The City of Phoenix is dusting off its welcome mat for the NBA elite once again, as it's been tapped to host the 2027 All-Star game. It's a significant nod to the revamped energy that new Suns owner Mat Ishbia has injected into the franchise since his acquisition, as FOX 10 Phoenix reports. Ishbia, who took the reins early last year after buying the Suns and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury in December 2022, has wasted no time putting Phoenix back on the map as a basketball center stage.
Under the new management of Ishbia, the Suns have not just landed an All-Star event but also a superstar in Kevin Durant, stoking the flames of fan fervor. "We think it's one of the best basketball cities in the whole country," Ishbia said, praising Phoenix's passion for the hardwood. His enthusiasm, it appears, is contagious, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver declaring, "Our NBA All-Star festivities in 2027 will showcase Phoenix’s love of everything basketball." These ringing endorsements look to recast Phoenix as a basketball mecca, in what 12 News describes as Ishbia's pledge to deliver a singular All-Star experience.
The glare of the All-Star game isn't new to Phoenix. Since first hosting in 1975, the event will mark its fourth incarnation there. Fans will recall past games at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and later at America West Arena. However, according to Suns and Mercury CEO Josh Bartelstein, this time, in 2027, is all about outdoing the past. "It's incredibly competitive — every city wants it," Bartelstein told FOX 10 Phoenix, underscoring the prestige that comes with hosting such a spectacle.
For those keeping score, before Phoenix takes on the 2027 extravaganza, the All-Star game will play through San Francisco in 2025, and Inglewood, California in 2026. But that's future talk, right now, Phoenix is poised to enjoy a preview of All-Star fervor as it hosts the WNBA All-Star game this summer.
