From: heiser@fretz.enet.dec.com (Michael A. Heiser)
Subject: Re: Phoenix' address
Reply-To: heiser@fretz.enet.dec.com (Michael A. Heiser)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Phoenix, AZ
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:01:26 GMT


{from my review of the Purple Palace}

    When Jerry Colangelo decided to build this arena, he said he visited
    many of the land's best facilities.  He incorporated his favorite ideas 
    from each facility into this one.  IMHO, they did a first-class job on
    this arena!

    The outside of the building is decorated in America West's colors:
    light blue, white, and maroon (although not too much maroon is
    visible).  It's located in Phoenix Suns Plaza at 201 E. Jefferson St.
     (zip is 85021, I believe)
    which is 2nd St. and Jefferson for those familiar with the area.
    Easy to get to from I-10 that runs thru the heart of Phoenix (exit
    144).  The arena holds 20,000 fans.
    
    Tickets will be scarce due to so many season ticket sales.  If you get
    lucky, this information will help you.  Prices for seats range from 
    $42-$9.  We sat in $27 seats last night and had a great view.  The will
    call and ticket offices are just outside the main entrance (northwest
    corner of the arena).  There are also ATM's available inside and
    outside (by ticket office) of the arena.
    
    Plenty of parking around with varying prices.  I parked at Patriot
    Square's underground parking garage for $3.  It's located at 1st St.
    and Jefferson so we walked a block.  All road crossings are manned by
    traffic cops during game time so pedistrian safety isn't an issue.
    As Murphy would have it, there was a parking lot across the street from
    the arena that was only charging $1.  The arena itself has a parking
    garage built into its west side.  It currently wasn't open (still
    putting on finishing touches) but should be available by opening day.
    I'm not sure what the price will be.

    There's a large variety of food to choose from inside the arena.  Just
    inside the main entrance (northwest corner), there's a Whataburger,
    Subway, Pizza Hut, Miss Karen's Yogurt, and a Taco Bell-clone.  My son
    and I did Pizza Hut and the personal pan size pizzas.  It cost $7 for
    our 2 pizzas and cokes, which is fairly typical.  ASU has one on campus
    and the prices are the same there.  There is also a Suns Merchandise 
    shop at the entrance (there are also some of these in the cities larger 
    malls).  Those that enjoy a little higher level of dining can choose 
    between the Cotton Club and one other restaurant who's name escapes me 
    right now.  The north end of the loge is glassed in where the restaurant 
    is so diners have a view of the game.  In addition, they have the usual 
    hotdog & popcorn stands scattered all over.  I'm not a beer drinker, but 
    I saw plenty of beer stands around and they had signs advertising some of 
    the imported stuff.

    Inside the arena, there isn't a bad seat in the house.  All seats are
    movie-theater style and are built on a sharp incline.  No need to worry
    about people's heads getting in the way.  My 8 year old could see fine.
    All seats are purple (a majestic, royal color).  The lower level has
    padded seats.  In between the upper and lower levels, are 2 levels of
    suites (loge style) that run around the center of the arena.  Near the
    ceiling on each side are HUGE diamond vision screens for replays, live
    action, and stats.  For the folks sitting behind the screens, there are
    a series of 20" TV's that also display what's on the big screens.  TV's
    are all over the inside near the concession stands so you don't miss a
    thing while getting refreshments.  There are even speakers in the
    restrooms!  
    
    The scoreboard has 4 sides and is rather detailed.  Underneath each
    team's score, there's a breakdown of fouls and points scored for each
    player currently on the floor (by player's number).  The Audience
    prompter is also on the scoreboard.  The Suns also have a "Hustle"
    scoreboard that tracks Rebounds, Steals, and Blocks, etc. like the
    Blazers have.  There are many electronic signs and sponsor logos around
    the loge/suite sections in the middle and this is where the hustle
    board is.
    
    We still have the Gorilla.  All other mascots are wannabes.  I'm proud
    to say there are no cheerleaders ;-)
    
    The banners for the '76 and '81 conference championships, division
    titles, and retired players weren't hung so I don't know where they are 
    going to place them.
    
    There wasn't a museum from what I could see, but they did have glassed
    in posters of past players all around the walls inside the concession
    areas.  The photographs were labeled by the players name and the years
    they wore the Suns uniform.

--

    Mike
    
    "in this day & age...music performed by humans...hum?!" 
       - wilde silas tomkyn