Watching the Phoenix Suns live has been on my sons’ bucket list for awhile, and we finally had the chance to make it happen. We enjoy the entire experience of live sports – watching the warmups, being mesmerized by the athletes, soaking up the entertainment during time-outs, and enjoying the atmosphere with all of the other fans.
I’ve been to NBA games on my own, and we’ve been to WNBA games as a family, but this was our first NBA game as a family.
Did we love it? Yes!
Was there anything unexpected? Any regrets? Yes.
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to go to a game, or you’ve already got your tickets and want to know what the experience is like, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at what it’s like to see a Phoenix Suns game with kids. I’ll go over:
- Buying Phoenix Suns tickets (and where to sit)
- How to get to the game
- What to bring (and not bring) to the game
- When to arrive
- Where to go for autographs
- The food situation inside the Suns’ arena
- What to do pre-game
- What the entertainment is like during breaks (time-outs and half-time)
- Things we’d do differently next time
Buying Tickets to See the Suns with Your Kids
Ticketmaster is the official ticket seller for the NBA, and I prefer to buy from them vs. 3rd party sites (like Stubhub, VividSeats, SeetGeek, etc). The reason is because you get the tickets immediately and it’s official.
However, this time I used Stubhub because I found cheaper seats than what Ticketmaster had. NBA tickets are expensive and I was trying to save as much $ as I could.
Where to Sit With Kids at a Phoenix Suns Game
I’ve sat in the Mortgage Matchup Center (the current name of the Suns’ arena) lower bowl (Section 114) for a Phoenix Mercury game, and the seats were fantastic but I couldn’t justify the cost for the Suns game.
We sat in Section 219, Row 10. Even up high, these seats were pricey, but we don’t have many opportunities to see NBA games.
Section 219 was fine, but I noticed my boys spent a lot of the game watching the players on the big screen instead of them on the court.
Also, think about sitting on the end of a row vs. sitting towards the middle. If you think your kids will want to get up a lot, use the bathroom, walk around, etc – get seats on the end. If you get annoyed standing up for others to walk by, try to get seats mid-row.
Helpful Tip: When looking at seats, be sure to take a peek at the seats on the site, A View From My Seat. Some seats have bars or railings in the way, and they’ll be even more in the way for kids.
Helpful Tip: If your kids are more interested in the whole experience (vs. just watching the game), look at the corner seats. You can’t see the game as well, but you can still feel the excitement, and at a much lower price.
Transport to the Suns Game
I’ve used public transport in downtown Phoenix, but we were coming from a ways away, so we drove and parked in a lot just a couple of minutes walk from the arena.
I used the ParkWhiz app to book the Chase Center Garage for $20 (vs. $50 day of).
We arrived at 5:00pm (for a 7:00pm tip off) and left during the 4th quarter. We left early because I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic downtown (we didn’t).
I highly recommend using public transport if possible. You can use your ticket to ride for free on Phoenix light rail before and after the game.
We’ve also stayed at a hotel across the street (Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix) and it was great with kids because there’s a rooftop pool and you can just walk across the street to get to/from the game.
If you’re coming from out of town and need a car, you may want to check out my guide to Renting a Car at the Phoenix Airport.
What to Bring to the Game (and What to Leave at Home)
You can get the most up-to-date info about what you can and can’t bring into the Mortgage Matchup Center on the official site.
Like most arenas, you can’t bring in your own food and drink, but at the time of writing, you can bring in one sealed plastic water bottle per person. Then, you can refill at the water fountains inside.
You can bring your stroller but once inside, you need to check it at guest services (unless you’re watching the game from a suite).
Regarding bags, the official site states: “Small clutches, crossbody bags, and clear bags are permitted. Purses, medical bags and diaper bags are allowed as long as they meet the NBA bag-size requirements of 14” x 14” x 6” but will be subject to additional screening.”
I brought a plastic gallon size ziplock bag with that held:
- my phone
- chapstick
- tissues
- my driver’s license
- credit card
Important: Mortgage Matchup Center is cashless. I paid with Apple Pay on my phone. You can use contactless or use a physical card.
When To Arrive at the Arena
The doors typically open up 90 minutes before the game.
If you want to watch warmups, have time to wander around the arena, get food, try to get an autograph, etc…. arrive when the doors open!
Our timing for a 7:00pm game:
- 5:05pm – arrive and park at the Chase Center garage; walk to arena
- 5:15pm – enter Mortgage Matchup Center at the South Entry (yes, it was more than 90 minutes before tip-off)
- 5:25pm – walk down to the court at section 108/109 to wait for Lakers autographs
- 6:25pm – explore the arena, check out team shop
- 6:40pm – in our seats, ready for tip off!
Where to Go For Autographs
We just attended one game, but my boys were able to get autographs from players for both teams (LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns) near the court in sections 108/109.
Learn More: Check out Getting an Autograph at a Phoenix Suns Game – Quick Guide for Kids.
The Food Situation for Suns Games
The arena is in downtown Phoenix and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance. There’s even a grocery store (Fry’s) across the street – perfect for a quick snack or cold drink before you go into the arena (remember, no outside food or drinks).
Inside Mortgage Matchup Center you’ll find plenty of dining options, including:
- burger and fries
- pizza
- pretzels
- tacos
- chicken sandwiches
- snacks (candy, chips, etc)
Good To Know: The Suns have a $2 value menu! Items include tacos, ice cream, popcorn, hot dogs, soda, water, and chips.
What to Do at the Suns Arena Before Tip Off
There’s plenty to do pregame at the arena. Choose what’s most important to you and your kids. Here are some ideas:
- Watch the players warm up from your seats.
- Let your kids watch the players warmup from close to the court. At the game we went to, the arena staff let kids go down to the bottom of sections 108/109.
- Try to get an autograph from a player or two. As above, kids can get close to the action in sections 108/109. My husband and I were able to wait near them.
- Check out the team store. There are kids jerseys, t-shirts, and sweatshirts for sale, along with other items like balls, hats, pins, and cards.
- Grab a snack or meal at one of the concessions stands.
We arrived over 90 minutes before tip-off and never felt bored.
Entertainment During the Game
Besides hoops, there’s more entertainment while you’re at the arena.
Along with the typical games on the big screen, we also enjoyed the parachute drops, the deejay, the dunk acrobatics, the dancers, and the memory game.
What I’d Do Differently for a Future Suns Game with My Kids
If we have a chance to go back, I’ll probably spend a little more (if possible) to sit mid-100 level in the arena.
If we have flexibility with dates, I’d also think about buying tickets right at game time. Ticketmaster was closed when I looked at 6:45pm (game tip off at 7:00), but Stubhub was still selling seats. Close to tip off, many sellers lower prices to try to make something off their investment.
Even though the food we had at the arena was delicious (we ordered from the Tostitos Cantina), I regret not eating before the game. One, it was a pricey dinner, and two, my husband had to miss the beginning of the game because he was waiting in line.
