Phoenix Suns set for new practice facility

To help the Phoenix Suns prepare for the next season and keep them sharp during the season, the Suns front office has announced the building of a new practice facility in the Arcadia neighborhood, some 15 minutes from their home at downtown Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Work on the new digs will start this summer and will cost anywhere between $25 million and $50 million. Located at 44th St. and Camelback facing the head of Camelback Mountain, the practice building will also play host to the Phoenix Mercury and include offices, private health and training amenities, and basketball courts for the teams and coaches.

“[Suns owner] Robert Sarver’s investment in our new training facility demonstrates his commitment to ensuring we have the proper resources to compete at the highest level,” said general manager James Jones, in a team statement. “The development of this standalone, secure and private facility will enhance our player health, development and wellness capabilities, and allow us to retain and attract the best basketball talent to the Valley for years to come.”

The new building will not only break ground on a new site, but will also be taking over a current building on the west side of 44th Street in the Camel Square office center, right across from Steak 44. The new facility was one arm of a new packaged deal with the city of Phoenix that came to fruition last winter. The deal was highlighted by the $230 million renovation for the Suns home at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The current location of the Suns’ practice facility is in the downtown arena, formerly known as America West Arena, or, affectionately, the “Purple Palace.” Opening up the new practice facility off campus will open up the opportunity to host more concerts and mainstream events at Talking Stick Resort Arena, which will provide financial benefits for both the Suns organization and the city of Phoenix.

While groundbreaking and expansion for the new practice location will take place this summer, the majority of the building will take place during the off-seasons in 2020 and 2021.