It feels like a lifetime ago that fans were pouring into the corner of Jefferson and 1st Street to scream their lungs out for a team that, honestly, spent a few years being the punching bag of the Western Conference. If you’ve followed the Phoenix Suns for more than a minute, you know that the building itself has had more identity crises than a teenager. People still call it America West Arena. Some still call it US Airways Center. But for a specific, chaotic, and eventually hopeful stretch of time, it was Talking Stick Resort Arena, and that era defined the modern trajectory of the franchise.
It’s weird to think about now.
The name "Talking Stick Resort Arena" officially took over in 2015. At the time, the Suns were in a bit of a wilderness. Steve Nash was gone. The "Seven Seconds or Less" era was a fading memory. We were looking at a roster that featured guys like Eric Bledsoe and a very young Devin Booker. The naming rights deal with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community wasn't just a corporate transaction; it was a massive cultural shift for the venue. It marked the first time a Native American gaming enterprise held the naming rights to a major professional sports venue in a top-tier US market.
The Naming Rights Gamble
The deal was basically a five-year agreement. It’s funny how people forget the logistics. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) already had a massive presence in the Valley with their resort and casino, but putting that name on the home of the Suns was a power move. It wasn't just about the Suns, though. You had the Phoenix Mercury playing there—winning championships, mind you, while the men were struggling—and the Arizona Rattlers were still tearing up the turf in the AFL.
If you walked into the arena back in 2016, the vibe was... different. The building was aging. Opened in 1992, it was starting to show the literal and figurative cracks. The seats were cramped. The concourses felt like a bottleneck every time there was a timeout. While other cities were building billion-dollar glass palaces, Phoenix was sitting in a concrete bowl that smelled like stale popcorn and ambition.
Why the Talking Stick Era Was Bitter-Sweet
Let’s be real for a second. Most of the years under the Talking Stick branding were tough for Suns fans. We’re talking about the 19-win season in 2018-19. We’re talking about a rotating door of coaches—Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, Igor Kokoškov. It was a grind. But within those walls, something was actually happening.
Devin Booker was drafted in 2015, the same year the name changed.
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The arena saw him grow from a skinny kid from Kentucky into the guy who dropped 70 points in Boston (even if it was an away game, the hype followed him back to Jefferson Street). It saw the arrival of Deandre Ayton as the number one overall pick. Most importantly, it saw the beginning of the "Valley" culture. That black jersey with the pixelated sunset? That started becoming the identity of the fan base while the Talking Stick logo was still plastered on the hardwood.
The $230 Million Face-Lift
By 2019, the conversation wasn't about the name anymore. It was about whether the Suns were going to stay in downtown Phoenix at all. There were rumors. There was political drama. Robert Sarver, the owner at the time, was pushing for a new arena or a massive renovation. Honestly, for a minute there, it looked like the team might bolt for the suburbs or somewhere else entirely.
Then came the "Project 201" renovation.
The city and the Suns struck a deal to dump roughly $230 million into the building. They basically gutted the place. They ripped out the old scoreboard and put in a massive 8,500-square-foot LED beast. They opened up the corners so you could actually see the bowl from the concourse. They added the 15,000-square-foot "Pavilion" bar area which, let’s be honest, is where half the crowd hangs out now anyway.
During the height of the pandemic, while the world was upside down, the arena was a construction zone. When the Suns finally returned from the Orlando Bubble—where they went 8-0 and signaled to the world they were finally good again—they didn't return to the old Talking Stick layout. They returned to a transformed space.
The Name Change That Everyone Missed
Here is the part that trips people up. In the middle of all this—the renovation, the Chris Paul trade, the Finals run—the naming rights deal actually expired.
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In late 2020, as the renovations were wrapping up, the agreement with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community ended. For a brief, strange period, the building was just "Phoenix Suns Arena." Then it was "PHX Arena." It was like the building was in witness protection. Eventually, Footprint, a material science company based in Gilbert, stepped in with a long-term deal focused on sustainability.
So, strictly speaking, Talking Stick Resort Arena doesn't exist anymore. It’s Footprint Center. But if you ask a local for directions or talk to someone who moved here during the Bledsoe years, they still might use the old name.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Venue
People think the arena was "small" or "outdated" just because it lacked the bells and whistles of the Chase Center in San Francisco. But the "Purple Palace" (the nickname that has survived every corporate name change) was designed specifically for basketball.
Unlike many modern arenas that are built for hockey first and basketball second, the sightlines in Phoenix are remarkably tight. Even in the upper levels—the "Ring of Honor" territory—you feel like you’re on top of the action. That’s why when the Suns finally got good again in 2021, that building became one of the loudest, most intimidating environments in the NBA. The sound bounces off the concrete in a way that just rattles your teeth.
The Legacy of the Partnership
Even though the name is off the building, the relationship between the Suns and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community remains a massive part of the team's identity. You see it in the "Origin" jersey designs and the dedicated tribal nights. The Talking Stick era was the bridge. It was the bridge between the glory days of the 90s and the championship-contending window we’re in now.
It was the era of the rebuild.
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If you’re looking for the exact spot where the Suns turned the corner, it wasn't a specific game. It was the moment the city decided to invest in that downtown location instead of building a shiny new stadium out in the middle of nowhere. Keeping the team on Jefferson Street saved the vibe of downtown Phoenix.
The Practical Reality of Visiting Today
If you’re heading down there now, thinking about the Talking Stick days, things are vastly different.
- The Entry Experience: You used to wait in these cramped lines outside. Now, the pavilion is massive and glass-enclosed. You’re "inside" the vibe before you even scan your ticket.
- The Food: It’s not just dry hot dogs anymore. They’ve brought in local vendors that actually represent the Valley.
- The Tech: The Wi-Fi actually works. In the old Talking Stick days, trying to upload a video of a game-winning shot was a nightmare. Now, the infrastructure is built for the 2026 digital landscape.
- Sustainability: Since the Footprint takeover, you’ll notice a distinct lack of single-use plastics. It’s a bit of a shock if you’re used to the old-school arena experience, but it’s the new standard.
Moving Forward
The era of Talking Stick Resort Arena is technically a closed chapter in the history books, but it’s the chapter where the foundation of the current team was poured. It saw the draft picks that became stars and the political battles that ensured the Suns stayed in Phoenix.
When you look at the rafters today, you see the names of the past—Westphal, Adams, Johnson, Chambers. But the building itself tells a story of survival. It survived the lean years, it survived a global pandemic, and it survived a massive identity shift.
Whether you call it the Purple Palace, Talking Stick, or Footprint, the soul of the building hasn't changed. It's still the loud, hot, intense heart of Phoenix sports.
If you’re planning to visit for a game or a concert, make sure to check the light rail schedules—parking near the arena has become notoriously expensive since the surrounding area exploded with new high-rises. Using the Valley Metro Rail is usually the move; your game ticket often doubles as your fare. Also, arrive at least an hour early if you want to see the pre-game warmups up close; the new layout allows for much better access to the lower bowls during that window than the old configuration did.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Event Calendar: If you're looking for the "Talking Stick" vibe, the Phoenix Mercury games often provide a more intimate, high-energy experience at a lower price point than Suns games.
- Use Public Transit: Download the Valley Metro app. Parking in downtown Phoenix has spiked to $40-$60 during playoff games or major concerts.
- Explore the Pavilion: Don't just go straight to your seat. The renovated north entrance (the old Talking Stick main lobby) is now a massive social hub with better views and climate control.
- Verify Naming History: If you are booking a hotel nearby, search for "Footprint Center" to get the most accurate proximity results, as some older GPS databases still flag the area under the Talking Stick or US Airways monikers.