The Phoenix Suns NBA basketball franchise has revealed renderings of a $230m (£179m/€209m) revamp of the team’s home, Talking Stick Resort Arena.
The redevelopment, labelled ‘Project 201: PHX Reimagined’, will renovate one of the oldest arenas in the NBA. The facility has not undergone a facelift since its opening 27 years ago.
The changes will include a central video scoreboard that will be six times larger than the current platform, as well as enhanced hospitality suites and a 5G network throughout the venue.
With HOK behind the designs, there will also be a new 15,000-square foot kitchen and corner bar in the bowl section that will be geared towards attracting the city’s sizeable student population, according to Suns managing partner Robert Sarver.
“The sound system, the lighting system; we’re putting all new seats in the bowls,” Sarver told CNBC. “We reimaged the whole entrance to the arena… that’s going to turn into a sports bar with an 8,500-square foot video wall, and that’ll be the hub of activity in the building.”
It is hoped that the redevelopment work will be 60% completed before the start of the 2020-21 season, with the venue set to be closed to public events over next summer. The second phase of the project will then be wrapped up ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
The City of Phoenix will contribute $150m towards the renovation costs, with the team adding $80m. As part of the deal, the franchise is also funding the development of a new training facility in Phoenix that will cost between $45m and $50m.
Sarver added that some ticket prices would increase to fund the arena redevelopment, although they would be kept “affordable”.
Earlier this year, the franchise renewed its lease with the city, which owns the arena, until at least 2037.
Initial details regarding the renovation project were revealed in January.
Images: HOK
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