course! Feel free to come by during our usual business hours and ask any one of our friendly clerks for a tour. We'll walk you through our Members Lounge, VIP rooms, and our free game library.
Are there age restrictions for participants?
Gamers Guild is a family-friendly destination that welcomes players of all ages. Many of our weekly tournaments are designed with families in mind, while evening events may feature more mature themes, such as murder mystery parties or film nights with alcoholic pairings. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Whether you’re young or young at heart, Gamers Guild has something for you.
What kind of help do I get from the Community Manager?
Your Community Manager is your go-to partner! They’ll assist with planning, space setup, promotion support, and making sure your event runs smoothly.
Will Gamers Guild help promote my Gathering?
All public Gatherings will be posted on our Events pages and may get additional support via email or social media posts if we think our community will be especially excited for it. This is evaluated case-by-case depending on timing, audience, and promotional bandwidth. The more notice you give us of your Gathering, the more likely it will be featured in our promotions.
If you would like to guarantee promotional support, your Community Manager can offer marketing packages and refer your event to our marketing team for an additional fee.
What’s expected of me as an organizer?
We ask organizers to maintain a welcoming, inclusive environment and abide by our Code of Conduct. Clear communication, cleanup of your area, and respect for staff and guests are expected. Also your Gathering is expected to start on time as advertised.
Is there a maximum number of attendees for an event?
Capacity depends on the space reserved. Your Community Manager can help you plan based on expected attendance.
Booking and Availability F.A.Q.
How do I check if a date is available?
When you fill out our interest form you'll choose 3 dates you'd like to have your event hosted. Our Community Manager will contact you and try to find a time that works for your availability.
Can I book recurring events?
You can definitely book recurring events. When you fill out our interest form simply make a note that you would like to host this event regularly. We'll work with you to find a date you can host your event routinely and make sure you and your group have a space you can rely on.
How long can my reservation last?
You're welcome to host your Gathering any time, for any duration, during our regular business hours! If your event needs to start earlier or run later than our usual business hours, let our Community Manager know and they'll work with you to find our solution. Please note there may be fees for after hours reservations to help support our staff and team.
Can I share the space with another group?
Our goal is to make each Gathering feel personal and welcoming. For some people this means making room for everyone, for others a more private experience would be preferred. If you're open to having folks drop by your Gathering let us know and our Community Manager will include it on our event calendar!
What is the cancellation policy?
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your Gathering, please give us as much notice as possible so we can offer the spot to another group. Frequent last-minute cancellations may impact future bookings, but we’ll always do our best to work with you.
Can I make last-minute bookings?
Absolutely! If the space is available, we’re happy to accommodate a last-minute Gathering. Just give us a call or stop by to check availability, and we’ll get you set up.
Is there a waitlist if my preferred date is taken?
Yes. We maintain a waitlist and our Community Manager will contact you right away if your preferred date becomes available. This way, you’ll have the first opportunity to claim the space.
Are there blackout dates or times?
Occasionally, Gathering Grounds is reserved for large storewide events, tournaments, or seasonal celebrations. Our Community Manager will work with you so that your Gathering does not overlap one of these dates.
Amenities and Setup F.A.Q.
What tables, chairs, and equipment are available?
Your Gathering will have access to hundreds of chairs, tables, and ample booth space. Gamers Guild is designed to host hundreds of attendees for some of Arizona's largest gaming events.
Specifically we offer large 8' x 4' standing tables, smaller 6' x 3' tables designed for sitting at, and plenty of desk height chairs to go around. Our gaming space also has an advanced sound system and TV system designed to facilitate tournament and gaming events.
Our VIP rooms have large office chairs and desks, as well as a TV and plenty of outlets to power your devices.
Over on the Forks and Boards side we offer booths with power outlets and TVs that are clearly visible from any seat.
Regardless of what we offer standard, your Community Manager will help make sure we have everything you need to make your Gathering a success.
Can I bring my own decorations or signage?
Yes! You’re welcome to bring decorations or signage to make your Gathering feel special. We just ask that they’re easy to remove and leave no damage behind
Is Wi-Fi available?
Yes—free, high-speed Wi-Fi is available for all Gathering guests!
Is audio/visual equipment provided?
Our free Gatherings are hosted on our main gaming floor or restaurant dining room. As an additional service we offer private rooms with a fully connected smart TV, and speakers for presentations, movie nights, or digital games. Let us know in advance if you’d like to use them and our Community Manager will go over associated costs for a private room rental.
Are power outlets available for electronics?
Yes. Extension cords can be used to provide power for our gaming space, and all of our Forks and Boards booths are fully powered. Our private rooms also offer AC outlets for multiple accessories.
Can I move tables and chairs around?
Our public gaming space has a layout that maximizes accessibility for guests and safety of our staff.
Our TCG space offers floating desks that are capable of rolling, and these can be used to help customize your space near our TCG tables.
While chairs and floating desks are welcomed to be moved wherever needed, we ask that tables remain where they are so that everyone can move about easily.
Is the space wheelchair accessible?
Yes, we pride ourselves in creating a space for everyone at your Gathering. People who use wheelchairs will find that our gaming space, restaurant, and even checkout experience are all ADA compliant and designed for ease of use.
Is the space accessible for the neurodivergent?
Yes, we pride our selves on our accessibility for every community! Not only is Gamers Guild a Certified Neurodiverse Workplace we have accommodations for those with focus or stimulus related limitations. If you need help making your Gathering accommodating to those with a specific type of neurodiversity please let your community manager know.
Is your kitchen really gluten free or is it "gluten free"?
Our kitchen staff prides themselves on their ability to make gluten free meals without compromising flavor or texture. While we serve meals with gluten products in them, we have a dedicated space and oven designed just for preparing gluten free meals, this guarantees no cross contamination. Since many of our meals our designed gluten free from the ground up, you can count on our team to remember to not include gluten products often included in spices and sauces that other kitchens miss.
Can you accommodate other dietary restrictions such as low sodium, kosher, halal, vegetarian, or low sugar diets?
We appreciate that food is enjoyed by different people in different ways. Our staff will work closely with you to make sure we're meeting your expectations. Since much of our food is made fresh we can omit problematic ingredients where possible. Our staff will be happy to discuss your Gathering's needs day of or in advance!
Can I sell merchandise, services, or food at my Gathering?
We created Gathering Grounds for a place for communities to gather, if you're sole intention is to sell product consider joining us on one of our planned market days. We’re happy to review vendor requests, especially for local artists, authors, or makers. Food sales may be limited due to our on-site F&B service.
Can Gamers Guild help process ticket sales or entry feess?
Yes! We're happy to use our point of sale to help process any fees for entry, tickets, or even fees related to crafting materials! This is an additional service and subject to a 7% fee. Our Community Manager can go into further detail on the phone as well.
If Gamers Guild processes payments on your behalf, you will be the seller of record we're just helping process the transaction. It's expected that you will handle refunds for your Gathering.
Can Gamers Guild run games for my Gathering?
Yes! Whether you're looking to learn to play a game, need a moderator, or hosting an RPG, our Community Manager will get you in touch with professional DMs capable of helping you create magical adventures.
Can people in my Gathering order food from Forks and Boards or do I have to pay for catering?
Your guests are welcome to order from Forks and Boards without ever getting up from the table! QR codes on each of our tables will help your guests stay fed and hydrated without walking away. Each guest will be responsible for their own tab, meaning you don't have to worry about squaring up with people at the end of the day!
Policy F.A.Q.s
Are there noise restrictions?
We want everyone to enjoy their time. While there are no strict noise limits, we ask that groups be mindful of others in the store and keep volumes reasonable.
If you believe your Gathering will be extra raucous, maybe consider speaking with our Community Manager to book a private room. If you're concerned about the noise level of our main gaming area for some of your guests, free ear protection is available and can be provided by your Community Manager.
Can we bring our own food in?
Since we have a restaurant and full kitchen attached, Arizona state law limits outside food or drinks. We'll try to work with you the best we can to provide whatever you need, but we can't allow outside food or drinks.
Are pets allowed?
Due to our partnership with Forks and Boards, the state of Arizona requires any animal members of our community to be properly trained service animals.
What are your hours?
We're open 9AM to Midnight, 7 days a week. If you think your Gathering is going to go later, discuss with your Community Manager after hours availability for an additional fee.
What happens if my group damages something?
If accidental damage occurs, please let us know right away so we can address it. Groups may be responsible for repair or replacement costs.
What are the rules for clean-up after the event?
Gathering Grounds is a program that works on courtesy and an ethos of sharing. We ask that you leave the space as you found it—tables and chairs returned to their original positions, trash disposed of, and personal items removed.