The Phoenix Suns and Mercury are hoping to bring the NBA and WNBA All-Star Games to the Valley in the near future.
The teams have submitted formal bids and are working closely with the City of Phoenix, Visit Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix Inc, Arizona Commerce Authority, the Phoenix Convention Center and more to host All-Star Weekend.
“We’re excited to partner with the City of Phoenix to engage the NBA and WNBA to bring both All-Star Games to the Valley,” Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia said in a statement. “Phoenix is one of the great basketball cities in the world and the perfect place to bring together the players and fans to celebrate the sport. The Phoenix Suns and Mercury want to continue finding new and important ways to partner with the city to bring real impact to our community.”
A prominent part of the pitch the pitch stems from the fact that Phoenix is the fastest-growing city in the country. With the NCAA Men’s Final Four coming to Phoenix in 2024 and the Women’s Final Four being played at The Footprint Center in 2026, the city’s accessibility, diverse cultures and weather make it a suitable location to host the NBA and WNBA All-Star Games.
“We’re doing things differently in Phoenix, and the sports world has noticed,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement. “‘From world-class facilities like Footprint Center to our sustainable, innovative transportation options like light rail or Waymo driverless taxis, Phoenix has everything we need to put on a successful major event like the WNBA and NBA All-Star Games. I’m excited to support our bids to be a host city, and am looking forward to hearing positive news back from the WNBA and NBA!”
After hosting recent major sporting events like the Super Bowl, Final Four and Waste Management Open, Phoenix possesses the infrastructure to host the NBA and WNBA All-Star Games as well. Ishbia has been aggressive since his very first day on the job, so it’s not surprising he’s added hosting All-Star Games to his checklist as the Suns continue their search for a head coach.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is slated for Indiana and the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game will be held in Las Vegas, but bids for upcoming All-Star Games beyond that are open.
