Suns to place their D-League team in Prescott Valley

[Mainstreet]

The Suns will place their D-League team in Prescott Valley next season. This will be great because their D-League affiliate is only 92 miles away from Talking Stick Resort Arena. They will be able to use their affiliate more because of the location.

The Suns are taking full control of their D-League operation by placing an affiliate team in Prescott Valley at the 10-year-old Prescott Valley Event Center.

The team will base all operations at the arena and begin play next season, making the Suns one of 19 NBA teams that will have single-affiliation D-League clubs in their metro areas or a drive away next season. The Suns’ D-League affiliates previously have been located in Bakersfield, Calif. (since 2011), Des Moines and Albuquerque. For the past two seasons, the Suns had a hybrid ownership with the Bakersfield Jam in which the Suns financed and controlled basketball operations while the Jam’s pre-existing owners handled business operations.

See more from Paul Coro at azcentral at the link below.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-move-d-league-team-prescott-valley/82902028/

 

[JCSunsfan]

Interesting. Might be fun to head up and watch a game there if there are any promising prospects on the roster.

 

[Mainstreet]

Interesting. Might be fun to head up and watch a game there if there are any promising prospects on the roster.

I agree. I've always enjoyed watching development players.

 

[Iceman]

Nice. That is pretty smart. Plus, Prescott Valley would be great for fans too. I would love to take a little road trip up there sometime to watch

 

[Covert Rain]

I know a couple people in Prescott. That would be fun to see some D-League stuff there.

 

[Avondale Red Rage]

The Div III Girls Volleyball State tourney is held there, and this year was the first time I had been to the Event Center. Nice arena.


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[NoelPHX]

As someone who used to live there about 10 years ago, this would have been nice to have then!

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns D-League affiliate is now known as the Northern Arizona Suns.

From Paul Coro at azcentral:

“There might be some real chances for people in Yavapai County to see NBA-level talent in their early years,” Rowley said.

A logo for the Northern Arizona Suns will be revealed over the summer but they are immediately taking $50 deposits to secure season tickets and have a web site (www.nazsuns.com) and a phone number (928-772-SUNS).

There are 22 teams slated to be in the D-League next season with 19 of them now located in a NBA city or a short drive away, like Prescott Valley, which is near where the Suns held training camps in the 1970s and 1980s at Yavapai College in Prescott.

The Northern Arizona Suns will be one of six D-League teams to use their parent team’s nickname.

“It makes sense to connect it to our brand and have that continuity,” Rowley said. “We wanted to give something to the northern part of the state that they can own and have more connection to at a micro level.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...e-team-called-northern-arizona-suns/82937386/

 

[BC867]

As long as the team doesn't meander down the road and hang out on Whiskey Row.

 

[Folster]

This will be great for the Suns to send their young players while on road trips. I'd like to see the NBDL be used even more like a minor league team where a veteran can be sent for a couple games to get back in game condition after coming back from an injury instead of having to work back in and possibly be a short term detriment.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Interesting. Might be fun to head up and watch a game there if there are any promising prospects on the roster.

100% agree. Love Prescott. Lived in Prescott Valley for a few years growing up. Will absolutely go see a game.

 

[slinslin]

Is there any need to call them North Arizona Suns instead of just Arizona Suns?

 

[AzStevenCal]

Is there any need to call them North Arizona Suns instead of just Arizona Suns?

It doesn't seem necessary but perhaps it's a PR nod to Northern Arizona.