Footprint Center no more as Phoenix Suns seek new naming partner
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Footprint Center signage is being removed from the downtown arena that’s home to the Phoenix Suns as the organization searches for a new naming partner.
Work to remove the signage began on Sunday, and by Monday, the large letters on top of the arena’s front entrance had disappeared.
While the name is changing, team officials say Gilbert-based materials science and technology company, Footprint, remains a partner with the Suns and Mercury.
The following statement was released early Tuesday afternoon:
“We were presented with a unique opportunity to reimagine and strengthen our partnership with Footprint to better align with their mission and commitment to sustainability and innovation. Footprint will remain the official sustainability partner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, and we have begun the process to find a new naming rights partner.”
Josh Becker, a franchise and intellectual property lawyer for Gallagher and Kennedy said contract agreements for sponsorships change for a number of reasons.
“It could be that the agreement between them expired and the parties decided not to renew it. It could be that they decided that they wanted to go separate ways and end their relationship,” Becker said.
The arena, located at 2nd Street and Jefferson, was built to replace the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and become the new home of the Suns. It opened in 1992.
“I think it would be different but why not, right?” Said one local fan in downtown Phoenix.
Originally known as America West Arena, US Airways acquired the naming rights in 2006. The venue was renamed again in 2015, becoming the Talking Stick Resort Arena. That deal expired in 2020.
In July 2021, Footprint secured the naming rights as part of what was to be a long-term partnership with the Suns.
Team officials say the venue will be called the PHX Arena for the time being, until a new partner is found.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
