Tucked behind an unmarked door inside the Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix sits a members-only dining club that most arena-goers will never know exists. Called The Ra Ra Room, the hidden supper club belongs to Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and carries an annual membership fee of $15,000 for two people.
As reported by AZ Family, the club sits behind that unmarked entrance inside the arena and has quickly become known as one of the most exclusive dining rooms in the Valley. Ishbia's holding company, Player 15 Group, poured $20 million into constructing and building out the space, according to KTAR News, which reports that Ishbia partnered with hospitality group Major Food Group to build the venue on the arena's event level.
The $15,000 membership fee buys perks that go well beyond a table for dinner. Per Modern Luxury, members get a personal concierge, valet parking on Jackson Street, access to a gourmet snack pantry, and priority pre-sale access to arena games and concerts. The club operates Thursday through Saturday evenings as well as during Suns home games, select Mercury games, and arena concerts, the outlet notes.
A Gatsby-Era Design With a Blitz Build Timeline
The Ra Ra Room's look is no accident. It was designed by architecture firm Gensler in collaboration with Major Food Group co-founders Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, according to PHOENIX Magazine, which describes a 1920s Art Deco Gatsby theme featuring custom Italian lighting and Indian carpeting. The publication reports the space was completed under an accelerated 25-week construction timeline inside the arena's basement.
The menu matches the ambition of the design. The dining club's culinary program features signature dishes pulled from Major Food Group's global restaurant portfolio, including Mario Carbone's Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Veal Parmesan, and Caesar Salad alla ZZ, alongside raw bar offerings like dressed king crab and half lobsters, according to Major Food Group's own description of the brand. Major Food Group operates other high-end dining concepts worldwide, including Carbone and Sadelle's.
Part of a Bigger Ishbia Empire
The Ra Ra Room did not emerge in isolation. Ishbia established Player 15 Group in February 2024 as a parent holding company meant to consolidate his sports, entertainment, and real estate investments, including the Suns, the Mercury, the Valley Suns G League affiliate, and arena operations, per Sportcal. He launched the investment group after acquiring the Suns and Mercury in February 2023, the outlet notes.
The arena itself has undergone its own rebrand. In October 2025, the Suns and Mercury announced a 10-year, $115 million naming-rights partnership with United Wholesale Mortgage, formally renaming the venue from Footprint Center to Mortgage Matchup Center, according to HousingWire. Ishbia serves as CEO and chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage in addition to owning both franchises, the report states. Originally opened in June 1992 as America West Arena at a cost of $89 million, the city-owned venue can now seat up to 17,716 for concerts and 17,071 for basketball following renovations in 2003 and 2020, according to Wikipedia, and it has carried six different names over its history.
Legal Fight Shadows the Luxury Push
Not everyone close to the Suns organization is celebrating the buildout. In November 2025, minority owners Andy Kohlberg and Scott Seldin filed court documents in Delaware alleging that Ishbia mismanaged team finances, citing self-dealing concerns tied to Player 15 Group and the arena naming rights deal, according to Hoops Rumors. The minority owners allege Ishbia used team assets to benefit his personal holdings and his mortgage company, the outlet reports. Hoodline previously covered the dispute in Ishbia's UWM court fight.
Industry observers see The Ra Ra Room as part of a broader shift in how sports franchises think about their buildings. Trade publications have described the club as the first members-only private dining venue integrated inside a major U.S. sports and entertainment arena, according to Resident Magazine, which notes that professional sports venues are increasingly converting underutilized arena space into premium, year-round hospitality concepts rather than leaving it dormant on non-event days.
The strategy also shows up in how the franchise talks to fans and broadcasters. In May, the Suns, Mercury, and Gray Media extended their media rights partnership through 2030, emphasizing free over-the-air television access while highlighting high-end venue amenities including The Ra Ra Room, the M Club by BMW, and the FanDuel Lounge, per the announcement. The framing suggests the franchise is trying to balance mass-market television reach with an increasingly exclusive live-event experience for its wealthiest patrons.
