Suns, Mercury Seek Arena Naming Rights Deal After Footprint Exits
The NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury's arena naming rights deal with Footprint, an environmental tech company, has ended early, as removal of arena signage and branding began on Monday.
The Footprint Center, where the Suns and the Mercury play their home games, will have a new name next year as the naming rights contract has been reworked. Player 15 Group, the parent company for the Suns and Mercury, will handle the naming rights negotiations internally and expects to name a new partner before the 2025-2026 NBA season.
More from Sportico.com
Suns' NBA Trade Deadline Woes Date Back to Sarver Ownership
Joining the Billionaires at Davos: Lindsey Vonn and Picabo Street
It's Time for College Football's Best Mascots to Get Paid, Too
Footprint, based in Gilbert, Ariz., will remain a team partner but at a lower level of sponsorship. The arena-rights deal began in 2021. The new partner will be the fourth title sponsor for the 18,000-seat, multi-purpose arena that opened in 1992.
'I expect for us to command significant investment based on the major events that are coming here and that will continue to come here,' executive vice president and chief revenue officer Dan Costello said in a phone interview. 'As long as we have things like All-Star games, tourism and impact from a population growth perspective, this will be a place where brands want to align.'
Player 15 Group looks to capitalize on a healthier market than in the last round of rights negotiations, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The arena, which hosted the WNBA All-Star Game last year, is preparing to host the 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four and 2027 NBA All Star Weekend, which will be the fourth All-Star game the city has hosted.
The hunt for a new partner comes during a busy time for United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia, who bought the team for a record $4 billion from ex-Western Alliance chairman Robert Sarver two years ago. Ishbia has been busy since, investing another $100 million to build a new Mercury practice facility and team headquarters downtown that opened last summer. Last year, the Suns also introduced its new G League team, the Valley Suns, the third pro team under the Player Group 15 umbrella.
The rise of the WNBA, coupled with increased impressions from both local and national TV broadcasts, positions the parent company to ink a larger naming rights deal than the one with Footprint. The arena is also hosting roughly 40 more events annually, according to Costello.
'It's rare that you have a sports team under new ownership with all these things in our favor,' he said. 'We felt like it was a great opportunity to go into the marketplace. We feel like we're going to have incredible interest.'
The financial terms of the original deal are unclear, but it was reported that Footprint signed a 10-year pact worth roughly $9 million per season. The deal still includes integration of Footprint's products including plant-fiber technology, compost containers, among other things.
Footprint, which will remain as the official sustainability partner of the Suns and Mercury, has reevaluated its sports-related investments after it saw its valuation drop nearly 38% when its planned merger with SPAC Gores Holding VII unraveled in 2022, preventing the company from going public.
Footprint announced its partnership during the Suns' appearance in the 2021 NBA Finals, replacing Talking Stick Resorts. The partnership was inked under Sarver's ownership.
(This story has been updated in the first paragraph to clarify that the change was not sudden, as Footprint has been reevaluating its presence for some time.)
Best of Sportico.com
NFL Private Equity Ownership Rules: PE Can Now Own Stakes in Teams
Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles in History
Why Sports Tickets Are More Expensive Than Ever
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
32 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tyrese Haliburton strikes again. Pacers' dirty word? Turnovers. Chet Holmgren disappears.
Tyrese Haliburton strikes again. Pacers' dirty word? Turnovers. Chet Holmgren disappears. Show Caption Hide Caption Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it's 'small-market' billing USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Sports Pulse If Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals was any indication of what the rest of the series holds, hoops fans should be delighted. The Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 from the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110, on Tyrese Haliburton's thrilling game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds left. For the Pacers, it was yet another comeback victory from a deficit of at least 15 points, their fifth of the 2025 postseason. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting, while Indiana forward Pascal Siakam paced his team with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers had six players, including all five starters, reach double-figures in scoring. OPINION: Pacers teach Thunder hard lesson in NBA Finals Game 1. You cannot count them out. MORE: Tyrese Haliburton game-winners: Pacers star has been hero throughout 2025 NBA playoffs The winners and losers from Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder: WINNERS Tyrese Haliburton, Mr. Clutch, strikes again This was a good — not great — game for Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Held in check for most of the game, Haliburton shined brightest in the clutch, as he has all season. Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but his game-winning, 21-foot jumper over Thunder guard Cason Wallace is what makes him a singular talent. WATCH: Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot in NBA Finals Game 1 This season, Haliburton is 13-of-15 (86.7%) on shots inside the final two minutes (including overtime) to tie or take the lead. He has scored 32 points across those 15 attempts, giving him 2.13 points per shot attempt in such scenarios. In the postseason alone, Haliburton is 6-of-7 (85.7%) on shots inside the final two minutes to tie or take the lead. The Pacers clamp down on defense Much of the attention from the wild Pacers comeback will go to its up-tempo offense in the fourth quarter. Don't sleep on Indiana's defense. Despite being put in compromising spots because of their 25 turnovers, the Pacers hustled back on defense and recovered in transition. That's why the Thunder were never able to ignite on debilitating runs; despite losing the turnover battle 25-7, Indiana ceded just 11 points off those giveaways, compared to the four the Pacers scored. In the final two-and-a-half minutes, the Pacers gave up just two points. They held the Thunder to just 1-of-6 shooting in that span. Andrew Nembhard As he has throughout this postseason, Nembhard had another seemingly quiet but massive game, especially when his team needed it most. Nembhard scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth, including a massive, stepback 3 over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — his teammate on Canada Basketball — with 1:59 to play. His most significant contribution, however, might have been on defense. For much of the fourth, Nembhard served as the primary defender on Gilgeous-Alexander. Nembhard limited SGA to four shot attempts in the period, and his physicality on Gilgeous-Alexander's final attempt with 11 seconds left helped set up Haliburton's game-winner. The Pacers clear the glass In the regular season, the Pacers were tied for 27th in rebounds, hauling in just 41.8 per game. The Thunder were tied for 11th (44.8). Yet, in Game 1, Indiana outworked OKC and claimed a 56-39 edge, or a +17 differential. The Pacers did turn the ball over much more, and Oklahoma City did attempt 16 more shots, which in theory diminished the number of defensive rebounds available for the Thunder. This is an area of relative weakness for Indiana, one the Thunder should try to exploit. LOSERS Thunder finishing in the fourth Oklahoma City isn't a team that typically squanders leads late in games, especially at home. Yet, the Thunder got outscored by 10 in the final period and faltered on both sides. Not only did OKC go cold in the fourth, with seven misses coming within the paint, but the Thunder also lost defensive intention and focus and let Indiana shoot 50% from the floor. In fact, the Pacers drilled 6-of-10 from 3, while the Thunder did not make any of their five attempts from beyond the arc. In the final 2:38, the Thunder, who held a nine-point lead inside the final 3 minutes of the game, allowed the Pacers to score 12 points. Pacers turnovers The Pacers have grit, at this point there can be no question. But Indiana should also consider itself to be quite fortunate. That's because, simply put, there is no way the Pacers can win this series if they turn the ball over anywhere near the way they did in Game 1. Indiana committed 25 turnovers Thursday night, which, for most of the game, played right into Oklahoma City's hands. The Pacers, though, did improve as the game went on; 20 of those turnovers came in the first half. Chet Holmgren In a game in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 38 and Lu Dort added 15 on five made 3-pointers, center Chet Holmgren underwhelmed. His six points marked his lowest output of the postseason, as did his two made field goals. And then, defensively, Holmgren also struggled at times to find Pacers center Myles Turner, who went 3-of-4 in the fourth quarter.
USA Today
32 minutes ago
- USA Today
NCAA baseball tournament super regional schedule: Breaking down the eight matchups
NCAA baseball tournament super regional schedule: Breaking down the eight matchups We're just one step away from college baseball's elite determining this season's national champion. Well, OK, technically we're two steps away, but you get the idea. This weekend, the remaining 16 teams will square off in best-of-three super regionals, with the eight winners headed to Nebraska and the sport's ultimate destination, the College World Series. Here's a breakdown of all eight pairings with game times and TV channels to help you plan your weekend viewing. Keep in mind, of course, that weather might cause delays at some locales, and the schedules later in the weekend will hinge on which and how many series require third and deciding contests. Miami (Fla.) (34-25) at Louisville (38-21) Game 1: Friday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Game 2: Saturday, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN This is an all-ACC series, though the Cardinals and Hurricanes happened to be among the teams that missed each other in the regular season thanks to league expansion. The offensive sparks for Louisville are often provided by the outfield duo of Lucas Moore, who is hitting .366 with 48 stolen bases, and Zion Rose, who has 12 homers and a team-high 61 RBI. Miami was not the most consistent squad during the season and was somewhat fortunate to land on the right side of the bubble, but 3B Daniel Cuvet had an all-conference campaign and there are good options out of the bullpen. No. 9 Florida State (41-14) at No. 8 Oregon State (45-13-1) Game 1: Friday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Game 2: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2 These regular postseason participants from opposite coasts provide one of the more intriguing matchups of the super regional lineup. The Beavers' potent batting order, led by Aiva Arquette and Gavin Turley with 18 homers each, must try to solve Jamie Arnold and the Seminoles' accomplished pitching staff. The series might come down to how well Oregon State's arms can stop the Seminoles. Arizona (42-18) at No. 5 North Carolina (45-13) Game 1: Friday, noon ET, ESPN2 Game 2: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN2 Like most ACC schools, UNC is still seeking its first baseball title. But these Tar Heels might be the ones to deliver, thanks to a deep pitching staff anchored by Jake Knapp and sizzling-hot Gavin Gallaher pacing a high-octane lineup at the plate. The Wildcats' primary catalyst is Mason White, the team's best hitter who is also among the nation's leaders in triples with eight. No. 13 Coastal Carolina (51-11) at No. 4 Auburn (41-18) Game 1: Friday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Game 2: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2 The Coastal Carolina program would seem to be in good hands under first-year coach Kevin Schnall, who had big shoes to fill succeeding retired legend Gary Gilmore. The Chanticleers' biggest strength is their pitching depth, sporting the best team ERA (3.22) of all the super regional participants. Auburn leads the SEC in doubles with 129, a good way to keep pressure on opposing pitchers with a steady stream of runners in scoring position. Texas-San Antonio (47-13) at No. 15 UCLA (45-16) Game 1: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU Game 2: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, TBD It seems fitting that the Roadrunners have scored more total runs, 528, than any other squad still alive in the field. Heading the UTSA hit parade is Drew Detlefsen with a team-high 70 RBI. The first challenge for the road team figures to be Bruins righty Michael Barnett, who sports an 11-1 record with 70 strikeouts to just 18 walks. Murray State (42-14) at Duke (40-19) Game 1: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, ESPNU Game 2: Sunday, noon ET, TBD It's no big secret how the Racers got here as a No. 4 seed in its regional. Murray State pounds out 8.8 runs a game, and even managed to surpass that lofty average against the likes of Ole Miss and Georgia Tech in the postseason. It's fair to wonder if the Racers have enough arms to keep Duke's lineup that also puts up over eight runs per contest at bay. The long list of dangerous hitters in this series includes Murray State outfielder Dan Tauken and Blue Devils third baseman Ben Miller. West Virginia (44-14) at No. 6 LSU (46-15) Game 1: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN Game 2: Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2 LSU had to work a little harder than expected to prevent Little Rock from becoming the second No. 4 seed to win a regional this year. The Tigers will likely have an equally hard time dispatching the Mountaineers, the comeback kids of the tournament after late rallies to beat Clemson and Kentucky. Jared Jones (20 HR, 69 RBI) is the latest in the long line of LSU sluggers to emerge. At some point he'll likely encounter Reese Bassinger, the workhorse of the WVU bullpen. No. 14 Tennessee (46-17) at No. 3 Arkansas (46-13) Game 1: Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN Game 2: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN One could certainly make the case that this is the marquee matchup of the round of 16, pitting the defending national champion against the highest remaining seed in this year's field. It's also a rematch of the final regular-season series of the SEC campaign, which also took place in Fayetteville just a few weeks ago. The Razorbacks took the latter two contests of that set, including a game two win in which they slapped around Volunteers lefty ace Liam Doyle. Tennessee also has plenty of offensive pop, of course, but Arkansas ranks in the top 15 nationally in both scoring and team ERA thanks to guys like Wehiwa Aloy and Zach Root.
Chicago Tribune
33 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Andy Shaw: Public officials must cut the fat before begging for taxpayer bailouts
As Yankees baseball legend and iconic quipster Yogi Berra is famously quoted as saying, 'It's deja vu all over again.' Once again the perennially and preternaturally cash-strapped city of Chicago, State of Illinois, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Chicago Public Schools are pointing at Washington, D.C., with their hands out, shaking their tin cups and blaming the federal government for letting the COVID cash faucet run dry. The message they're sending Washington, and local taxpayers, is as audacious as it is absurd: 'We're broke because you stopped giving us free money.' Not a word about decades of mismanagement. Not a whisper about institutional waste and inefficiency. And no sign that anyone in Springfield, City Hall, or the transit and CPS boardrooms is willing to make the hard choices that real leaders are supposed to make when times get tough. I watched this sad scenario play out for 37 years as a local journalist and 10 more as a good government watchdog, and nothing has changed. The pandemic didn't break their budgets — it merely exposed how broken they already were. The CTA is projecting a $600 million shortfall next year as federal pandemic aid evaporates. But instead of tackling excessive operating costs, administrative bloat and outdated labor rules, executives are spending their time lobbying for a federal or state bailout — one they know won't fix a single structural problem. Anyone who's taken the Red Line after dark knows the CTA doesn't just need more money — it needs more competence. Meanwhile, transit leadership continues to drive or be driven to work instead of riding, top managers cash six-plus figure paychecks and union contracts are treated like sacred texts instead of the fungible documents they need to be in the post-COVID era. Then there's City Hall, where Mayor Brandon Johnson is asking for hundreds of millions in new federal and state funds to prevent drastic service cuts while also rolling out feel-good programs with questionable funding sources. The migrant crisis, pension time bombs and public safety concerns are real. But rather than prioritize, consolidate and streamline, Johnson's team is cobbling together budget Band-Aids and sending invoices to D.C. or Springfield hoping Uncle Sam or Uncle J.B.— more accurately, taxpayers — will foot the bill. As for the state, the other bailout target of local governments, the picture's not much better. Gov. JB Pritzker proudly touted Illinois' temporary budget surpluses during the pandemic, but those were largely a mirage — the result of federal stimulus funds and delayed spending. Now that the spigot's shut off, the state's back to deficit projections and renewed calls for 'revenue enhancements' — political code for higher taxes on the very companies and people that are already exiting Illinois in record numbers. Finally, few local institutions are as financially fragile, and equally shameless, as CPS, which is projecting a $391 million budget gap next year; and like its sister agencies, pointing fingers at Washington and Springfield instead of looking in the mirror. 'The cliff is coming,' CPS officials say, referring to the end of federal COVID relief funding. But what they don't say is they built their post-pandemic budget on a sandcastle of temporary dollars with no plan for how to sustain expanded staffing and programs once that tide inevitably went out. Rather than using the federal windfall to right-size operations or address glaring long-term issues like special education, building maintenance, union overreach and enrollment-based reallocations, CPS went on a hiring spree, expanded programs without metrics, approved generous union contracts and padded administrative overhead. The real outrage? CPS is bleeding students — enrollment is down by more than 85,000 since 2010, but the budget keeps ballooning. We're paying more to educate fewer children, with less to show for it. Nobody seems willing to talk about the elephant in every government room: Waste, in its multiple iterations; there's enough fat in these budgets to make a butcher weep. But trimming it would require the kind of political courage we haven't seen in decades. It would mean saying no to special interests, rethinking sacred cows and upsetting the apple cart of status quo politics — a cart too many of our leaders are riding in comfortably. Instead, our politicians are taking the easy way out: Blame Washington, Springfield or the allegedly undertaxed wealthy, ask for more money and cross their fingers that voters won't notice the hypocrisy. It's fiscal malpractice dressed up as righteous indignation. And let's be clear about one thing: The federal government doesn't owe them another dime. COVID relief was meant to be temporary — a bridge over troubled waters — not a permanent subsidy for governments that refuse to adapt. If local and state leaders treated those funds as lifelines rather than blank checks, they would've used the past three years to modernize, trim and right-size their operations. Instead, they papered over the cracks, kicked the cans down the road and now expect Washington and wealthy taxpayers to refill the punch bowl. Chicagoans, and all Illinoisans, deserve much better. They deserve transit systems that work, budgets that balance and leaders who don't use crises as a cover for failure. They deserve governments that take responsibility for their own finances before asking others to bail them out. There's a concept in the private sector called accountability. When companies run out of money, they cut costs, restructure or go bankrupt. They don't send letters to Washington or Springfield demanding a lifeline because their customers stopped coming. But in the public sector, failure is rewarded with more funding and fewer questions. That needs to change. And it starts with us — the voters, the taxpayers and the residents. We need to stop accepting the tired narrative that more money will fix everything, and stop rewarding the elected and appointed leaders who espouse that canard. We need to demand audits, zero-based budgeting and creative, humane staff and agency cutbacks. We need to demand efficiency, and call out the bureaucratic inertia that keeps our governments stuck in a cycle of dysfunction. So the next time a city, state or transit agency asks for a bailout, the first question we should ask is simple: What have you cut from your own budget? If their answer is 'nothing,' or obfuscation, our answer to their request should be just as simple: 'No!' And many of those doing the asking should be pointed to the exit door.
