Talking Stick Resort Arena ( formerly US Airways Center and America West Arena ) is a sports and entertainment arena located in Phoenix , Arizona . It opened in 1992 , and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association , the Phoenix Mercury of the Women ' s National Basketball Association , the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League , Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL , and the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League . The arena , which is situated near Chase Field , is named after its sponsor , US Airways . After America West ' s merger with US Airways , it was announced that America West Arena would be renamed to US Airways Center on November 14 , 2005 with the name change taking place in January 2006 . Sports teams and events . Basketball , arena football , and ice hockey are all played at the Center , in addition to concerts , professional wrestling , ice shows , and other events . The Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL once called the US Airways Center home , starting with their move to Phoenix in 1996 , and up until 2003 , when they moved to Jobing . com Arena ( formerly Glendale Arena ) , which was more suited for NHL hockey . It was also the home of the indoor soccer team Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League . Its most common nickname is " The Purple Palace , " though during the Rattlers ' season it is known as " the Snake Pit . " History . Construction of this arena began in 1988 , as Suns owner Jerry Colangelo envisioned a need for a new playing facility to replace Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum . In 1992 , the new arena was officially inaugurated with a 111 - 105 Suns win over the Los Angeles Clippers . After the Suns lost the NBA championship series that year , a parade that attracted more than 300 , 000 Suns fans made its way through downtown and finished at the new arena . NHL years . When the Winnipeg Jets NHL franchise announced their intention to move to Phoenix as the Coyotes for the 1996 - 97 season , the arena was quickly reconfigured for hockey . Unlike most multipurpose arenas , America West Arena ' s sightlines were not designed with a hockey rink in mind . While its tight seating configuration suits basketball very well , it made it difficult to fit a standard NHL rink onto the floor . The lower level had to be sheared in half to fit the rink and create retractable seating . As it turned out , the result was completely inadequate for the Coyotes . Most notably , a section of seats in the upper level actually hung " over " the boards , obstructing the view from over 3 , 000 seats . In those areas , a good chunk of the view from beyond the top of the face - off circle was cut off . The problem was so serious that after the team ' s first season in Phoenix , the team had to curtain off some seats in the areas where the view was particularly obstructed , cutting listed capacity from over 18 , 000 seats to just over 16 , 000 . The Coyotes added a second video board in an area where the view was particularly obstructed , and also put up numerous proposals to improve sight lines in order to boost capacity back over the 17 , 000 mark . They also had to sell many obstructed - view tickets at a reduced price . In addition , an unfavorable lease caused further financial troubles from which the franchise has never recovered . The Coyotes moved into an arena of their own , Jobing . com Arena located in suburban Glendale for the 2003 – 04 NHL season .