spurschick
01-23-2008, 05:11 PM
Suns in the sun: Phoenix close to deal for an outdoor game
Phoenix Suns President Rick Welts runs a basketball team in the desert, but the NHL’s outdoor game in snowy Buffalo so transfixed him that he’s close to a deal for the Suns to play a preseason game alfresco next season at the 16,100-seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.
It would be the first outdoor game in the NBA. Welts said that the Suns have an opponent but would not disclose the team since the deal is not completed.
“It is something completely unique that we have never done before, and Indian Wells is one of the few places that can be considered for the game,” Welts said.
The Suns actually began considering an outdoor game three months ago, but Welts was even more encouraged after he caught a glimpse of the Buffalo Sabres-Pittsburgh Penguins game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, which was played amid a heavy snowstorm and brought a record attendance of 71,000 fans and the highest rating for an NHL regular-season game in a decade.
“[Playing an NBA game] outdoors is a fun and different kind of thing, and Phoenix is only a 3 1/2 hour drive away so we can do a lot with our sponsors,” Welts said.
The Suns have contacted the NBA about the game and the team hopes to have an agreement in place before the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament at Indian Wells that begins March 10. The Suns want a deal in place before the tournament to help promote the outdoor game.
“We need to get it all finalized within the next few weeks and have it announced by their tournament because a lot of those fans would be our customers,” Welts said.
The Suns, who would have to rent the privately owned facility, will act as the promoter for the October game.
Though the team is still working on specifics, there would be significant additional revenue opportunities. The Suns are likely to sell one-off sponsors as well as bring current partners to the event. Ticket prices haven’t been set, but the game represents an additional gate to the franchise. Television plans are also being considered.
“We’ve been contacted by a few teams that have expressed interest in an outdoor game, and the approach we are taking is that it would be a team event,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. “Nothing has been finalized.”
The Suns would not need approval from the NBA Players Association to host an outdoor game.
“We were approached by a local group a couple of months ago and we have taken our basketball people out there to take a look at Indian Wells,” Welts said. “We are constantly looking at ways to create value in the preseason, and this would be a fun and different kind of thing.”
The facility has a 16,100-seat capacity for tennis, 44 suites and a 2,500-square-foot club.
“It is an NBA building with no roof,” Welts said.
Phoenix Suns President Rick Welts runs a basketball team in the desert, but the NHL’s outdoor game in snowy Buffalo so transfixed him that he’s close to a deal for the Suns to play a preseason game alfresco next season at the 16,100-seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.
It would be the first outdoor game in the NBA. Welts said that the Suns have an opponent but would not disclose the team since the deal is not completed.
“It is something completely unique that we have never done before, and Indian Wells is one of the few places that can be considered for the game,” Welts said.
The Suns actually began considering an outdoor game three months ago, but Welts was even more encouraged after he caught a glimpse of the Buffalo Sabres-Pittsburgh Penguins game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, which was played amid a heavy snowstorm and brought a record attendance of 71,000 fans and the highest rating for an NHL regular-season game in a decade.
“[Playing an NBA game] outdoors is a fun and different kind of thing, and Phoenix is only a 3 1/2 hour drive away so we can do a lot with our sponsors,” Welts said.
The Suns have contacted the NBA about the game and the team hopes to have an agreement in place before the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament at Indian Wells that begins March 10. The Suns want a deal in place before the tournament to help promote the outdoor game.
“We need to get it all finalized within the next few weeks and have it announced by their tournament because a lot of those fans would be our customers,” Welts said.
The Suns, who would have to rent the privately owned facility, will act as the promoter for the October game.
Though the team is still working on specifics, there would be significant additional revenue opportunities. The Suns are likely to sell one-off sponsors as well as bring current partners to the event. Ticket prices haven’t been set, but the game represents an additional gate to the franchise. Television plans are also being considered.
“We’ve been contacted by a few teams that have expressed interest in an outdoor game, and the approach we are taking is that it would be a team event,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. “Nothing has been finalized.”
The Suns would not need approval from the NBA Players Association to host an outdoor game.
“We were approached by a local group a couple of months ago and we have taken our basketball people out there to take a look at Indian Wells,” Welts said. “We are constantly looking at ways to create value in the preseason, and this would be a fun and different kind of thing.”
The facility has a 16,100-seat capacity for tennis, 44 suites and a 2,500-square-foot club.
“It is an NBA building with no roof,” Welts said.