NBA’s Phoenix Suns has added more than 14,600 square feet of digital space to its home arena through a venue-wide LED makeover provided by Daktronics.
The South Dakota-based specialist manufactured and installed an 18-display LED super system totaling 55.1 million LEDs, including a new centerhung configuration as well as lobby, ribbon, tunnel, scorer’s table and locker room displays. The installation was completed in 2020 and is now in use as basketball is hosted at Phoenix Suns Arena in Arizona.
When we welcome fans back to the home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, they’ll be surrounded by remarkable technology that will truly elevate the fan experience at every turn
Phoenix Suns President & CEO Jason Rowley
“A renowned leader in digital displays, Daktronics has been instrumental in the significant transformation at the reimagined Phoenix Suns Arena,” said Phoenix Suns President & CEO Jason Rowley. “When we welcome fans back to the home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, they’ll be surrounded by remarkable technology that will truly elevate the fan experience at every turn.”
The centerhung, which is six times larger than its predecessor, features four LED video displays, two facing the sidelines and two facing the ends of the arena. The sideline-facing displays each measure 25 feet high by 33 feet wide and the end-facing displays each measure 25 feet high by 29.5 feet wide. All four feature 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing to bring crisp, clear imagery to fans in every seat of the arena. The entire centerhung features 3,100 square feet and it would take 292 60-inch televisions to cover the entire centerhung’s digital footprint.
“The fan experience at live events remains a crucial element for professional sports teams,” said Daktronics President and CEO Reece Kurtenbach. “This LED installation for Phoenix Suns Arena will bring fans a next-level experience and we’re excited to be a part of the reimagination of their arena.”
Photo Credit: Christy Radecic
Two custom-shaped lobby displays combine for more than 6,700 square feet of digital space to welcome fans into the arena. One display measures approximately 26 feet high by 202 feet long and the other measures approximately 26 feet high by 113 feet long. The height of each display fluctuates as they curve and wind their way into the main seating bowl. Both displays feature 3.9-millimeter pixel spacing to provide high-resolution imagery at close viewing distances.
“The Suns are catering to their fans in multiple locations outside of the main seating bowl as evidenced by their two new lobby displays,” said Kurtenbach. “As the fan experience spills out into the concourses and other gathering areas in event venues, adding technology to connect with audiences in those areas has become increasingly important to team and sponsor branding. This installation will be a great example of improving opportunities to connect with people in those areas.”
Additionally, two ribbon displays are installed along the seating fascia totaling nearly 1,900 feet in length and six tunnel displays are installed above entrances to the seating bowl. Courtside, three LED scorer’s tables were also installed. These displays allow the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events while providing supplement information and graphics to the centerhung displays.
The centerhung displays are capable of variable content zoning allowing each to share one large image or they can each be divided into multiple zones to show any variety of content including live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics and game information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
The Suns’ locker room and training facility each feature a display with 1.5-millimeter pixel spacing. These displays can be used to show replays of the action and to help with preparation for the game and the Suns’ current or upcoming opponent.
The project also included the company’s Show Control solution providing a combination of display control software, video processing, data integration and playback hardware in a user-friendly production solution.
