In October 2023, during a halftime ceremony at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns’ Ring of Honor inductees had their new banners unveiled. The ceremony also announced a partnership between the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury to provide health-focused food and beverage options at future games and concerts. This collaboration will introduce robot servers in some areas of the arena.
The partnership with Cleveland Avenue, a venture capital firm investing in consumer brands and technology companies, aims to position Footprint Center as a hub for innovation, sustainability, and unique culinary experiences. The specifics of the partnership were not fully disclosed, but Cleveland Avenue’s portfolio includes companies that produce robot servers for restaurants, gluten-free and vegan cookies, and carbohydrate and sugar-free flour.
Cleveland Avenue has a significant investment in Gilbert-based Footprint, which manufactures biodegradable food packaging materials as an alternative to single-use plastics. The CEO of the Suns and Mercury, Josh Bartelstein, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the focus on providing fans with unprecedented experiences and services.
Don Thompson, the CEO of Cleveland Avenue, highlighted the shared vision of innovation and entrepreneurship with the partnership. The integration of Cleveland Avenue’s food and beverage products and technologies into suites and concession areas at Footprint Center is expected to be completed by the end of the year. This collaboration offers an opportunity to implement and test cutting-edge technologies in the arena.
