Footprint Center Bag Policy: A Simple Guide

Phoenix is a vibrant city filled with all kinds of attractions, sights, shopping, dining, and friendly people. It's also a sports-loving city with a loyal fanbase. And speaking of sports, located in the heart of the city in the downtown core is the Footprint Center. This arena is home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. Previously known as the Talking Stick Resort Arena, this stadium has seen its fair share of basketball greats competing on the court.

The multi-purpose arena seats just over 18,000 fans so you often feel up close and personal regardless of your tickets. It was originally opened in 1992 and underwent renovations in 2003, and then again in 2020. This means guests have plenty of modern amenities to make use of in the facility. Besides sports, the facility has also hosted monster truck rallies, professional wrestling, concerts, comedy shows, and more.

If you'll be in the city for one of the select events happening at the center, then you may also want to tack on a little sightseeing and exploring. Some of the other highlights in Phoenix include the Phoenix Zoo, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Desert Botanical Garden, Castles N' Coasters, Old Town Scottsdale, and more. The dining and nightlife scenes are always popping too, so you've got plenty of reasons to visit.

If you find yourself with your luggage and other belongings, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Footprint Center bag policy before heading to the gate. There's a good chance you'll need our help so you can stow your bags before heading to a sporting event or any other event at the venue.

Footprint Center Bag Policy 

The bag policy prohibits all luggage, a standard backpack, laptop bags, and briefcases. So right there, it may rule out much of what you've got with you. Any bag larger than 14” x 14” x 6” won't be allowed in. Bags that are allowed inside include single-compartment drawstring bags, purses, and diaper bags. Any bag between that is bigger than 4" x6" will need to go through the x-ray scan as part of security.

If you don't have any bags or you have wallets or clutches smaller than 4" x 6", then you can use the Evol express entry lanes. These will get you through much faster, and considering the long lines for sporting events, this is a huge bonus. The bag policy is created based on the NBA bag size requirements.

Exceptions include medical bags and diaper bags. You can contact guest services in advance to ask about these exceptions.

Store Your Luggage with Bounce and Have a Great Time at the Footprint Center

Now that you know heading to this premier venue with all your luggage and bags in tow isn't a good idea, we're here to help. Count on us for convenient and affordable short-term luggage storage in cities around the world, including Phoenix. By using our app you can scroll through our nearby locations and find the one that works for you. Then all you have to do is book it.

Because our bookings feature a 24-hour flat rate fee, you'll have peace of mind knowing there's no rush after the game or event has ended. And that's not all, we also offer $10,000 luggage protection on all bookings.

So let us take away all your worries where the bag policy is concerned, and go ahead and drop off your oversized items.

Additional Rules at the Footprint Center

Don't stop with the bag policy, you'll also need to know these additional rules at the Footprint Center.

Outside Food and Drink Policy 

This policy is simple, there are no cans, coolers, bottles, beverages, or outside food allowed in. Guests can, however, bring in sealed water bottles. It is one bottle per ticket holder upon entry. Baby formula and medical exceptions can be made with guest services. Alcoholic beverages cannot be brought into the venue either.

While outside food and beverages aren't permitted inside, you won't go hungry. There are plenty of tasty options to choose from at the Footprint Center.

Getting to the Footprint Center

Getting to the Footprint Center is easy thanks to the options available. The best one is public transportation, especially if you're coming from downtown Phoenix or midtown. The Valley Metro Light Rail will allow you to avoid all the traffic and not have to deal with expensive parking lots. You'll want to get off at 3rd Street/Washington Station and then walk the 10 minutes to the gates.

Buses are another option, with the Jefferson Street route being the most convenient for drop-off.

Taxi and rideshare services will drop you off in front of the gates, so it doesn't get closer than that. It can be hard to find a taxi in downtown Phoenix though.

For those who want to drive, be warned traffic will be heavy and slow things down. Parking can also be hard to find, so if you can book a spot in advance, that's the best plan.

Camera Policy 

The camera policy allows for personal cameras but no professional equipment. This includes such items as monopods and tripods.

The Footprint Center camera policy is not very specific with dimensions, but it does state that no flash photography or video recording is allowed. It’s best to assume that all professional cameras and equipment are prohibited without a media credential.

Cashless Venue

The Footprint Center is a cashless venue, so you'll want to have a credit or debit card in hand when you head into the arena. Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also becoming more common, so you may be able to use these.

If needed, there are reverse ATMs in the venue where you can convert cash to a prepaid Mastercard.

Prohibited Items at the Footprint Center

There is also a list of prohibited items that apply to NBA games and other events. Some of the items on the list include:

• Banners and signs larger than 11" x 17"
• Computers, tablets, and laptops larger than 8"
• Fireworks, illegal substances, and anything else the arena deems dangerous
• Cans, bottles, and coolers (baby bottles are allowed)
• Recording devices including Google Glasses
• Drones
• Halloween-style masks
• Hand-held selfie sticks
• Plastic horns

An Event at the Footprint Center Won't Disappoint

The Phoenix Suns are one of the most exciting NBA Franchises, which makes their games a hot ticket. Even if you're not a sports fan, the concert lineup is bound to catch your attention at the Footprint Center. This is truly the place to be if you're looking for a great time. Just don't forget to book luggage storage with Bounce during your layover in downtown Phoenix.