With the longterm status of Talking Stick Resort Arena in question, the Phoenix Suns are still working to sort through their future facility options.
Last summer, the Suns indicated that they would pursue a major renovation to Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix. However, discussions about that potential project have not progressed to the point where the renovation is assured to move forward, and the Suns can opt out of their lease in 2022 if the venue is deemed obsolete.
During a recent interview, Suns president Jason Rowley indicated that the team has not made a final decision on whether it will choose to pursue a new facility or a Talking Stick Resort Arena renovation. Rather, the Suns are still in the process of engaging with area officials to determine the best course of action. More from Arizona Sports:
“It’s a community amenity. So to me, it’s not really just what’s best for our organization. It’s working with the city leaders and working with the different stakeholders to identify ‘What’s the best solution?’ It hasn’t been figured out yet,” Rowley told Doug & Wolf Wednesday on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
Rowley said the Suns can leave the arena in July 2022 if it is deemed obsolete. Otherwise, the NBA franchise will be locked into another 10 years at the arena.
“The reality is, we have a contract with the City of Phoenix. That deal has some trigger dates in it that a couple years ago seemed that they were years and years away but frankly are right on the horizon right now,” Rowley said.
As of the beginning of 2018, the Suns are considering all options.
Talking Stick Resort Arena originally opened in 1992. For the 2017-18 season, Talking Stick Resort Arena is the sixth-oldest facility in the NBA and some of the venues that predate it–including Minnesota’s Target Center and Utah’s Vivint Smart Home Arena–recently underwent major renovations.
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