The Suns and Nuggets both need to prove something to themselves this postseason that they didn't achieve in the regular season. Sixteen-thousand fans are welcome at the Tuesday night Phoenix Suns game -- how can you feel safeand is it safe? The Phoenix Suns are going to the NBA Finals, and thedowntown arena will be packed. . Even if one of those four players whose vaccine status has not been disclosed tested positive, that would be a 6.7% rate twice that of their vaccinated counterparts in the smallest of sample sizes. The Suns, meanwhile, transformed from perennial lottery afterthought to bona fide contender overnight, largely skipping the customary years-long discussion that follows most young teams' rise from potential sleeper to plucky playoff challenger and ultimately serious threat. Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff . Lost children will be taken to the Guest Services Office located in the pavilion, in the Northwest corner of the building. You may opt-out by. BOSTON The Phoenix Suns were managing a COVID-19 outbreak as their season fell apart, multiple sources told The Athletic, with six individuals including one player testing positive. RELATED: Phoenix Suns arena to be named Footprint Center after new deal with Arizona-based material science company. Upon entry, any bags within the required size limits are required to be screened through our X-ray technology machines. At previous games inside Suns Arena, they were able to keep empty seats between fans but Tuesday night will be more of a challenge. Policies set forth by Event Organizers generally prohibit us Join the New Times community and help support The NBA has a league-wide policy requiring all fans seated within 15 feet of the court or player benches show either proof of vaccination or a recent negative test at arenas across the league. With rising cases of COVID-19 nationwide due to stalling vaccination rates and the rise of the Delta variant of the virus, the CDC recently updated its guidelines to recommend masks be worn when. Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker discussed his vaccination status and more after missing time due to COVID-19. Both leagues are letting teams come up with their own health and safety guidelines for fans. With under three weeks left until the 2021-22 NBA season tips off, at least 15 teams are telling their fans they need to vax up if they want to see the action in person this season--here are where fans will need to show proof of Covid vaccination, or a recent negative test, to get in. And Los Angeles Countys public health department recommendedMonday that everyone wear masks indoors in public places regardless of whether theyve been vaccinated in light of the delta variant. Additionally, anyone who purchases a Party Pod throughout the regular season will enjoy priority access to purchase a Party Pod and/or suite rental during the 2020-2021 playoffs following PayPal SixthMan Season Ticket Members. Suns had COVID-19 outbreak to end Mavs series, per report - Arizona Sports Prior to attending any game, all guests at Phoenix Suns Arena will be required to submit a Fan Promise an online, standardized health questionnaire about COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. To limit any potential spread of COVID-19, visitors must wear a mask to enter the building. The other five members of the team who tested positive were support staffers, according to the report. The Phoenix Suns had won 18 consecutive games tied for the 10th-longest single-season streak in NBA history before Friday night's loss to the Golden State Warriors. When social distancing measures are pulled back, the Suns'. Just like you could choose to skydive or not, just like you could choose to smoke or not.". Hand-sanitizer stations will be available throughout the concourses on all levels of the arena. Phoenix. The Suns, who privately insist there was no breach of protocol, declined to comment publicly for this story. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach. Mask policy released for Footprint Center | 12news.com - KPNX Are we going to have more treatments available, or are we going to more aggressively use Paxlovid? LA Clippers star Paul George was out for the teams must-win Play-In game against New Orleans after testing prior to the game when he experienced moderate to severe symptoms. Try a week on us. Hollinger: Deandre Ayton leaving Suns now looks 'more likely than not', From Steph Curry vs. LeBron James and beyond, NBA Playoffs remain star-studded, Deandre Ayton says Suns will be a different team in Game 2 Vs. Nuggets, Suns-Nuggets Game 2 preview: Phoenix will be optimistic after rough start, Curry scores playoff career-high 50 as Warriors down Kings, Suns need more effort, focus to keep series alive vs. Nuggets, Suns steamrolled by Nuggets, Jamal Murray and math in Game 1 loss. The truth is James' ordeal is more proof the NBA's strict COVID guidelines are working. Capacity had been reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a jump to 5,000 fans allowed per game on March 31. A sign on the box office windows of the Marquee Theatre in Tempe announcing the venue has lifted its COVID-19 restrictions. The Phoenix Suns announced that they're increasing capacity to 3,000 fans at home games. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Nuggets vs. Suns Predictions & Picks - Western Conference Semifinals Game 1 A league spokesman toldThe Athletic, The NBA has seen no evidence to suggest any rules violations by Suns players or staff. A league source added the NBA could always revisit the situation if new information emerged. Failure can take many acceptable forms, from bad matchups to the effects of altitude on a top-heavy team already taxing its best players. All sales are final and refunds are only allowed in More details in Visitor Guide A-Z under video recorders. reported The Athletics Sam Amick and Joe Vardon. Suns could be left out of NBA return as bubble debate rages, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum don't take the Twitter feud fuel, Jared Dudley explains what Phoenix Suns have to do to be successful, Suns-Nuggets Game 2 preview: Phoenix will be optimistic after rough start, Suns steamrolled by Nuggets, Jamal Murray and math in Game 1 loss, Suns-Nuggets series preview, Pt. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. One Phoenix assistant coach, Bryan Gates, tested positive after Game 6 and missed the final game, while at least some of the other Suns indicated to colleagues they werent feeling well prior to Game 7. The ordeal raised questions internally about whether they were following the leagues rules for testing. The Suns have spent this off-time preparing and having contingency plans in place for different variations of how and when they return. Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns Game 1 free live stream, NBA playoffs TV People working outside while following CDC guidelines and adhering to physical distancing of 6 If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. A negative COVID-19 test will only apply to . The Suns did not comment on the report to The Athletic before it published the story. Rowley also said the city of Phoenix itself has not discussed making changes to funding or the contract. Theres not a lot of day-to-day oversight. Phoenix Footprint Center officially christened with new name for arena 'It's just sports': Another fight breaks out at Phoenix Suns game It is, in essence, an honor system. LeBron James registered a false positive test for COVID-19 this week, and eight negative tests later, he cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols in time for Friday's showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Detailed information about the testing process will be available soon, and upon purchase of a floor seat. First, it's a flimsy excuse, and second, the story raises questions about how the Suns navigated NBA rules for dealing with COVID-19. 4 min read. Weapons of any kind *no knives of any size & no mace/pepper spray of any size. Phoenix beat the Lakers without Anthony Davis, the Denver Nuggets without Jamal Murray and the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard. Updated: 6:23 PM MST June 8, 2022. All attended points of sale will have Plexiglass barriers between fans and staff. As accessible seating is limited, advance notice is preferred in order for Guest Services to accommodate all our disabled guests. Vaccine acceptance is almost universal among players, with ESPN reporting 95% have been vaccinated. Phoenix Suns | Account Manager Pricing for the Party Pods start at $300 to $500 per seat and will vary per game. The playertested positive the day after Game 7. All rights reserved. Located in the private luxury suites at Phoenix Suns Arena, the Party Pods offer a choice of food and beverage packages, one parking pass for the group, a dedicated restroom within the suite, and a private shopping experience exclusively for Party Pod fans. Accessibility for our guests with disabilities is a high priority. Follow @brohrbach, Kyrie Irving brought the league to the center of the vaccine debate. I think we want to be mindful of an impact an infected player can have not just on other players on the floor but people in the arena., (Photo: Kate Frese / NBAE via Getty Images). (COVID-19) was on everybodys mind, one source close to the situation said. (Kellan Olson/Arizona Sports). 11 Rock Stars Who Allegedly Slept With Underage Girls, Here's when Aerosmith's farewell tour will stop in Phoenix, Ella Mai, Tennis and the best concerts in Phoenix this week, Mesa Metalheads SaintBreaker Celebrate the Release of Their Second Album Tonight, Caroline Polachek, Subtronics and the Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend. With the possible exception of the Warriors, no team fits so seamlessly together, only the Suns do not have Stephen Curry, the most electrifying player of his generation. That includesSuns, Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Rattlers games. All Rights Reserved. Bottles, cans & coolers *sealed water bottles permitted but may be prohibited for select concerts. The NBA is requiring all coaches and staff be vaccinated against Covid-19, but players will face no such mandate, after the union representing them called the idea a "non-starter." If it did anything it gave us the opportunity to be confident that we would be ready to go by next season, he said. I felt like I could have coached, but I obviously didnt want to get anybody else sick. Ticket sales for the new seating areas (except floor seats) being added throughout Phoenix Suns Arena will go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 11, beginning with priority access to PayPal SixthMan Season Ticket Members at 8 a.m. MT, followed by non-members at 4 p.m. MT. The Denver Nuggets' bench has rounded into form this postseason and could be a tough matchup for the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix Suns make push for playoffs on and off the court - Phoenix March 28, 2022 You may also direct any questions regarding accessibility to the Guest Services hotline at 602-379-2060. By my count, 18 of the 510 players on the NBA's 30 rosters have tested positive for COVID-19 this season. Six members of the team, including a player, tested positive for the virus at the tail end of the series or just after it ended. Each week during the 2021-22 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the leagues biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether the trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward. Apr 1, 2021. Contactless Accommodations: Phoenix Suns Arena has transitioned completely to paperless ticketing and offers numerous hands-free, cashless payment experiences via the Suns Mobile Wallet within the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon. That conversation usually fizzles once said team's ceiling is set below championship level, unless an MVP-caliber performer emerges, in which case the debate about his ability to win the title will only grow louder with each successive playoff loss. The NBA season tips off on October 19 with a double-header of the Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriorsplay for the rest of the league's teams will get underway over the following two days. 201 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004. will be allowed. The fastest route to a return from COVID-19 is by producing two negative tests 24 hours apart which is how Horford returned to the Celtics for Game 2 of the conference finals. The massive building formerly known as Talking Stick Resort Arena and Phoenix Suns Arena can house over 18,000 people for events. Paramedics and EMTs are present during events at the Footprint Center; First Aid is located on the Main Concourse across from Section 116. After successfully hosting 1,500 fans during games this week in two-person and four-person, socially distanced pods, the organization has decided to increase capacity to 3,000 fans, adding more two-person and four-person pods in the upper level of the arena, along with a limited number of floor seat pods. For group ticket information call (602) 379-7878. Address. The Phoenix Suns ended their conference semifinals series against the Dallas Mavericks and their 2021-22 season suffering from a COVID-19 outbreak, reported The Athletics Sam Amick and Joe Vardon. Example video title will go here for this video, In the News: National headlines for May 1, 2023. But concern has been growingabout a more contagious version of the new coronavirus. Suns incorporating changes to arena renovations with COVID-19 in mind An arena full of maskless fans: Could that be a problem? In 2022-23 against the spread,. Jun 8, 2022, 7:14 AM | Updated: 9:10 am, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) drives past Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Phoenix. As part of a $230 million project, about 70% of the arena renovations were expected to be done by the start of the 2020-21 season. You can find them if you follow people who care more for substance than empty calories. Select Your Dates. Once seated, fans will enjoy an enhanced gameday experience headlined by a new center hung scoreboard that is six times larger and clearer than its predecessor, two new LED ribbon boards that ring the lower and upper bowls, an upgraded sound system for crystal-clear audio and Musco lighting that gives our players main stage theatre illumination. Below are policies and rules to assist with your visit to Footprint Center. The Fan Promise will be accessible via the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon and must be completed by every fan, employee and vendor entering the venue. For information regarding ticketing and seating, accessible drop-off locations, Assistive Listening Receivers, radios, and facility features, please contact a member of our staff or visit the Guest Services Office located in the pavilion, at the Northwest corner of the building. Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! If we have to still move stuff to next summer, well do that, but were gonna keep all those options open.. Guests who fail to comply with the Footprint Centers smoking policy will be asked to cease smoking. Health Insider Dr. Janice Johnston from Redirect Health says the key will be following the clean habits we've built over the last year. Humble said it seems from what he's seen on TV that only fans in the front row really consistently wear their masks. PHOENIX The newly renamed Footprint Center updated its event policy to mandate masks to enter any upcoming events. Capacity for Phoenix Suns Arena is listed at 18,422. Theres a lot of room for things to happen in the shadows if that makes sense. Terms And Conditions | Phoenix Suns The Suns feel like Ayton and the rest of the players on the floor will be geared up for the pick and roll of the Nuggets. Although it would be hard to know by watching footage or seeing fan pictures, masks are required for entryfor all events at the Phoenix Suns Arena. Masks have always been cited as an effective way to limit the spread of coronavirus which is mainly transmitted from person to person. This limited accommodation is in accordance with guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control, the NBA and Arizona Department of Health Services, and the undertaking includes numerous steps taken by the Suns working with medical experts to ensure fans have a fun and safe experience. Official Phoenix Suns app sponsored by Verizon. For event specific information, please visit the individual event detail page on FootprintCenter.com. Eleven teams will require fans to show either proof of vaccination or a qualifying recent negative test: the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. Game five of the NBA Playoffs -- as the Phoenix Suns take on the Los Angeles Lakers -- is shaping up to be the largest gathering in the Valley in over a year. The Footprint Center is committed to providing every guest with a comfortable and enjoyable experience. While a packed arena without masks would have been "irresponsible"a couple months ago, Humble said he thinks "it's generally OK" at this point. Up to 80% of all planned work was completed in time for the 2020 preseason home opener, a 112-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on December 16, 2020. The Milwaukee Bucks announced that they were expanding attendance to 18% capacity, or roughly 3,280 fans. The NBA requires all team personnel, regardless of vaccine status, to test for the virus if they are experiencing symptoms, and they may not play, coach or be at team facilities if they test. refund is approved, we cannot issue a refund to a different credit or debit Ever since Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving brought the league to the center of the vaccine debate in October, my inbox continues to be littered with questions that take some form of, If vaccines are so effective, why are NBA players still getting COVID-19? be processed to the original method of payment used at time of purchase. Arizona Music Venues Start Lifting COVID-19 - Phoenix New Times But he is concerned about the start of the next NBA season, when the effectiveness of booster shots wanes. Their exceptionalism leads them to believe they can make Russell Westbrook work in ways no one else could and welcomes bloviating sports television segments dedicated to the dysfunction his arrival generates. But that number does not appear to include at least a few of the league's high-profile players. Suns vs. Clippers Game 3: Free live stream, TV, how to watch NBA Even if all of them were fully vaccinated, that is a 3.5% positivity rate, slightly higher than most studies. Social Distancing: Physical distancing will be required at all times, particularly in queueing areas (arena entrance, concessions, restrooms and Team Shop) which will be clearly marked and monitored by arena staff. "We still expect fans to wear masks throughout the arena and required at court level per NBA rules," Dean Stoyer, the teams chief marketing and communications officer, wrote in a text message. Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. There will also be six-foot physical distancing in the arena bowl between parties in ticketed seating pods. All true, but that take ignores one fact that became increasingly clear throughout the playoffs: The Suns are rock freaking solid. You can say that you put that on your website, and you can even print it on the tickets, but if you dont enforce it, then its not real," Humble said. Despite that, they will go into Game 2 with loads of optimism. Sikka, a physician for the Denver Broncos of the NFL and founder of the COVID-19 Sports and Society Workgroup, said the combination of vaccines and antiviral drugs like Paxlovid are helping players recover faster from the virus, preventing symptoms from lingering and allowing them to test negative sooner. The Denver Nuggets (53-29) have one player on the injury report in their NBA playoffs second round game 1 with the Phoenix Suns (45-37) at Ball Arena on Saturday, April 29 at 8:30 PM ET. Tickets therefore cannot be Amick told Bickley & Marotta that, in reporting for the story, some sources said they believed there was a rift in the Suns organization about how to handle the COVID-19 developments. The NBA has gotten a starry second-round slate, with Stephen Curry and Golden State set to meet LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. May 26, 2020, 7:07 PM | Updated: 9:40 pm, Suns president Jason Rowley and general manager James Jones preview the progress made on renovations to Talking Stick Resort Arena. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The state health department follows CDC guidelines. Four teams will have a vaccine mandate with no apparent exception allowing unvaccinated adult fans to attend gamesthey are: the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors. Phoenix has not been involved in mask discussions with the Suns since the citys mask mandate ended, said Jeanine L'Ecuyer, Mayor Kate Gallegos communications director. Have a tip? Nuggets vs. Suns: Betting Trends, Record ATS, Home/Road Splits Suns' COVID-19 outbreak in playoffs raises questions about NBA Suns to increase capacity at Phoenix Suns Arena from 3,000 to 5,500 The Centers for Disease Control still advises avoiding big indoor gatherings but our ABC15 Health Insider says if you're vaccinated, you can do this safely without worry. Found items may be turned in to the Guest Services Office. BOSTON The Phoenix Suns were managing a COVID-19 outbreak as their season fell apart, multiple sources told The Athletic, with six individuals including one player testing positive either late in the Western Conference semifinals or the day after Game 7. I dont know if its analogous or not, (but) there are other viruses, where the flu, for example, historically, its been a determination from a player and team or players doctor as to whether its appropriate for them to be out on the floor. If they go to the game and get sick, its a choice they make," Humble said. The question of when fans are back, of course, remains in the air, let alone when NBA basketball comes back without them. . Deandre Ayton thrived against back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic in the second round two years ago. Talent at ABC/ESPN with the closest proximity to players (on-court or one-on-one sitdown interviews) during the finals have to test to gain access, regardless of vaccine status. Close. The Suns were thoroughly outmatched by the Nuggets in Game 1 on Saturday. Still, a recent study conducted in coordination with infectious disease experts found 34 breakthrough cases in the NBA among 2,300 players and staff whose antibody levels were previously tested in the preseason, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. A host of sporting events, shows and concerts is on the schedule for the center and can befound here. Phoenix Face Coverings; Frequently Asked Questions How will it look this time around? He is all things, scoring in isolation, as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, spotting up or coming off screens. Thats up from 49 cases as of June 21, according to the nonprofits sequencing dashboard. There's certainly reason to believe the Suns have what . Rowley said there was never a thought of pausing renovations due to the virus. Computers and laptops. Phoenix has a 4-6 record against the spread while finishing 6-4 overall over its last 10 games. Information in this story was confirmed by more than a half-dozen sources. But unlike cups of beer and Devin Booker signs, an accessory worn for more than a year in public might be harder to spot. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Read More Stories from Our 'Your Health Matters' Partners. The 18,422-seat venue - home to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and a ton of high-profile concerts including Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, and the Jonas Brothers - became PHX Arena.