PHOENIX SUNS
Robert Sarver gives a tour of the Phoenix Suns’ new practice facility
The floor of the Phoenix Suns’ new practice courts has been laid, and construction continues at the facility set to open later this summer just north of Camelback Road on 44th Street.
Suns owner Robert Sarver filmed a walkthrough tour of the 52,000-square foot facility that details the layout of the new home of the NBA squad and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
“I think it’ll be something that our players will really enjoy,” Sarver said. “I think it’ll help us from a recruiting standpoint. It’ll be a place that players want to spend more time in. If they spend more time, I think it’ll help them become better teammates with one another and better basketball players.”
The practice home, which looks north toward iconic Camelback Mountain, features an open design with windows from offices and training rooms looking at a centered pair of practice courts.
It includes three locker rooms: one each for the pro teams and an auxiliary one for G League players, visitors and coaches. There is a full kitchen that will allow players to interact and learn from full-time chefs, plus indoor and outdoor training amenities.
During cooler months, a dining area opens to the outside, as does a training area.
The facility has a game room with a poker table, pool and ping pong; a golf simulator; and a barber shop.
Players will have access to a recovery room and green screen room so they can film media, advertising and game-night elements around their practices.
For the Suns, head coach Monty Williams’ office sits next to that of general manager James Jones, and both sit above the courts. Assistant coaches, trainers and executives all have general work spaces as well.
The Suns’ locker room will feature a large video board and lockers imported from Germany, according to Sarver.
Safety measures are also integrated — they were planned before coronavirus suspended the 2019-20 NBA season. Sarver added that the facility was made with as few doors as possible.
“The less spreading of germs, the better,” the owner said. “The idea is to have less door handles, door knobs to touch. Players can come in and out and do what they need to do and never touch a door handle.”
Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, construction of the facility was initially projected to be finished in August. Currently, Suns players are working out individually at the team’s first home, Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as Talking Stick Resort Arena undergoes renovations.
