#SarverOut billboard goes up after disgruntled Suns fan’s fundraiser
Dec 14, 2017, 9:33 AM | Updated: 11:58 am
A frustrated Phoenix Suns fan who raised enough money through GoFundMe to pay for billboards protesting team owner Robert Sarver has posted them.
Valley resident Alex Smith successfully raised more than $3,600 through a GoFundMe account. A digital billboard is posted on Grand Avenue between Greenway and Thunderbird Roads in El Mirage, while a static billboard is at Broadway Road just west of 19th Avenue in Phoenix.
Smith posted pictures of the ads for the #SarverOut campaign on Twitter.
#SarverOut billboard is up! pic.twitter.com/2MrhSb4g1Z
— Alex Smith (@airjam2123) December 14, 2017
The banners, which Smith said will be up eight weeks, all include the #SarverOut hashtag.
“Let us start our next fifty right,” says one.
“Culture starts at the top,” says another.
Smith said on his GoFundMe page that it will cost $1,650 to run an ad banner for a week. He said the additional money raised will go to adding more banners or run time, and that he is not profiting off the fundraiser.
On his GoFundMe page, he explained why he felt the need to take the campaign to such lengths.
Let’s be honest. We’re all frustrated with the embarrassing and painful decline of our Suns organization over the last 5+ years. We’ve made changes to our players, coaching staff, and management, but one group hasn’t changed – ownership. My personal opinion is Robert Sarver isn’t qualified to run an NBA team.
…
You might ask who I am. My name is Alex and I’ve been a resident of The Valley and Suns fan for 10+ years. I’m (organizing) this campaign because I feel our Suns deserve better ownership.
The Suns are currently 9-21 and appear headed toward their eighth straight season without a playoff appearance.
Sarver purchased the NBA franchise in 2004 for a then-record $401 million and oversaw the team through the Steve Nash era, which came with three division titles and three Western Conference Finals appearances in the first six years of his ownership.
Last year, ESPN ranked the Suns as the worst NBA franchise based on a overview of the titles won, ownership, coaching, players, fan relations, affordability, stadium experience and bang for the buck. In that, the media company ranked Sarver as the worst owner in the NBA.
