Mortgage Matchup Center
Construction began on the 1st of August 1990, as former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo envisioned a need for a new arena to be built in Phoenix. The project replaced the aging Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum and cost $89 million to complete. America West Arena officially opened its doors on the 6th of June 1992. The facility hosted the Phoenix Suns' first regular season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on the 7th of November 1992. That opening night victory ended with a score of 111, 105. Charles Barkley played his first regular season game as a Sun during that same match. A parade celebrating the team's performance followed their loss in the 1993 NBA Finals to the Chicago Bulls. More than 300,000 fans attended the celebration parade through downtown Phoenix.
The original Winnipeg Jets announced their intention to relocate to Phoenix for the 1996, 97 NHL season. The arena was quickly reconfigured to accommodate ice hockey despite not being designed for it. Its tight seating configuration suited basketball but made fitting a standard NHL rink difficult. The lower level had to be sheared in half to fit the rink and create retractable seating. Three entire sections at one end of the ice hung over the boards. Fans sitting in those sections could not see roughly one-fourth of the ice except on video boards. The problem persisted so long that the team had to curtain off some seats after the first season. This reduced the arena's listed capacity to 16,210. The Coyotes were forced to sell many obstructed-view tickets at a reduced price. They moved into Glendale Arena midway through the 2003, 04 NHL season.
The original arena naming rights contract was sold in January 1990 to Tempe-based America West Airlines. The venue remained known as America West Arena from its opening until 2006. America West purchased rival carrier US Airways the previous year. Although America West was the surviving airline, it took the US Airways name for both the company and the venue. Talking Stick Resort secured new naming rights with an official announcement outside the Casino Arizona Pavilion on the 2nd of December 2014. The name change to Talking Stick Resort Arena completed in September 2015. Negotiations stalled earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona. Talking Stick Resort officially announced the deal expired on the 6th of November 2020. On the 16th of July 2021, Gilbert-based materials science company Footprint secured the arena naming rights. The name change went into effect by Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Finals. On the 18th of February 2025, workers removed Footprint Center signage after the deal expired. On the 2nd of October 2025, the name changed to Mortgage Matchup Center after United Wholesale Mortgage.
The arena hosted three games of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Suns and the Chicago Bulls. It also hosted three games of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Phoenix Mercury hosted WNBA Finals games in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, and 2025. The venue played host to the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games. It also hosted the 2000 and 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. The arena has hosted the regional finals of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament four times. Those years included 1999, 2004, 2008, and 2012. The Arizona Rattlers won ArenaBowl XI with a 55, 33 win over the Iowa Barnstormers on the 25th of August 1997. They lost their only championship game appearance at Gila River Arena on the 26th of August 2016. Professional boxing events included Oscar De La Hoya's early bouts and Julio César Chávez ending his career there.
Frank Sinatra gave one of his last concerts on the 10th of December 1993, in the arena. Bon Jovi performed in the arena on the 11th of March 1993, as part of their Keep the Faith Tour. Van Halen made a stop in Phoenix on the 1st of April 1995, during their Balance Tour. U2 performed multiple times including two stops during their 2001 Elevation Tour on March 28 and November 23. Beyoncé performed numerous times between 2004 and 2013. She first appeared on the 15th of April 2004, alongside Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott. Her final concert in Arizona took place on the 7th of December 2013, during The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Billie Eilish returned to Phoenix to perform on November 18 and 19, 2025, for her Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour. Fleetwood Mac performed at the arena on the 28th of November 2018, during their An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour.
The Phoenix City Council approved the renovation plan on the 23rd of January 2019. The project involved the arena with the Phoenix Suns paying up to $80 million alongside any overrun costs. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause to the Suns' 2019, 20 season. This allowed for an early start to the most recent renovations. Up to 80% of all planned work was completed by the 2020 preseason home opener. That game ended with a 112, 107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on the 16th of December 2020. The Mercury originally planned to play their 2020 WNBA season home games at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. They relocated all of the season's games to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Rattlers had their 2020 IFL season cancelled but played their first home game of the 2021 season on the 12th of June 2021. The arena renovations were fully completed by the end of the Suns' 2021 NBA Finals run.
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Common questions
When did construction begin on the Mortgage Matchup Center?
Construction began on the 1st of August 1990. Former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo envisioned a need for a new arena to be built in Phoenix at that time.
Who owns the naming rights to the Mortgage Matchup Center as of October 2025?
United Wholesale Mortgage secured the naming rights effective on the 2nd of October 2025. The venue changed its name to Mortgage Matchup Center following the expiration of the previous deal with Footprint.
What was the capacity of the Mortgage Matchup Center during the Winnipeg Jets era?
The arena's listed capacity reduced to 16,210 after the team had to curtain off some obstructed-view seats. This configuration issue persisted from the 1996 season until the team moved to Glendale Arena midway through the 2003, 04 NHL season.
Which major sporting events occurred at the Mortgage Matchup Center between 1993 and 2025?
The facility hosted three games of the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls and three games of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. It also served as the host for WNBA Finals games in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2021, and 2025.
When did Billie Eilish perform at the Mortgage Matchup Center?
Billie Eilish returned to Phoenix to perform on November 18 and 19, 2025. These concerts were part of her Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour.