Footprint Center formally dedicated before NBA/WNBA doubleheader

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the Footprint Center on Wednesday to dedicate and formally open the doors to the transformed arena.

The event took place between the Phoenix Suns’ preseason win against the Portland Trail Blazers and Game 2 of the 2021 WNBA Finals, where the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Chicago Sky.

Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego joined leadership from Footprint and the Suns and Mercury during the ceremony, which came after the mayor approved the Climate Action Plan for Phoenix to reach net-zero before 2050.

“Today marks the culmination of the past 18 months transforming Footprint Center into a world-class entertainment experience for fans, while planning to reduce our carbon footprint through the design and construction process,” Suns president and CEO Jason Rowley said in a release. “We are confident that through the support, commitment and hard work of all stakeholders, Footprint Center will serve as the model sports and entertainment venue for sustainable innovation.”

More transformation is due to take place at the Footprint Center as well. Starting with the Suns’ season-opener against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 20, single-use plastics will be replaced with plant-based solutions from Footprint. The measure is the latest sustainability move as part of the arena’s renovations.

The Footprint Center’s renovations features a wide variety of new premium options as well as a new main entrance and a seating transformation.

Footprint also welcomed Suns part owner and former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as the company’s first sustainability ambassador.

“As a father of three and a lover of travel, I want to see our world be a safer and more sustainable home for future generations,” Fitzgerald said in a release. “Footprint’s vision of reducing and even eliminating toxins from the food we eat is a landmark step in the right direction.”