Footprint Center visitor guide: everything you need to know

Located in downtown Phoenix, The Footprint Center (formerly known as the Talking Stick Resort Arena) is the premier indoor sports and entertainment venue in Arizona. It primarily functions as the home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and has seen some of the greatest basketball players ever compete on its court. 

The arena’s 18,000 seating capacity and state-of-the-art facilities are ideal for hosting large concerts, comedy shows, professional wrestling, monster truck rallies, and other events. It’s a major fixture in Phoenix’s entertainment landscape, and its downtown location makes it accessible from the city’s nightlife and dining scenes. 

Because of its central location, catching a show or game at the Footprint Center is a great thing to do if you’re in town for work or are a diehard sports fan that’s visiting. If you find yourself with your luggage, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Footprint Center bag policy before heading to the gate. If your bags are too big (which is likely), you can look into a Footprint Center luggage storage service like Bounce, which has reliable and convenient locations all over Phoenix.

Footprint Center bag policy 

The Footprint Center bag policy strictly prohibits all backpacks, luggage, laptop bags, and briefcases. Essentially, anything smaller than 14” x 14” x 6” is allowed in but will need to go through an X-Ray scan upon entry. Medical and family exceptions can be arranged through Guest Services, but this can result in a bag search. 

Being the area’s most reliable luggage storage service, Bounce has locations all over Phoenix. The closest storage spots near Footprint Center are the Midtown location and the one on East McDowell Road. It’s an easy stop on your way to the game, and if you have anything larger than a purse or wallet, you won’t have much of a choice but to store your gear. 

Footprint Center food policy 

All outside food and beverages are prohibited according to the Footprint Center food policy. Any cooler or food packaging is also prohibited. One sealed plastic water bottle or a completely empty water bottle is permitted per fan. Baby formula and medical exceptions can be made with guest services. 

You’ll find all your classic stadium favorites at the Footprint Center, but their options for vegans and other patrons with dietary restrictions are highly limited. What’s not limited is the dining options around the arena. Downtown Phoenix has a solid restaurant scene that’s absolutely worth exploring. The best spots around the Footprint Center are Mancuso’s Italian, Superstition Brewpub, El Charro for Mexican food, and the Floor 13 Rooftop Bar.

Footprint Center transportation 

The Footprint Center is located on Jefferson Street, right in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The arena’s location makes it super easy to get to, especially if you’re staying near downtown and Midtown. Here are the best ways to get to the Footprint Center:

Light Rail

Phoenix's Valley Metro Light Rail is the best option for getting to the arena if you want to avoid traffic and parking hassles. The closest station is the 3rd Street/Washington Station. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the station to the Footprint Center’s gates.

Driving

If you’re driving from the suburbs or from out of town, the Footprint Center is within a few miles of both I-10 and I-17, but the traffic will be significant on gameday. Unfortunately, parking can also be difficult, so you’ll want to arrange a spot ahead of time via the official Suns website or a service like SpotHero. It cannot be overstated how much better a covered spot is than an open-air parking lot where your car will be baking in the sun for hours. 

Taxi and rideshare

Uber and Lyft services are both solid options, as they can drop you off right outside the arena. Taxis are much less common in Phoenix than they used to be, but your hotel can call you one, and there will usually be taxis outside the arena after the event. 

Bus

The Phoenix public bus system has a route on Jefferson Street, which might be convenient for certain arena-goers, but this is a less convenient transit method. 

Walking

If you’re staying in a nearby hotel downtown, it’s a pleasant walk to the Footprint Center and obviously free.

Footprint Center camera policy 

The Footprint Center camera policy is not very specific with dimensions, but it does state that no flash photography or video recording is allowed. It’s best to assume that all professional cameras and equipment are prohibited without a media credential.

Footprint Center rules 

Banners, signs, and flags 

Banners and signs are allowed in the Footprint Center so long as they are smaller than 11” x 17” and made of a soft, foldable material. They cannot be commercial or political in nature and must pertain to the event. Anything deemed inappropriate will be confiscated at the gate or throughout the arena. 

Prohibited items 

Computers, laptops, and tablets larger than 8” are all prohibited for games and events. 

Entry

Paperless ticketing is the new policy for all Footprint Center games and events, so you’ll need to download the Ticketmaster or Suns App in order to have your ticket scanned for entry. 

Payment 

The Footprint Center is an entirely cashless venue, so you'll want to have a credit or debit card in hand when you head into the arena. Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also becoming more common, and the Official Suns App allows you to make food and beverage purchases (for contactless pickup) on your phone. 

For fans without a debit or credit card, the Footprint Center is equipped with Reverse ATMs so you can convert cash into a prepaid Mastercard that can be used to buy concessions and merchandise. These are located near the ticket office as well as one in Section 218. 

Conclusion 

The Phoenix Suns are one of the most iconic NBA Franchises with a rich history and vibrant fanbase, which makes the Footprint Center one of the league’s best buildings to catch a game. If you’re a music fan who wants to catch a show in a premier venue, Phoenix is a great place to plan a trip for that Beyonce or Metallica concert. Whatever brings you to the Footprint Center, you’ll love the atmosphere and energy of the crowd. Just don’t let your luggage get in the way. Let Bounce give you peace of mind so you can enjoy the show! With dozens of locations across the city, Bounce can help you with your layover in Phoenix or an epic trip to see a Suns game.