US Airways Center Gets a Name Change
After eight years US Airways Center will get a new name, the Talking Stick Resort Arena.
The Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indiana Community reached an agreement between the two parties that will change the arena’s name before the beginning of the 2015-2016 Suns season.
The naming rights for the arena will be a multi-year agreement with more details coming out while the transition process starts. The arena’s contract with US Airways center was set to expire in 2015.
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The Talking Stick Resort Arena will still be home to the Suns, three-time WNBA champion Mercury, and the five-time champion Arizona Rattlers. This is only the second time the arena has been renamed as it was initially named the America West Arena from 1992 until 2006.
The arena is a great venue that averages over 130 events per calendar year with over 1 million spectators. These events hosted include basketball games, arena football games, concerts, shoe conventions, Disney on Ice, and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Nov 5, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Overall view of a large American flag on the court during the national anthem prior to the game between the Phoenix Suns against the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Major musical artists come through Phoenix and play at the arena such as Drake, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Imagine Dragons, George Strait, U2, and Lady Gaga.
The new name will appear on the stadium’s roof that currently reads “US Airways Center”, on the court during basketball games, on the rim of the scoreboard, and other miscellaneous marketing forms.
According to AZ Central, “The airline (US Airlines), which merged with and took the name of American Airlines, said in September that the contract wouldn’t be renewed. The company has relocated its headquarters from Tempe to Fort Worth, Texas.” (http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2014/12/02/us-airways-center-new–name-talking-stick-resort-arena/19793535/)
This name change also marks the second recent name change in the Valley after the Arizona Coyotes changed their arena’s name to the Gila River Arena in August. Arizona State’s football stadium, Sun Devil Stadium, could be the next Valley stadium to get a name change as officials are looking for a naming-rights deal while they under go renovations.