While work has commenced on building a new arena in Seattle to replace KeyArena, the longtime home venue of the Seattle Storm, it appears another facility that houses a WNBA team is also on the verge of a facelift.
The Phoenix Suns have reached an agreement with the City of Phoenix that calls for putting 150 million towards the renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena. It is one of Arizona’s primary sporting and entertainment venues and hosts many concerts throughout the year in addition to the Mercury and Suns.
Next week, the proposal will go before the Phoenix City Council for a vote. If the council approves, the plan will call for the Suns to contribute 80 million towards the project with the city itself putting forth 150 million. The Suns have agreed to cover any cost overruns the project may encounter.
It has been reported that Mercury and Suns owner Robert Sarver could exercise his option to leave Talking Stick Resort Arena after 2022 if the renovation proposal gets the thumbs down from the council.
Designs and renderings have yet to be released of what an updated Talking Stick Resort Arena would look like, but the city of Phoenix mentioned that among the upgrades would include the mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing operations. Technology infrastructure as well as its security system has also been said to be among those upgrades.
It is said that an accelerated timetable has a lot to do with Kate Gallego, a councilwoman and ardent opponent to taxpayer money being used for sporting arenas, likely in line to become Phoenix’s next mayor.
In a meeting agenda posted for that day on phoenix.gov, it outlines the benefit of having Talking Stick Resort Arena as a primary sporting and entertainment venue for Phoenix and Arizona. Having such world-class talent such as Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and DeWanna Bonner call it their home court – one that has seen three Mercury championship banners raised to the rafters — certainly helps.
Successful metropolitan downtowns include a dense, diverse mix of uses, including residential, retail, restaurants, hospitality, office, and entertainment. The Arena is part of this mix as it hosts concerts, family shows, and professional sports, such as the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Arizona Rattlers. In addition, the Arena hosts conventions that attract tens of thousands of attendees from around the world that Phoenix would not otherwise be able to accommodate.
The Arena hosts approximately 130 events annually, which have brought 40 million people to downtown Phoenix since the facility opened. This regular influx of visitors reliably supports a variety of businesses, from downtown hotels, restaurants and bars, to local businesses that support the Arena with goods and services.
The Arena has been a downtown anchor for nearly 30 years, bringing 40 million visitors to the City’s core. It has been key to the vitality, growth, and success of downtown and has generated City General Fund revenues that provide essential services throughout Phoenix.
