Phoenix Suns players, volunteers decorate Veterans Memorial Coliseum for free game

PHOENIX — In anticipation for a Phoenix Suns scrimmage game in October, Suns players and volunteers took on the Arizona heat Wednesday to paint WeArePHX around the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

(Photo: Jacob McAuliffe)

The coliseum will get to house the basketball team once again during a free scrimmage game on Oct. 3.

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum was the Suns’ first home from 1968 to 1992 before the team relocated to formerly-known America West Arena and now Talking Stick Arena.

Former Suns power forward/center Alvan Adams played for the team for 13 years and said he used to call the coliseum home.

(Photo: Jacob McAuliffe)

“I played here 13 years, from ’75 to ’88,” Adams, who is now the Suns Vice President of Facilities Management, said. “No, I wasn’t on the original team that was Dick Van Arsdale, but this was home.”

Formerly known as “The Mad House on McDowell,” the Veterans Memorial Coliseum is most notably known today for housing the annual Arizona State Fair, which opens Oct. 16.

The Suns hold a free game every year in conclusion to their annual training camps, but this year’s camp in Flagstaff had a conflict with a Northern Arizona University football game on the same day.

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