Trump to hold Phoenix rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum

• Saturday's rally will be Trump's fourth in Arizona
• Planners are bracing for more than 10,000 supporters to show up at the rally

Donald Trump will hold his Saturday rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in central Phoenix, as the candidate makes his first stop in Arizona as the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee.

The campaign of the celebrity billionaire signed a contract Tuesday to rent the venue, which accommodates about 15,000 people, planners have told The Arizona Republic. The rally is scheduled for 4 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m.

Robert Graham, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, said the coliseum is ideal because it is "centrally located and indoors" and can be easily secured by law enforcement -- a key feature given recent clashes surrounding Trump events.

Thousands of supporters are expected.

Protesters are also expected outside the event, as they have been during Trump's three prior campaign stops in Arizona.

Trump will travel to Phoenix following a campaign event in Las Vegas. While here he will also attend a private fundraiser at a Paradise Valley home rich with Arizona history.

Trump and the Republican National Committee are joining forces for the "Trump Victory" fundraiser, which will give supporters the chance to mingle with the presumptive nominee as he engages in more traditional campaign fundraising. Trump has largely relied on his own pocketbook to fund his bid for the White House.

Arizona planners are also trying to arrange a meeting between Trump and tribal leaders. The Navajo Nation — the nation's largest tribe, with about 300,000 living on the tribe's reservation — has reached out to Trump's campaign as part of its efforts to meet with candidates of both major parties.

The Saturday rally will mark Trump's fourth visit during his year-long bid for the White House.

Prior stops in Phoenix, Mesa and Fountain Hills were marked by demonstrations that culminated in the arrests of three people during protests that choked traffic leading into Fountain Hills, preventing or delaying many from attending the rally.

The protesters blocked the streets and some held megaphones and drums, while chanting “Donald Trump, shut it down. Phoenix is a people's town.”

During his visit to central Phoenix, Trump is expected to be joined by some of his earliest supporters, including state Treasurer Jeff DeWit, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and state GOP Chairman Robert Graham.

"It's quite an opportunity to have a presidential candidate come to our state on so many different occasions," Brewer told The Arizona Republic. "Even if you don't support him, it's great to see ... the political activity take place with your own eyes."

It is unclear if Gov. Doug Ducey —  who withheld his support from the candidate until he became the presumptive nominee — will attend the rally. His weekend plans are still being finalized, a Ducey spokesman said.

Ducey met with Trump for the first time Tuesday in New York, joining an envoy of governors who visited the nominee.

During their meeting Tuesday, "Governor Ducey shared that his goal is to keep Arizona in the Republican column, in the presidential race, the U.S. Senate, House races and the state Legislature," Ducey's spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato wrote in a statement to The Arizona Republic.

"He let Donald Trump know that Arizona has one of the best-run state parties in the country, with Robert Graham as chairman. It’s been 20 years since a Democrat presidential candidate — named Clinton — won Arizona, and Governor Ducey wants to keep it that way," Scarpinato wrote.

Ducey will lead the state's GOP delegation to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, but has yet to issue a full-throated endorsement like other high-profile backers. He will be the only state-wide official to attend the convention as a delegate now that state Treasurer Jeff DeWit, Secretary of State Michele Reagan and Attorney General Mark Brnovich have resigned their delegate positions for varying reasons.

Reagan's office has said she will stay in town to focus on the primary election. Brnovich's spokesman has said he will be spending time with his family. And DeWit has said he dropped out as a delegate to allow two "strong" Trump supporters to take his place as a delegate and alternate. DeWit will still attend the convention.

While Arizona's Republican establishment accused Trump of firing up the "crazies," or of being coarse, ill-informed and inaccurate, many of the same politicians are coming to terms with his position as the party's standard-bearer.

It is a far cry from the anger and bitterness some Arizona Republicans directed at Trump over the past several months.

Senior U.S. Sen. John McCain found himself in a bruising public feud with the real-estate mogul after Trump mocked McCain as "weak on immigration" and a "war hero" only because he got captured by the North Vietnamese.

But in early May, McCain, R-Ariz., who is running for re-election, said he would support the GOP nominee and did not rule out campaigning with Trump at some point.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who has yet to endorse Trump and is not planning to attend the national convention, also probably won’t join Trump in Arizona.

“Put me down as unlikely,” Flake told The Arizona Republic after hearing about the planned event. “I’d like to see the context of it. I don’t see myself as appearing with him in a public forum.”

Republic reporter Dan Nowicki contributed to this article. 

Follow the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.