Footprint Center Phoenix

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Lore & Background

The arena opened as America West Arena on June 6, 1992, costing $89 million. It has hosted three games of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Suns and the Chicago Bulls, and three games of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mercury hosted WNBA Finals games in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, and 2025. It also hosted the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games and will host the 2027 edition. The arena's most common nickname is 'The Purple Palace,' though during the Rattlers' season it is known as 'The Snake Pit.' The arena seats 17,071 for basketball, with its original capacity of 19,023 reduced after the 2002–03 season to 18,422, then again to 18,055 before the 2014–15 season.

In Their Own Story

The Phoenix Suns opened their inaugural season at the arena in 1992, and within a year, the building hosted three games of the 1993 NBA Finals against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. The arena saw the Suns return to the NBA Finals in 2021, hosting three games against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mercury have been equally dominant, hosting WNBA Finals games across multiple decades, including 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, and 2025. Beyond basketball, the arena has hosted the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes for their first seven seasons starting July 1, 1996, with their first regular season home game a 4–1 win over the San Jose Sharks on October 10, 1996. The ECHL's Phoenix Roadrunners played there from 2005 until they ceased operations after the 2008–2009 season.

Reader's Guide

Footprint Center is located one block away from Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The arena is 1 million square feet on an 11-acre site. For basketball games, it seats 17,071, though original capacity was 19,023. The arena has hosted the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament regional finals four times (1999, 2004, 2008, and 2012) and will host the women's basketball Final Four for the first time in 2026. The Arizona Rattlers have hosted three ArenaBowl games at the arena, winning ArenaBowl XI with a 55–33 win over the Iowa Barnstormers on August 25, 1997. Notable boxing events include Oscar De La Hoya's early bouts, Michael Carbajal's WBO world Junior Flyweight title fight in 1994, and Julio César Chávez ending his career with a fight at the arena. The arena has hosted UFC events including UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic, UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn, UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez, and UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje.

Did You Know?

• Frank Sinatra gave one of his last concerts at the arena on December 10, 1993.
• The arena's most common nickname is 'The Purple Palace,' but during Rattlers games it is called 'The Snake Pit.'
• The NHL's Phoenix Coyotes played their first seven seasons at the arena after arriving on July 1, 1996.
• The arena hosted the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games and will host the 2027 edition.
• The arena has hosted four NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament regional finals (1999, 2004, 2008, 2012) and will host the women's Final Four in 2026.