When a big-time event such as WNBA All-Star rolls into town, the vibe of a city simply feels different. Phoenix is no different.
Plus…Phoenix was already passionate about the WNBA prior to the home city of the Mercury and its X-Factor being announced as the host city for the 2024 rendition of All-Star. One knew a city like Phoenix would show up and show out.
Coming into a city for a big event is more than simply getting to said event – it is also about absorbing the aura and taking in the sights and sounds. Here are some of our impressions of Phoenix that we have observed for this year’s All-Star festivities.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Upon arrival in Phoenix, we immediately saw that its airport was all dolled up in its best All-Star fits to welcome fans to Arizona the weekend of All-Star.
This was more the case this year than even with Las Vegas last year, but we were so distracted by the large number of slot machines at Harry Reid International Airport in 2023 that we could barely notice anything else.
One thing we at Beyond The W have been huge on is making sure shops at airports sell WNBA merchandise. The few we had the opportunity to check did not have that much Mercury gear – not even anything for Diana Taurasi or Brittney Griner. We understand if there is not an abundance of Kahleah Copper merchandise since she is in her first season sporting purple and orange, but DT and BG are the heart and soul of Phoenix’s franchise. That has to be addressed.
Black-Owned Restaurants
Phoenix may not necessarily be a city one thinks about when considering Black-owned restaurants, but there actually are a few that are located in and around the metropolitan area.
One of those is Ace of Wingz which is located on 8052 N. 19th Avenue. It gained a bit more national notoriety after being the subject of a food review by Keith Lee, a well-known food reviewer and Black social media influencer.
One spot that we certainly noticed which is close to both the airport and downtown is Who Dat to Go which is certainly a to-go if one’s taste buds are feeling a bit Cajun. Another that came up is Stacy’s Off Da Hook BBQ and Soul Food – located on 1804 W. Glendale Ave.
Downtown Phoenix
It was not that long ago that when the WNBA’s All-Star festivities arrived in a city that it appeared it simply came and went without a ton of fanfare.
It is safe to say that is no longer the case. Especially considering that this year’s All-Star festivities also serve as a great launching pad for USA Basketball going into this year’s Olympics in Paris, it is a great opportunity for Phoenix itself to be dressed up in its own All-Star looks.
One can see around the downtown area and particularly as one gets closer to Footprint Center and the Convention Center that there is plenty of All-Star and Nike signage. Those that may not have known much about All-Star weekend or the WNBA prior to this week know now and it may make those individuals a bit more curious as to what it is all about.
WNBA Live
There was a sneak preview of WNBA Live on Thursday at one of the Phoenix Convention Center buildings.
Prior to the initial media tour, it was mentioned that WNBA Live has grown to over 85,000 square feet of space. We could certainly see that as both Phoenix this year and Las Vegas last year has certainly provided plenty of space for what is a very hands-on and interactive experience.
What WNBA Live currently is today is certainly a far distance from 2022 in Chicago when it only took up a small plot of sidewalk land outside of the McCormick Convention Center.
Practice Facility and Diana Taurasi Court
This was also an opportunity for Mat Ishbia, the owner (or governor in W speak) to flex his muscles.
All-Star weekend was a very fitting time for the Mercury to debut its new practice facility as well as the Diana Taurasi Court.
Phoenix’s opening of its new practice facility is certainly emblematic of an overall facilities race within the WNBA. We have seen teams such as the Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm make significant on-court strides as a result of investment in facilities.
Other teams…not so much.
The Outdoors
One area of Phoenix that certainly sets it apart from other cities is how scenic the area is.
One could take a stroll through virtually any area of Arizona and see plenty of mountains and hills that may make for a good time outdoors. As locals know, one must make sure to bring plenty of water because of how scorching hot Arizona summers can be.
Two of the more notable that are relatively close to downtown Phoenix are Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak. If one really wants to give another dimension to one’s outdoor Phoenix adventures, the Desert Botanical Garden, located east of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is another option.
Scottsdale Fashion Square
Camelback Mountain is located near Scottsdale, one of Phoenix’s upscale suburbs. Speaking of upscale, if shopping is one’s cup of tea, it does not get any more upscale than Scottsdale Fashion Square.
One stroll through the three-story shopping plaza will certainly have one understanding that this is definitely a high-end location.
Think about a few of the brands that have presences at this mall – Gucci, Balenciaga, Prada, Dior, Michael Kors, Saint Laurent, Versace, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton just to name a few.
If that is not high-end, we do not know what is. If one is looking for retail therapy, Scottsdale Fashion Square is the place to be. Just…check one’s wallet when finished strolling through the place.
WNBA Orange Carpet
The WNBA’s Orange Carpet is a staple of every All-Star weekend and…we will let the tweets tell the story here because visuals are worth at least a thousand words.
