Title
Resolution to Participate in and Support Bid to Host WNBA and NBA All-Star Games and Related Events (Resolution 22128)
Description
Request to authorize a Resolution to express support for, and authorize the City's participation in, the Phoenix Suns’ and Phoenix Mercury’s bid to host the 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star Game and related events as well as the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game and related events in the current bid cycle (either 2025 or 2026).
Report
Summary
As part of the NBA and WNBA required bid submittals, the Phoenix Suns/Mercury organization has requested a declaration of support from the City of Phoenix for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game and 2025 or 2026 NBA All-Star Game bid. This resolution will express the City's support for the bid through the commitment of general government services including: assistance with permitting coordination, licensing and plan reviews; facilitating branding, décor, signage and street pole banners; providing a dedicated Citywide liaison; parking for VIP vehicles and busses; street transportation and traffic coordination; public safety support and emergency preparedness services at no cost; anti-counterfeiting enforcement; temporary signage rights; and use of certain City-controlled venues at no cost for official NBA/WNBA events and other Suns/Mercury and NBA/WNBA sanctioned activities.
The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game and All-Star 3 Point and Skills Competition would be played at Footprint Center. Major fan-related events, lodging and meeting activities associated with the WNBA All-Star Game would be held in Phoenix. The WNBA Live Fan Festival would be held at the Phoenix Convention Center. These events would take place in July of 2024.
The NBA All-Star Game, All-Star Skills Competition and Rising Stars Challenge would be played at Footprint Center. A secondary arena (to be decided) would host a Celebrity Game, NBA All-Star Practice and the G League All-Star Game. Major fan-related events including Jr. NBA youth basketball, lodging and meeting activities associated with the NBA All-Star Game would be held in Phoenix. A hotel room block commitment of 7,250 rooms on peak would be housed in Downtown Phoenix. The NBA All-Star Fan Zone and related hospitality functions would be held at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Phoenix has successfully hosted these events in the past including WNBA All-Star festivities in 2000 and 2014 and NBA All-Star festivities in 1975, 1995 and 2009. Since 1995, each of these games were hosted in the City-owned Footprint Center. In 2021, the City of Phoenix and the Suns/Mercury completed a $240 million renovation of the arena, making Footprint Center one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the nation.
Hosting the NBA/WNBA All-Star games and events in downtown Phoenix will have a significant local impact in terms of media exposure, contributions to community organizations, and visitor spending.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Interim Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Phoenix Convention Center.