The Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Kings 120-100 in Sunday's winner-take-all Game 7. The data suggests that people who are vaccinated are at very low risk of getting infected in general, extremely low risk of getting severely infected, but they still could get the virus and they could transmit it, so if youre in a crowded circumstance, thats something to consider,"LaBaer said. In that sense, the Suns certainly arent alone. All rights reserved. The maximum protection that you can get as you choose to go into these events would be to wear a mask in these environments, White advised. (COVID-19) was on everybodys mind, one source close to the situation said. 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. Talking heads may be sleeping on the reigning Western Conference champions, but the sharps have taken notice. The logical conclusion here: Time to get your booster shot. 2: Bookers defense could face healthy Murray. 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. Video and recording devices including Go Pros & Google glasses. That was increased to just over 8,000 by the end of the regular season and to over 11,000 for the . 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. The Phoenix Suns announced that they're increasing capacity to 3,000 fans at home games. Warriors coach Steve Kerr missed two games in the Western semifinals after he tested positive, and Celtics forward Al Horford was out for Game 1 of the Eastern finals with a positive test. To limit any potential spread of COVID-19, visitors must wear a mask to enter the building. If we have to still move stuff to next summer, well do that, but were gonna keep all those options open.. Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Updated: 6:23 PM MST June 8, 2022. The truth is James' ordeal is more proof the NBA's strict COVID guidelines are working. The Phoenix Suns' star quartet of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton looked mighty average in their Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "If you choose not to get vaccinated, then youre choosing a higher risk lifestyle, no matter whether you go to Suns games or not, and thats your choice to make. Bulls star Zach LaVine missed Game 5 of Chicagos first-round series after the team announced he tested positive for the virus. Health care workers, for example, are susceptible to a much higher breakthrough rate. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 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 (except for those not allowing negative tests for entry). All Rights Reserved. These two teams rack up 229.4 points per game between them, 2.4 more than this game's total. Cash Conversion: As a convenience to our fans with cash, the Phoenix Suns Arena offers free cash conversions. Pricing for the Party Pods start at $300 to $500 per seat and will vary per game. 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. The center has also implemented various social-distancing measures like online and app-based ticketing and automated concession stands. But others say even with the more transmissible variant spreading, masks don't need to be required. For event specific information, please visit the individual event detail page on FootprintCenter.com Additional health and safety measures instituted to welcome fans into the transformed [] At previous games inside Suns Arena, they were able to keep empty seats between fans but Tuesday night will be more of a challenge. Phoenix beat the Lakers without Anthony Davis, the Denver Nuggets without Jamal Murray and the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard. Select Your Category. The Suns and Nuggets both need to prove something to themselves this postseason that they didn't achieve in the regular season. Those who are fully vaccinated don't have to wear masks indoors. Make people more comfortable with maybe going cashless making sure your escalators have UV lighting that kills viruses and bacteria and all those things hiring outside professionals who can come in and do audits of the building to make sure that any high touchpoints (can be safer).. The NBA announced a new policy on Wednesday that will keep unvaccinated players who are forced to sit out games due to vaccine mandates from being paid for the games they miss. Close. Humble said as long as people aren't feeling sick, they should be able to decide for themselves about wearing masks indoors, depending on their personal risk tolerance. The mayors perspective has all along been large groups of people, its probably in your best interest to mask, she said. For more information please contact Footprint Centers Guest Services team at 602-379-2060. reported The Athletics Sam Amick and Joe Vardon. Tablets that are 8 or smaller are allowed for sporting events, but prohibited during concerts/events. Devin Booker was not a winner, and then he was. Welcome to Phoenix Suns Account Manager. Only four NFL teams put vaccine mandates in place prior to this seasonthe Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills. If this service is needed, the guest of record must contact Footprint Center Guest Services to arrange for relocation into accessible seating for themselves and one companion. In addition, the Suns are offering Party Pods for groups of four to six fans. Smoking of all kinds including e-cigarettes are prohibited in any area of the Footprint Center. The Phoenix Suns put themselves in too deep of a hole after getting beat in the little areas early by the Denver Nuggets. All attended points of sale will have Plexiglass barriers between fans and staff. The Suns are selling even more seats for the game, nearing full capacity in the arena. What: The Denver Nuggets face the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference NBA Playoffs game. There's certainly reason to believe the Suns have what . All floor seat. 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. Some say yes, both unvaccinated and vaccinated people should be wearing masks when around a lot of people indoors. The Mavericks had grown concerned about the rumblings too, with one Dallas source indicating the discussion about a rumored Suns outbreak began as early as Game 5. Breach of terms or rules will terminate your license to attend the event without refund. 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." 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. Mask-wearing indoors has become a fresh topic of discussion among public health officialsgiven the delta variant. Event Schedule (60) Venue Details. It is, in essence, an honor system. But a team spokesperson said officials now "expect" and "encourage" face coverings. Lost children will be taken to the Guest Services Office located in the pavilion, in the Northwest corner of the building. And this is where it gets dicey.. In addition, Management reserves the right to restrict any article not specifically listed above. Deandre Ayton thrived against back-to-back league MVP Nikola Jokic in the second round two years ago. Nobody thought Chris Paul would have another chance to make the Finals, and then he did. Dr. Robby Sikka, a former vice president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves who consulted with the NBA on COVID-19 treatment and protocols, said the rules the league still has in place should remain. Hand-sanitizer stations will be available throughout the concourses on all levels of the arena. A concert at Crescent Ballroom in early 2020. The recent uptick in Covid-19 cases in the Valley and across Arizona led Phoenix's NBA franchise to make the decision to start the 2020-21 season without fans inside the team's downtown arena. The NBA does not disclose whether a player is vaccinated or not, or which vaccine he has received, but the league has reported that 97% of its players are vaccinated. The health and safety of fans, staff, players and officials remains the utmost priority for the organization as it moves from 1,500 fan capacity to 3,000. local news and culture, Benjamin Leatherman I dont think were looking to be a trendsetter there. Below are policies and rules to assist with your visit to Footprint Center. Guests who have lost an item during an event should contact the nearest Footprint Center staff member for assistance. The proposal to allow fans into the Phoenix Suns Arena, albeit with restrictions, was approved by the City of Phoenix on Feb. 2, and while the Suns are getting ready, frustrations are growing for . The Suns did not comment on the report to The Athletic before it published the story. The Athletics policy is not to name players who test positive for COVID-19 unless they are named by the team. Party Pods within suites represent 25 percent of normal capacity. All floor seats are at least 10 feet from the sidelines, and floor seat holders must remain masked at all times and will not be permitted to eat or drink while in the floor area. One day, well have a COVID-19 game, whether or not the league further relaxes its rules. from issuing exchanges or refunds after a ticket has been purchased, or for who uses vulgar or abusive language or who fails to comply with Phoenix Suns rules. 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. When it was over, they were told it was a fluke. Now, with the Suns finishing the rest of their season at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum if necessary, along with the 2020-21 season likely being pushed back, they have a nice cushion. 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. 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. David Zalubowski/AP Photo Fans walk through the team logo illuminating the floor of Ball Arena before the Denver Nuggets host the Phoenix Suns in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round . The closest thing Phoenix has to a box-office hero is Booker, who is comfortable in his role as a silent assassin. TheWorld Health Organization last weekurgedeven people who are fully vaccinated to wearmasks indoors and practice social distancing to avoid getting infected with the delta variant. Capacity for Phoenix Suns Arena is listed at 18,422. So, while all the world has is uncertainty at the moment, the Suns can at least find their own certainty in one of the biggest projects theyve undergone as a franchise going well during difficult times. 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. The Milwaukee Bucks announced that they were expanding attendance to 18% capacity, or roughly 3,280 fans. Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordans flu game, when he scored 38 points in a Bulls win in the NBA Finals over Utah playing with what at the time was believed to be the flu (which is highly contagious) but was actually food poisoning from bad pizza. Failure can take many acceptable forms, from bad matchups to the effects of altitude on a top-heavy team already taxing its best players. 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. . I work outside, do I need to wear a mask? 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. The game will begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday. He is all things, scoring in isolation, as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, spotting up or coming off screens. The Suns were thoroughly outmatched by the Nuggets in Game 1 on Saturday. Some people have chosen not to. Its certainly in the short term and so its something that were taking very, very seriously, Rowley said. That includesSuns, Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Rattlers games. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, who is known for following bizarre conspiracy theories, said he won't disclose his vaccine status, but Rolling Stone reported Irving has been liking posts on an Instagram account that claims Covid vaccines are part of a "plan of Satan" to connect Black people to a master computer. Persons exercising indoors must wear a face covering when it is difficult or impossible to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet. The NBA will have far more teams put vaccine mandates in place than the NFL did for its season. In the event a guest requires accessible seating for a particular game, accommodations may be made prior to that game based on availability. The league on Sunday said it had no plans to put its season on hold, as teams struggle to make available a league-mandated eight-man roster for games due to injuries and COVID-19 contact tracing.. That's not the kind of attention any team wants. Devin Booker's defensive rise could be coming at the right time to give the Phoenix Suns another defender to put on Denver's Jamal Murray. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Read More Stories from Our 'Your Health Matters' Partners. 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. 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 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. Vaccine acceptance is almost universal among players, with ESPN reporting 95% have been vaccinated. Irving would stand to lose even more if he's unvaccinatedover $17.5 million. The venue debuted as America West Arena and later changed to U.S. Airways Center and then Talking Stick Resort Arena.. The Phoenix Theatre Company will require its audiences to wear masks and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for some of its upcoming performances. Arizona Sports PHOENIX In a weird way, the Phoenix Suns were presented a unique opportunity given the timing of the COVID-19 outbreak and their renovations to Talking Stick Resort Arena. For the rest of the arena, he said it doesn't make sense to require masks, particularly if the mandatewon't be enforced. The Suns have hit the over in seven of their past 10 games. 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. That ready to go will be 60% of the renovations done this summer and the rest finished next summer, and the Suns obviously feared potential snags the renovations could hit that would jeopardize their timeline. The virus also cost ABC game announcer Mike Breen several games, and analyst Jeff Van Gundy was out of Game 1 of the finals. The Phoenix Suns are going to the NBA Finals, and the downtown arena will be packed. Health and Safety Protocols *Please note that each event may have it's own health requirements for entry. The Denver Nuggets are 3.5-point favorites heading into Game 1 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena on Saturday, starting at 8:30 PM ET on TNT. A casual observer's begrudging respect does not really matter in the end. [21] Fans can grab, scan and checkout through the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon. Apr 1, 2021. None of this accounts for the NBA's stricter guidelines for unvaccinated players, which prevent them from social interaction outside practice and game settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionstill says fully vaccinated people can resumeactivities indoors and outdoors without masks or physical distancing, unless local places or businesseshave stricter rules. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Despite that, they will go into Game 2 with loads of optimism. (AP Photo/Matt York). A league spokesman told The 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. You may opt-out by. The Footprint Center reserves the right to remove ANY banner or sign without exception. Weapons of any kind *no knives of any size & no mace/pepper spray of any size. 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 indoors. Have a tip? 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. 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. 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. Here in Arizona, venues began amending their COVID-19 policies within the last three weeks . If were able to move up certain components of the construction, well work with those guys and figure out how to best do that. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images). He said masks are encouraged but once the arena hit over 16,000 fans, "it became increasingly harder to enforce.". Parents looking for a lost child should go to that location as well. Will Humble,executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, said he doesn't believe the Suns should require masks at this point in the pandemic, especially if they're not going to enforce it. Now it's gut check time when the Suns try to even the series in Game 2 on Monday in Denver. 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. Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker discussed his vaccination status and more after missing time due to COVID-19. But only a sample of all cases are sequenced, and the process takes some time, so there likely are more cases. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The vaccination for the other four is undisclosed. 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. Reach the reporter at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-4282. I felt like I had a bad cold, sore throat, cough, congestion, Kerr said. Thats a really interesting question, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last week. The Suns' odds to win the title have finally surpassed those of the Los Angeles Lakers, even if they still trail the Brooklyn Nets, Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks in that regard. Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors was also unvaccinated as of last week, with the NBA denying his application for a religious exemption to the league's vaccine policy. Select Your Dates. Instead of that being something thats just in the back of the organizations mind, they have already been heavily discussing those changes and are fully open to them. All sales are final and refunds are only allowed in You may also direct any questions regarding accessibility to the Guest Services hotline at 602-379-2060. Detailed in Visitor Guide A-Z Banners/Signs section. If a refund is issued, it will 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. With their season on the line, the Suns were destroyed at home by the Dallas Mavericks 123-90 on May 15. Unvaccinated NBA Players Will Reportedly Lose Salary For Games They Miss Due To Local Mandates (Forbes), The NBAs Anti-Vaxxers Are Trying to Push Around the League And Its Working (Rolling Stone), Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. Rowley credited discussions the Suns have had around the league, where every team is focusing on how they can make the building safer once fans eventually return. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Even people who are fully vaccinated must wear face masks at all times unless eating or drinking in their seat or designated eating areas, according to the arena website. Dr. Johnston says we can take heart in looking around the country as super-spreader events seem to be a thing of the past. Signs should not be larger than 11 x 17. 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. 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. For the first time in more than a decade, the Phoenix Suns look like they are headed to the NBA playoffs, which creates a number of new opportunities on the business side of the . Management reserves the right to amend the above policy without notice depending on individual event restrictions. . 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. As if breakthrough cases were not something discussed in great detail on a daily basis in this country. If any seats remain, non-members outside of the presale list will have access to floor seats at 3 p.m. MT. Six people, including a . The policy will only impact players who play home games in the cities that don't allow exceptions for negative testingNew York and San Franciscowhich impacts the Nets, Knicks and Warriors. In NBA terms, it is the Bradley Beal defense. Were talking about a disease that doesnt just impact life and death, but this is a disease that potentially spreads rapidly throughout a population, Sikka said. Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans. Sign in to your account to access your Phoenix Suns tickets. The Denver Nuggets' bench has rounded into form this postseason and could be a tough matchup for the Phoenix Suns. will be allowed. The question of when fans are back, of course, remains in the air, let alone when NBA basketball comes back without them. The Suns have spent this off-time preparing and having contingency plans in place for different variations of how and when they return. 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. Amick and Vardon further report that the Mavericks were aware of the rumblings of an outbreak with the Suns and concerned for their own health as early as Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals that they won in Game 7, which was May 15. 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. A little over a week later, the franchise doubled the capacity from 1,500 to 3,000.. I think its very clear that nobody wanted to report stuff, said one source with knowledge of the Suns positive tests who was not authorized to speak publicly about them. The news might help explain, in part, how Phoenix went from beating Dallas by 30 points in Game 5 before losing by 27 and then 33 points in Games 6 and 7, respectively. Suns' offseason questions: How much should Phoenix rely on Chris Paul? 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. 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.