Sky Harbor says no place for Suns fans to greet players if team wins Finals

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns fans who want to greet the players at Sky Harbor Airport if the team wins the championship on the road should change their game plan.

Airport officials said Friday there won’t be any opportunities at the airport for fans to see and interact with players and coaches when the team arrives back in Phoenix after NBA Finals games.

“The airport is working with Phoenix Police and the Suns organization, and for reasons of safety and security, the arrival plan for the players is going to be different during the Finals,” Greg Roybal, public information officer for the airport, told KTAR News 92.3 FM in a statement.

“We encourage fans to look for organized Suns events where they might have the opportunity to better cheer on the team.”

Each of the Suns’ clinching games has occurred on the road so far this postseason, with the team taking a 2-0 lead in the Finals to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Sunday evening.

After the team’s victory in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on July 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers that punched the team’s ticket to the Finals, the franchise’s first in nearly three decades, droves of fans came to greet the team back to the Valley.

DEANDRE AYTON — MAN OF THE PEOPLE HOLDING THE TROPHY pic.twitter.com/XYK1ptSsiy

— Andrew (@AndrewLeezus) July 1, 2021

@DevinBook and @CP3 are home and being welcomed like kings pic.twitter.com/m9eLTh7zuK

— Taylor Kinnerup (@TaylorKinnerup) July 1, 2021

Just about 20 minutes till the team lands and already plenty of people waiting to greet the team @KTAR923 @AZSports (possible language) pic.twitter.com/14OxxRc8Be

— Taylor Kinnerup (@TaylorKinnerup) July 1, 2021

Fans are literally stopping traffic now pic.twitter.com/aB76xdCFDp

— Taylor Kinnerup (@TaylorKinnerup) July 1, 2021

The celebration also prompted the Arizona Department of Transportation to shut down exits to prevent fans from stopping on the shoulder of Interstate 10.

The team echoed the statement from Sky Harbor Airport in a tweet.

Following up on earlier communication, for the safety of the team and our fans there will not be a fan celebration planned or supported at Sky Harbor when the team returns from Milwaukee after Game 4 of the NBA Finals. https://t.co/HYO6UWrr1h

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 10, 2021

Tip-off for Game 3 of the NBA Finals is Sunday at 5 p.m. as the team looks to get one step closer to winning the franchise’s first championship in its 53-year history.

Listen to all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Suns Station. 

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