Mat Ishbia unveils Player 15 Group campus as part of $100M project for Suns, Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury will have their own practice facility as part of the 123,000-square foot campus that's costing more than $100 million. Phoenix Suns team owner, Mat Ishbia, unveiled the Player 15 Group campus on Lincoln in Phoenix's downtown Warehouse District, part of a $100M project for the team. The campus, which also owns the Phoenix Mercury, features indoor and outdoor basketball courts, pickleball court, golf simulator room, outdoor putting green and fitness center, and meeting rooms and lounge areas. The Mercury's practice facility is also set for completion this summer before WNBA All-Star weekend in July. Ishbia and CEO Josh Bartelstein both acknowledged the success of the project. The project has been praised by Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego and team members as a record-breaking achievement.
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Phoenix Suns team owner Mat Ishbia jokingly took a jab at CEO Josh Bartelstein while at the new Player 15 Group campus on Lincoln in Phoenix’s downtown Warehouse District that had its grand opening Thursday morning.
"This got done so fast,” Ishbia said. “I know people announce these things and then three years later, it's like, when is that facility coming? This is six months and I told (Bartelstein) it’s three days late. It’s supposed to be April 1."
Ishbia and Bartelstein both laughed on what was another successful project for the billionaire mortgage lender, who continues to prove he’s all about right now, not later.
“Speed matters,” said Ishbia, who also owns the Phoenix Mercury. “When you have a great idea, I don’t want to wait for it happen. I want it to go now.”
The Suns (45-31) continue a four-game homestand Friday against Minnesota (53-23) at Footprint Center as this is part of a huge basketball week in Phoenix, with the NCAA Final Four and national title game being played at State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA tournament brackets, scores, schedules, teams and more.
"I love it," Suns All-Star Devin Booker said after Wednesday's win over Cleveland. "Ever since I have been here, the city has been on the rise."
And there's still more to come for Player 15 Group.
The $100-million project has one more very important component to add – the Phoenix Mercury’s practice facility. The Mercury have been sharing space with the Suns at their practice facility near Camelback Road and 44th Street, but they will now have their very own that’s set for completion this summer before WNBA All-Star weekend in July.
The 76,000-square foot facility will increase to 123,000-square feet with the Mercury practice facility.
“I think you’ve set several records in the city of Phoenix with this project,” said Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego before Ishbia and team members. “Mat likes to get things done.”
The campus has open space with the idea of “team members,” as Ishbia likes to call employees, being able to interact face-to-face after a short walk. With plenty of windows inviting sunlight that’s essentially all year long in Phoenix, there’s also indoor and outdoor basketball courts, pickleball court, golf simulator room, outdoor putting green and fitness center.
In addition, there are arcade games, cafeterias, grab-and-go pantries with food and beverages, and meeting rooms and lounge areas.
“We talked about having the best resources for (Kevin) Durant, Booker and (Bradley) Beal on the Suns, the best resources for (Diana) Taurasi and (Brittney) Griner and the Mercury,” Bartelstein said before leading the media tour of the campus.
“And that’s where most teams stop. They build these amazing practice facilities for players, and Mat’s whole view was, ‘What about our team members here?’ We have 350 people work every single day to sell the tickets, the marketing and the operations. We’re the lifeblood of these amazing players and these amazing teams. We want to build a home for them as well.”
As Bartelstein was leading the tour, the team members gathered on the indoor court patiently, but eagerly awaiting the opportunity finally see the new facility.
They soon were able to check it out, and an immediate buzz was felt when they saw each aspect of the campus they can now call home after previously working inside Footprint Center.
“The people that work here contribute to the success of the players on the court, and vice versa,” Ishbia said. “We’re all one team.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Konular: NBA