US Airways Center US Airways Center ( formerly America West Arena ) is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown 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 , and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League . The arena , which is situated near Chase Field , is named after its sponsor , US Airways , which took over the name after absorbing previous sponsor America West . The arena finished renovations in 2003 , which added an air - conditioned glassed pavilion to keep people cool while waiting in line for tickets or before events . These renovations were part of the Phoenix Suns plan to keep the arena viable when Jobing . com Arena would open and take event dates from America West Arena . The idea to remake the arena came to Jerry Colangelo when he visited Staples Center , and envisioned a similar entertainment district in Phoenix . 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 from Winnipeg 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 CISL . Its most common nickname is " The Purple Palace , " though during the Rattlers ' season it is known as " the Snake Pit . " Capacity for basketball was originally 19 , 023 , but was downsized in after the 2002 - 2003 season to 18 , 422 . Three of the games of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Suns and the Chicago Bulls , including game six where John Paxson hit a last second 3 point shot to clinch the Bulls ' Championship , were played there , as was one of the three 1998 WNBA Finals games and two ArenaBowl games , and some games of the 2007 and 2009 WNBA Finals . In 1997 , the Rattlers won ArenaBowl XI at America West Arena . The 1995 NBA All - Star Game was played in the arena as well as the 2000 WNBA All - Star Game , and the arena hosted the 2009 NBA All - Star Game . In boxing , Oscar de la Hoya had a few of his early bouts at the arena , and Michael Carbajal also fought there , including winning the WBO world Junior Flyweight title from Josue Camacho in 1994 , and Julio Cesar Chavez ended his career with a fight at the arena . In bull riding , the PBR hosted a Built Ford Tough Series ( at the time , called the Bud Light Cup ) event at the arena each year between 1999 and 2002 ; in 2004 the event was moved to the Glendale Arena ( later Jobing . com Arena ) . On December 10 , 1993 , legendary singer Frank Sinatra did one of his last concerts at America West Arena . Lady Gaga performed The Monster Ball here on July 31 , 2010 and March 26 , 2011 . She is scheduled to perform the Born This Way Ball here on January 23 , 2013 . American singer / songwriter , Madonna performed at the arena on October 16 , 2012 on her MDNA Tour . P ! nk ' s Truth About Love Tour is set to kick off at the arena on February 13 , 2013 . History . Construction of this arena began in 1990 , 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 before 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 around 18 , 000 seats to 16 , 210 . 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 that hobbled the team for much of the time the Coyotes played at US Airways Center . The Coyotes moved into an arena of their own , Jobing . com Arena located in suburban Glendale for the 2003 – 04 NHL season . However , the 2004 – 2005 lockout and continued poor attendance and some of the lowest ticket prices in the NHL resulted in continuing financial difficulties after moving to Glendale . Ultimately the Coyotes were forced into bankruptcy in 2009 . The Coyotes were purchased by the NHL , who was unable to find an ownership group to keep the Coyotes in Glendale . Discussions continue as of mid - 2011 on keeping the Coyotes in the Phoenix metro area .