Tucson is growing, with new residents moving here and businesses opening up in and around our beautiful desert. I can’t blame them. We have incredible food, breathtaking views, and golden-hour sunsets that still make me stop and look. Add some of the best hiking and biking around, and it makes sense that people want to call this city home.

What is changing around Kino Parkway and I-10

I want to focus for a moment on what’s happening around Kino Parkway and I-10 on Tucson’s south side. I live close by, so I’ve been experiencing the roadwork firsthand and watching Mosaic Quarter take shape. Bass Pro Shops has opened nearby, too: its 100,000-square-foot Outdoor World store opened on March 25, 2026 as the anchor of Tucson Marketplace at The Bridges. It’s exciting to see so much change in a part of town I know so well.

Mosaic Quarter’s first phase: the MQ Iceplex and MQ Field House

Mosaic Quarter is an especially big one. Its first phase includes the MQ Iceplex, with three full-size ice rinks for hockey, figure skating, and community use, plus a 3,000-seat arena for University of Arizona hockey. I enjoy hockey, but if I’m being honest, I’m really looking forward to the ice bumper cars.

The first phase also includes the MQ Field House. It will have two levels, each reported by Arizona Public Media to be roughly 25% larger than the playing surface at Arizona Stadium, with space for sports including basketball, volleyball, soccer, pickleball, judo, and wrestling.

The Iceplex is currently expected to open in spring 2027, followed by the Field House in summer 2027. Construction schedules can change, but it’s starting to feel real.

I can’t say exactly how all of this will change the neighborhood. I can say that I’m excited for my hometown and for the people and small businesses who will make their lives here.

Moving in or opening up: the tech to sort out first

That’s where my work comes in. Moving into a new home or opening a business comes with a surprising number of technology details. The internet has to get connected. Wi-Fi needs to reach the places you actually use it. Computers, printers, phones, and other equipment need to work together. Even in a new building with Ethernet jacks, someone still needs to check what’s connected, set up the network, and make sure everything works before you depend on it.

If you are moving into a Tucson home or opening an office near Kino, these are the things I would sort out first:

  1. Book the internet install as soon as you have a move-in date. Check which providers actually serve the address, since availability can change from one block to the next. The FCC National Broadband Map is a good starting point. Installation dates can book out, and nothing else on this list works until the connection does.
  2. Put the Wi-Fi router where you use it, not where the cable comes in. A router in a closet or a back corner often leaves the far rooms weak. Somewhere central and off the floor works better. Larger homes and offices may need a mesh system or a wired access point.
  3. Test the wall jacks before planning desks around them. In new construction, some Ethernet jacks may not be connected to anything yet, and the ones that are may run to a panel that still needs to be patched. Find out which ones are live first.
  4. Change the defaults. Give the Wi-Fi a new name and a strong password, and change the router’s admin password. A business should add a separate guest network so customers never share the one your computers use.
  5. Connect printers and shared devices once, properly. Put the printer on the network, add it to every computer that needs it, and print a test page from each one.
  6. Back up before you move anything. Computers get bumped in moving boxes. Make a copy of your important files first. My guide to backing up your important files walks through it.
  7. For a business, test everything before opening day. Phones, card readers, and scheduling or point-of-sale software usually depend on the internet connection. Try each one while there is still time to fix it.

How IT Wes helps Tucson homes and small businesses

IT Wes helps Tucson homes and small businesses with that setup and the support that comes afterward. For a business, that might mean getting a new office network and workstations ready, coordinating with an internet provider, or being a familiar person to call when something stops working. For a home, it might be Wi-Fi, a printer, a home office, or getting settled with new devices. I’m close to the Kino area and serve Tucson on-site. If you want to know what a visit costs first, the Tucson pricing guide lists the rates and how long common setup jobs usually take.

If you’re moving to Tucson, opening up shop near Kino, or just trying to get your technology working the way it should, please reach out to IT Wes. Even if you only need a second opinion, I’m happy to talk it through. And if you’re still thinking about moving here and want to ask a Tucson native a question, you can call me about that, too.

Related IT Wes services: Small business IT support in Tucson · Home computer and Wi-Fi help