click to enlarge Phoenix Suns fans in front of today’s Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Benjamin Leatherman Heads up, sports fans and concert goers: The Phoenix Suns Arena received its latest name change on Friday. It will henceforth be referred to as the Footprint Center. The new nickname for the 18,422-seat venue in downtown Phoenix was announced by the Suns after the team signed a naming rights agreement with Gilbert-based sustainability / materials science company Footprint. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Expect the new name to be plastered on the basketball court and mentioned more than a couple of times by announcers on Saturday night when the Suns battle the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. It’s the fifth nickname for the venue on Second and Jefferson Streets, which opened in 1992 and which hosts home games for the Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Rattlers every year, as well as numerous blockbuster tour concerts (including gigs by Tool, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Elton John). Related Stories I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. Originally named America West Arena (in honor of the airline at the time), it became the US Airways Center in 2005 and Talking Stick Resort Arena from 2014 until last year. It was known as PHX Arena and then Phoenix Suns Arena while the team waited for a new licensing deal. According to Suns owner Robert Sarver, Footprint, which makes plant-based packaging, will use the arena as a test bed for its sustainability products and concepts in hopes of eliminating single-use plastic. You’ll likely see the company’s name on mugs of overpriced beer when they return to concerts in the fall.
[ad_2]
