With a crucial vote looming, the City of Phoenix has released a detailed breakdown of the Talking Stick Resort Arena renovation cost estimate.
On January 23, the Phoenix City Council will vote on a proposed agreement with the Phoenix Suns to renovate Talking Stick Resort Arena. Under the current proposal, the city would pay $150 million of that cost from its Sports Facilities Fund, with the Suns contributing the remaining $80 million and building a $25-to-$50-million practice facility within Phoenix’s city limits. Renovation work would unfold between 2019 and 2021, while the Suns would commit to remaining at the downtown Phoenix arena through 2037, with an option that could extend the stay until 2042.
Ahead of next week’s vote, the city has released a detailed breakdown of the cost estimate, accounting for $234.9 million worth of renovations and repair work. The detailed breakdown has been published online by the city, but here are some of the notable expenditures, per ABC 15:
$99.58 million: Maintenance for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and communication systems. This includes brand-new pipe, fittings, insulation, valves and instrumentation, upgraded digital control systems, a new LED lighting system, a replacement of outdated communication systems, new plumbing fixtures, new sewer lines and new rainwater drain systems. The city says it would fund the majority of these expenses.
$26.37 million: Replacements for worn-out and non-working furniture, fixtures and equipment throughout the arena, along with new arena artwork, and repairs to food service areas and food service equipment for over 30 arena concession stands.
$18.65 million: Technology and security upgrades, including CCTV security system upgrades and a new multi-function video board, ribbon board and digital control room.
$17.63 million: Enhancements to the exterior wall and building envelope that will, in the city’s words, “improve building efficiency and enhance the architecture and streetscape appeal of the facility.”
The current lease between the Suns and the city allows the team to opt out of the agreement in 2022 if the venue is deemed obsolete. Talking Stick Resort Arena is currently the fifth-oldest arena in the NBA, and some venues that predate it–including Minnesota’s Target Center and Utah’s Vivint Smart Home Arena–recently underwent major renovations.
Image courtesy Visit Phoenix.
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