The NBA and Phoenix Suns are finalizing plans for the 2027 All-Star weekend to be held in Phoenix, according to the Athletic’s Shams Charania. Matt Ishbia just recently bought the Suns and Mercury and now he will enjoy several main events coming to his city.
Phoenix Suns Set to Host Two All-Star Weekends in 4 Years
The 2024 WNBA All-Star game will be held at Footprint Center from July 18-20 so that means Phoenix will host 2 All-Star Weekends in both leagues in the space of 4 years.
The year-old Matt Ishbia ownership will be happy to bring the NBA All-Star game to Phoenix for the 4th time ever. The Suns last hosted the All-Star weekend in 2009.
The Suns also hosted it in 1995 when the Footprint Center was known as the America West Arena. Then again in 1975 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The NBA is nearing plans for Phoenix and the Suns to host 2027 All-Star Weekend, multiple sources tell me and @MikeVorkunov. One year into new governor Mat Ishbia’s ownership, Suns win an NBA All-Star bid. The Phoenix Mercury will also host 2024 WNBA All-Star. pic.twitter.com/1sus5Ked8s
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 26, 2024
This will be the third All-Star game on the west coast in a row. The Golden State Warriors will be the hosts in 2025. Then the Los Angeles Clippers in 2026 at their new Intuit dome. Also, all these cities are in warmer climates.
This comes after the last 4 All-Star games have been hosted on the East Coast in Atlanta, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis. The three most recent cities typically experience cold winters and are not ideal destinations during the winter months.
NBA Leaning to Bigger Markets?
A recent report from the Oklahoman has suggested that the league is looking to enforce minimum requirements to steer the NBA All-Star weekend towards certain markets. The report details amenities such as:
- At least 7,250 hotel rooms and three five-star hotels.
- At least 75 nonstop domestic flights and at least 20 international flights.
- At least 650,000 square feet of convention center and exhibition space.
Supposedly, the Milwaukee Bucks were trying to host NBA all-star weekend in 2027 or 2028. The Bucks have not hosted it since 1977 at the MECCA arena. They previously tried to bid for it in 2025 and 2026.
Details on an official announcement haven’t been released.
