The Phoenix Suns today revealed renderings and details of the planned transformation of Talking Stick Resort Arena during an event at the Phoenix Convention Center. Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver, President and CEO Jason Rowley and General Manager James Jones were on hand to share their excitement and highlight pertinent details regarding the transformation.
Dubbed PROJECT 201: PHX REIMAGINED, the Talking Stick Resort Arena transformation will bring the 27-year-old venue into the 21st century with infrastructure, technology and amenity upgrades that will elevate every level of the arena and enhance the fan experience for all guests that attend games, concerts and events in the building.
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“For more than a quarter-century, our downtown arena has been vital to the growth and development of our city’s urban core,” said Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver. “The transformation of Talking Stick Resort Arena will place Phoenix among the top sports and entertainment destinations in the country and make it a true 24-hour city. Most importantly, Project 201 will feature state-of-the-art improvements that will allow us to deliver a world-class guest experience to all of our great fans.”
The transformation will include a redesigned Casino Arizona Pavilion, featuring 8,500 square feet of LED screens and a massive centerpiece bar with views directly into the seating bowl that will highlight a brand new, 3,550 square foot center-hung scoreboard. The new main scoreboard screen will be six times larger than the current video board at Talking Stick Resort Arena, and image resolution will improve by 600 percent.
The main concourse will be expanded to include a family-friendly food court, and a variety of local restauranteurs will be tapped to offer fans a taste of the great food that Phoenicians have come to expect. The installation of two new corner bars inside the seating bowl along the main concourse floor will offer fans an exceptional social environment while taking in a game or event, and more than 17,000 cushioned seats will replace the current seating throughout the arena in an effort to create a more comfortable viewing experience.
In an increasingly digital and mobile world, Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband Service at Talking Stick Resort Arena will enhance the experience for sports fans and concertgoers by providing greater connectivity. Verizon’s 5G will provide immersive mobile fan experiences through the current mobile ticket and mobile wallet offerings, as well as a new scan-to-pay program through PayPal, the Official Payment Partner of the Phoenix Suns.
The reimagined Talking Stick Resort Arena will introduce eleven different club and suite experiences, including 55 total suites, eight additional theatre boxes, new VIP clubs and one exclusive club dubbed 1968. Named in honor of the year the Suns organization came to life, 1968 will be a magnificent two-story club located on the lower level of the arena and members will enjoy exclusive courtside access along with a private entrance into Talking Stick Resort Arena from Jackson Street. Three new Floor Suites will be situated adjacent to the main court, where players can pass by and high-five suite members as they run out onto the court.
A new suite-level configuration will provide the flexibility of entertaining guests privately with sliding suite doors or celebrating the moment with other fans and show-goers in open common areas and bars outside of the suites. 1STBANK Terrace members will have their own living room setting to watch games in style with friends in an open environment, and an outdoor patio will be added to the second story on the south side of the arena that will be accessible from the theater boxes.
The $230 million transformation is made possible thanks to the partnership between the Phoenix Suns and the City of Phoenix and is a reinvestment in the urban core to create a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment downtown facility that can be enjoyed by the entire community. Architecture was devised by global design firm HOK, with industry leader Okland Construction undertaking all construction.
Fans can visit Suns.com/PROJECT201 to learn more about PROJECT 201: PHX REIMAGINED and secure priority seating for the 2020-21 Suns season.
