Coverage spread: 3 sources — 3 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- A new multimillion-dollar LED video board will be installed outside Mortgage Matchup Center this fall.
- The screen measures 226 feet wide by 41 feet tall, totaling 9,266 square feet.
- Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia announced the project and said it’s meant to create a memorable fan experience starting outside the arena.
- The board will replace an existing, much smaller exterior video screen.
Where they differ
- Phoenix New Times gives the most technical detail, citing 17 million pixels, a 60-frames-per-second refresh rate, and the transparent mesh construction that lets in natural light.
- Only Phoenix New Times names the contractor, Utah-based OneRevel, and ties installation timing to the Suns’ October 24 home opener and the 2027 NBA All-Star Game.
- ABC15 Arizona keeps its report short and defers to a Business Journal story for more detail, while 12 News offers just a single-sentence summary.
- None of the outlets disclose the actual dollar cost of the project despite all describing it as ‘multimillion-dollar.’
Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia has announced a multimillion-dollar LED video board will be installed on the exterior plaza of Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix this fall, replacing a smaller screen that has been there for more than a decade. At 226 feet wide and 41 feet tall, covering 9,266 square feet, it’s billed as the largest exterior video board at any NBA or WNBA arena.
How big is the new screen, exactly?
The board will measure 9,266 square feet — larger than the exterior screen at any other NBA or WNBA venue, and even bigger than the south end-zone screen at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, according to Phoenix New Times. It will be built from transparent LED mesh mounted behind the glass paneling at the arena’s entrance, packing more than 17 million pixels and running at a 60-frames-per-second refresh rate. The mesh design is meant to let natural light into the entrance pavilion and preserve views of surrounding downtown buildings even when the screen isn’t showing content.
What will it be used for?
Ishbia says the goal is to make the plaza itself a gathering spot, giving fans “a memorable experience” before they even walk into the arena. The board will show live Suns and Mercury games, concerts, and other arena events, plus advertising. Phoenix New Times notes no specific outdoor plaza events have been announced yet, but the timing lines up with the Suns’ home opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 24 and, further out, the 2027 NBA All-Star Game, which Mortgage Matchup Center is set to host in February 2027.
Who is building it and when does it go in?
The board is being designed and engineered by OneRevel, a Utah-based company, with installation scheduled for October, ahead of the Suns’ season opener. The project replaces the arena’s existing exterior video screen, which has been in place for more than ten years but is described by Phoenix New Times as far smaller than the new display.
How are outlets covering this differently?
ABC15 Arizona’s coverage is brief, framing the story mainly around Ishbia’s announcement and quote, and points readers to a fuller Business Journal report for details. Phoenix New Times provides the most depth, including the technical specs, the OneRevel contractor, the installation timeline tied to the home opener, and the connection to the 2027 All-Star Game. 12 News offers only a one-line summary noting the display will cover the plaza entrance, without additional detail. None of the outlets report a specific project cost, despite describing it as “multimillion-dollar.”
Why does this matter locally?
The upgrade is part of a broader push by Ishbia to modernize Mortgage Matchup Center’s fan experience both inside and outside the building, ahead of Phoenix hosting one of the NBA’s marquee events, the All-Star Game, in 2027. A video board of this scale also signals continued investment in downtown Phoenix’s sports and entertainment district, potentially drawing more foot traffic and outdoor programming to the plaza beyond game nights.
Sources
Featured photo: Visitor7 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)