Renaming of Phoenix Sports Venue Reflects Changing Partnerships
In a move that signals shifting sponsorship landscapes, the downtown home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury is undergoing a name change. On Tuesday, signage for the Footprint Center was removed, marking a new chapter for the arena.
Originally, Footprint, a Gilbert-based plant-based engineering firm, secured a 10-year naming rights agreement. However, the nature of their sponsorship has been altered. According to a Suns spokesperson, while Footprint will maintain its role as the official sustainability partner for both teams, it will no longer hold the arena’s naming rights.
For now, the facility will adopt the interim name of PHX Arena. Since its inauguration in 1992, this venue has experienced several name changes, including America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, and Phoenix Suns Arena.
Situated on Jefferson Street between Second and Third streets, this 18,000-seat arena attracts over a million attendees annually. It not only hosts basketball games but also accommodates concerts, ice shows, private events, and various other entertainment forms. The venue was the stage for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game and is scheduled to host the 2026 Women’s Final Four and 2027 NBA All-Star weekend.
Cronkite News reporter Jackson Shaw contributed to this report.
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