Suns to Install 226-Foot LED Display at Footprint Center

The Phoenix Suns are installing a 226-foot wide by 41-foot tall LED display, the largest transparent exterior screen in the NBA and WNBA.

The Phoenix Suns announced the installation of a massive LED display at Footprint Center measuring 226 feet wide by 41 feet tall. This multimillion-dollar technological upgrade establishes the venue as the only arena in the NBA or WNBA to feature a transparent exterior screen of this magnitude. Construction is scheduled for completion in September 2024, providing a visual centerpiece for the downtown district well ahead of the 2027 NBA All-Star Game scheduled for February. The project covers a total surface area of 9,266 square feet, utilizing specialized transparency to maintain the building's architectural integrity while broadcasting high-definition digital content to pedestrians.

Key details

Josh Bartelstein, CEO of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, confirmed the project aligns with a 209-game sellout streak that began in 2021. This attendance record encompasses every regular season and postseason contest played at the arena over the last three years. The facility currently accommodates 17,000 fans nightly, a figure the organization aims to engage through the new technology by hosting road game watch parties and displaying recent highlights or upcoming game previews on the exterior facade. The investment follows a directive from owner Mat Ishbia to continuously improve the fan experience through capital improvements.

Phoenix is preparing to host the NBA All-Star Game for the fourth time in franchise history, marking the first time the event has returned to the city since 2009. The 2027 event follows the city’s successful hosting of the WNBA All-Star Game in July 2024. During that WNBA weekend, Ishbia debuted a $100 million, 58,000-square-foot practice facility designed exclusively for the Phoenix Mercury. This dedicated space for the women's team is located just blocks away from the main arena, representing a significant portion of the recent nine-figure investments made into the local sports infrastructure.

Latest developments

Bartelstein noted that the front office is tasked with making the upcoming 2027 February event the most successful in league history. The videoboard serves as a primary statement piece for visitors entering the sports and entertainment district. The organization views the transparent screen as a tool to help the league grow while enhancing the specific details of the game-day atmosphere for players and visiting teams alike. By utilizing the nearly 10,000-square-foot surface, the Suns intend to broadcast content that serves the community even when the team is playing away from their home court.

Work on the 226-foot by 41-foot structure is expected to conclude within the next few weeks to meet the strict September deadline. The transparent nature of the LED technology allows the display to integrate with the glass exterior of the Footprint Center while providing high-visibility digital content that can be seen from several blocks away. This upgrade follows a period of significant capital investment by Ishbia, including the aforementioned nine-figure Mercury facility, as the franchise prepares for its first NBA All-Star hosting duties in nearly two decades. The project represents a shift toward immersive digital architecture in professional sports venues.

The new display will function as a 24-hour marketing tool, showcasing team branding and partner content to the thousands of residents who traverse the downtown corridor daily. Beyond simple advertisements, the screen is engineered to handle complex live-stream data, allowing for real-time updates during high-stakes playoff games. The Suns organization has emphasized that this installation is not merely an aesthetic choice but a functional expansion of their media capabilities. As the 2024-25 season approaches, the team expects the screen to be fully operational for the home opener, marking a new era of fan engagement in Arizona.