Fans who are blind or have low vision can now feel a Phoenix Suns game unfold in real time, tracking the ball as it crosses the court through vibrations under their fingertips. The technology, a raised tactile display called OneCourt, is offered free of charge at Mortgage Matchup Center and is available at every Suns home game.
The device works by converting live basketball data into physical vibrations that follow the ball's movement and flag key plays as they happen, according to OneCourt. As the company puts it, the goal is “transforming gameplay into trackable vibrations, so fans with visual disabilities can watch the game with their fingertips.” OneCourt has partnered with Ticketmaster and the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation to bring the haptic displays to fans at every Suns home game, per the company's Phoenix-specific page.
This isn't the Suns' first run with the technology. As Arizona's Family reports, the team is bringing games to life for blind and low-vision fans through the tactile broadcast, giving them a way to experience the action by hand rather than by sight. The Suns and Ticketmaster first partnered with OneCourt in 2025 to bring the tech to games, according to KJZZ, with the raised court display pulling from real-time game data so that vibrations follow the ball as it moves across the court, while optional audio adds further description.
How Many Devices, and How to Get One
The device count tied to the Suns' program has shifted depending on the source and timeframe. A March 2025 report from Cronkite News said 10 haptic devices would be available at Suns games at no additional cost. OneCourt's current page for the Phoenix Suns, however, states that starting in October, five OneCourt devices are available at Mortgage Matchup Center at no additional cost to fans — the evidence does not clarify whether that figure replaces the earlier one or reflects a different season or venue count.
Fans can reserve a device ahead of time through Guest Services or simply pick one up on game day on a first-come, first-served basis, per OneCourt's Phoenix Suns page. Checking one out requires leaving a form of identification or a credit card with Guest Services. Optional audio provides an automated voice announcing plays.
Connected to the NBA's Real-Time Data
OneCourt's devices tap directly into the league's tracking infrastructure. The company connects to the NBA's real-time game data, according to CNBC. That capability traces back to a leaguewide upgrade: beginning with the 2023-24 season, all NBA arenas were equipped with optical tracking technology that captures player and ball movement in real time, per The Athletic.
OneCourt also says it worked directly with blind and low-vision people throughout development, testing and rollout, according to the same KJZZ report. CNBC notes that rollouts of these devices are still in the early stages, but they're gaining steam across professional sports — and some accessibility experts caution that live-game devices for blind fans risk becoming another highly publicized technology that disappoints in practice and eventually fades into obscurity.
A Growing List of Teams Signing On
Phoenix isn't alone in adopting the tactile display. The Portland Trail Blazers became the first NBA team to offer the OneCourt service to fans in January, following three pilot trials the prior spring, with the Sacramento Kings and the Suns following, The Athletic reports. In Denver, blind and low-vision Nuggets fans have used OneCourt at Ball Arena to track every pass, shot and fast break through their fingertips, according to CBS Colorado, with five free devices distributed through Guest Services there as well on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Atlanta Hawks run a similar program, offering five OneCourt devices at every home game at State Farm Arena, per NBA.com. The technology has also crossed sports: the Arizona Diamondbacks became the first MLB team to offer a OneCourt tactile broadcast for blind and visually impaired fans, as reported by KOLD. OneCourt's display can reportedly be adapted to different sports simply by changing the interface layered on top of the core system.
The reach is also extending beyond arenas. The American Council of the Blind partnered with OneCourt this year to bring tactile broadcasts to blind and low-vision fans at home, using official NFL, NBA and MLB live data, according to the American Council of the Blind. For now, though, the most direct way for Valley fans to try the technology remains walking up to Guest Services at Mortgage Matchup Center on game night.
