HUNGRY basketball fans are in for a festive treat after the Phoenix Suns announced a dramatic menu makeover.
The NBA franchise has slashed prices on a number of popular concourse items in the run-up to Christmas.
The Phoenix Suns have announced dramatic discounts on food and drink[/caption]
Owner Mat Ishbia bought the Suns back in 2022[/caption]
The new menu caps several popular items at just $2[/caption]
Suns owner Mat Ishbia unveiled the fan-friendly menu on Thursday ahead of the game with the Indiana Pacers.
“When I walk the concourse at games there aren’t food options for families who don’t want to spend a lot of money,” Ishbia explained.
“That needs to change.”
The Suns’ solution has been to create what they call the NBA’s “most affordable, fan-friendly menu.”
A hot dog at the Footprint Center will now set back fans just $2, down from a previous price of $9.
The same price has been applied to a bag of chips and popcorn, reducing the cost by over 60 per cent.
While 16oz bottles of water and soda have also been capped at the $2 discount price.
For comparison, a hotdog at the New York Knicks will set you back $9, with a beer priced at $16, per Delish.
“Every professional team can do this,” declared one impressed fan.
“They know they are price-gouging their fans. Tickets, Parking, Jerseys etc… those are already expensive enough. Price of food at games should NOT be like they are.”
“Sporting events should have a family-friendly atmosphere. Charging insane amounts of money for food takes away from the experience,” said another.
“I support this!! Other owners have 24hrs to respond,” challenged a third.
“I am moving to Phoenix!” joked a fourth.
“$8.50 for a bottle of water is criminal,” declared a fifth.
New rights deal
The NBA signed an 11-year deal with three networks for the league’s rights from the 2025-26 season.
And there will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.
The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular-season games across ESPN and ABC.
They will also show around 18 playoff games from the first and second round, a Conference Finals series for 10 of the 11 years, and remain the home of the NBA Finals.
NBC will return as an NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.
The network will show up to 100 games per season across it’s channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be the home of NBA All-Star and show approximately 28 playoff games from the first and second round.
NBC will show one Conference Finals Series for six of the 11 years, rotating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular-season games including one on Black Friday.
The streaming service is also the home of the latter stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Tournament.
Prime will also broadcast around one third of the playoff games in the first and second round.
Phoenix has committed to the new $2 menu for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
“A family of 4 used to spend $98 on hot dogs/water/popcorn,” Ishbia added.
“Now they can enjoy that same meal for $24.
“Our fans and community are the foundation of what we do and we will continue to invest in making this the best organization in all of basketball, on and off the court.”
Ishbia bought the Suns from Robert Sarver for $4 billion in December 2022.
The fan-focused owner has since promised to revolutionize the way supporters interact with the franchise.
Earlier this year, he helped make select Suns games available to watch on free, over-the-air television.
