Phoenix-Suns
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City of Phoenix OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Jason Rowley February 2, 2021 President & CEO Phoenix Suns - Phoenix Suns Arena - Phoenix Mercury - NAZ Suns Dear Mr. Rowley, The Special Events Committee has thoroughly evaluated your application to allow a limited number of fans to return to PHX Arena. We looked at all of the protocols that you proposed to ensure the safety of employees, attendees and the community-at-large. At the time of this letter only nine NBA teams have allowed limited attendance. The committee applauds your commitment to the protocols established by the NBA and the deliberate approach the Suns have taken as the NBA season has started. These protocols include: • Fans will not be allowed to sit courtside at games and must be at least 15 feet behind either team bench or 10 feet from the sideline; • All fans must fill out a questionnaire about their health status and must wear a mask unless eating or drinking; • Fans with tickets within 30 feet of the court must also return a negative COVID- 19 test within 48 hours prior to tipoffor pass an NBA-approved test on the day of the game. These same fans will not be allowed to eat or drink at their seat. The past year has been extremely difficult for our country, state, and city. I know we all collectively hope that the coming months will bring significant improvement and a return to normal. We are currently monitoring closely the COVID-19 metrics forour community. We must ensure that we don't inadvertently exacerbate existing conditions in how we re-open. With that being said, we are approving your request with the following modification: • Ramp-Up Attendance - Instead of approving your application "as-is", the committee has approved a modified attendance plan. A similar plan has been adopted by the Indiana Pacers at Banker's Life Fieldhouse. Under this modification, the committee will allow 1,500 plus 25% capacity in the suites from February 7th through February 141h. This provides you with time to evaluate your processes and gives city stafftime to evaluate your adherence to the protocols you have established. Based on a review of the COVID-19 data for the region we will allow you to ramp up to 3,000 plus 25% capacity in suites for the February 15th game and after. 200 West Washington Street, 12th Floor• Phoenix, Arizona 85003 • 602-262-6941 • FAX: 602-261-8327 o TIY: 602-534-5500 Recycled Paper PHOENIX SUNS ARENA LIMITED CAPACITY RE-OPENING PLAN PHOENIX SUNS ARENA LIMITED CAPACITY RE-OPENING PLAN GOALS & OBJECTIVES This guide is intended to give an overview of operational plans and strategies related to hosting games for the Phoenix Suns 2020-21 season with a limited capacity and to limit spread of and exposure to COVID-19 for fans, staff, vendors, media, broadcast and participating teams. This plan institutes best practices from the CDC, State and Local Governmental Authorities and NBA protocols with the goal of mitigating risk, limiting the number of people on-site and within proximity of each other, as well as the frequency and duration of person-to-person interactions. As future regulations or best practices become available or local conditions change, this plan will be updated accordingly. For further information about how we are making the Phoenix Suns Arena as safe as possible for the return of fans, please visit www.suns.com/covid. AREAS OF FOCUS In an effort to provide the safest possible conditions within the Phoenix Suns Arena, consideration has been given to every step along the pre-game, in-game and post-game journey for fans and employees, including: STATIONARY Arena Bowl seating locations Common areas intended for gathering Suites seating arrangements Staff posting locations Restroom fixtures HVAC system – air circulation and filtration Club furniture modifications Cleaning protocols TRANSITIONAL Wayfinding Access control Queueing Capacity control Vertical transportation Break-in-play protocols Concourse crowd management Ejection protocols Egress TRANSACTIONAL Parking / Transportation Food & beverage (concessions) Will-Call & Ticket Office Food & beverage (hospitality areas) Health screening Merchandise Ticket scanning Fan giveaways Security screening Concourse activations PPE distribution ADA assistance The organization has appointed a Facility Health and Hygiene Manager who is responsible for monitoring changing pandemic conditions, establishing safety protocols and implementing cleaning and disinfecting processes. A working group, across relevant functions such as arena operations, event management, facility operations, human resources, executive management, security, food & beverage and the custodial services partner, has been established to support such planning and implementation. Additionally, the Facility Health and Hygiene Manager is accountable for ensuring the adherence to the protocols and policies outlined herein. PHOENIX SUNS ARENA LIMITED CAPACITY RE-OPENING PLAN | 2 SCREENING INITIATIVES The following initiatives have been implemented as part of the screening process for fans and employees upon entry to Phoenix Suns Arena: COVID-19 TESTING All fans with tickets within 30’ of the court of play, or who would walk within 30’ of the court of play in their path of travel, will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry. In addition, all fans in suites will be required to provide proof of a negative test as a condition of allowing up to 50% capacity within each individual suite pursuant to current NBA regulations (subject to change). Impact Health has been identified as the designated partner for all fan testing initiatives. An antigen test will be administered to each fan by Impact Health staff pre-game in a drive-through or walk-through format outside of the arena. Fans will be encouraged to wait for their results in their vehicle or to leave the arena premises as they will not be admitted into the arena until a negative test result has been verified. Any fan who tests positive will be notified by a health professional with instructions to return home to quarantine, and results will be submitted to appropriate local health officials. All other fans who test negative may proceed to the arena doors for verification and entry. Participating teams, certain team staff and certain arena staff with a working function within close proximity of the teams will be tested separately and at regular intervals leading up to each home game at Phoenix Suns Arena in accordance with NBA regulations. TEMPERATURE CHECKS All employees are required to submit to daily temperature checks upon entry to Phoenix Suns Arena. Any employee with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher will be sent home from the arena, recommended to self-quarantine, and issued a free call-off for the event with no penalties for missing future shifts. FAN / EMPLOYEE PROMISE Each fan, employee and vendor entering Phoenix Suns Arena will be required to show proof of completing the Suns Fan / Employee Promise. This standardized health questionnaire is to be completed the day of the game prior to entering the entry queue and includes the following steps: • Acknowledgment of and compliance with venue policies required for entry, including mask use and physical distancing standards • Questions related to COVID-19 exposure and/or symptoms: • Has ticket holder (or any person in ticket holder’s party or with whom ticket holder has close contact) within the prior 10 days, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24-48 hours? • Has ticket holder (or any person in ticket holder’s party or with whom ticket holder has close contact) been contacted by a local public health authority within 14 days due to having had close contact with an individual infected with COVID-19, or been directed to quarantine by a physician or local public health authority? • Has ticket holder (or any person in ticket holder’s party or with whom ticket holder has close contact) within the prior 24 hours, experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. a fever of 100.4 F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking, muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the CDC)? • Has ticket holder (or any person in ticket holder’s party or with whom ticket holder has close contact) within the prior 14 days, traveled to any state or international territory identified by federal or applicable local governments as being subject to travel or quarantine advisories due to COVID-19? • Contact information, including first and last name, email and cell phone number • Signature This questionnaire will be deployed in a mobile format, accessible via the Phoenix Suns app, or alternatively by typing www.suns.com/fanpromise into the browser of the fan’s smartphone. Fans and employees who successfully and satisfactorily complete the questionnaire will receive a timestamped green check mark on their phone and via email. This green check mark must be shown upon entry to the screening queue outside the arena doors and will be verified by a member of the Guest Services staff. Fans and employees who do not complete or unsatisfactorily complete the questionnaire will receive a red X on their phone and via email instructing them to immediately leave the arena premises and seek medical guidance. A new Fan / Employee Promise form must be completed each game day. PHOENIX SUNS ARENA LIMITED CAPACITY RE-OPENING PLAN | 3 SCREENING INITIATIVES - CONT. MOBILE TICKETING All tickets for the Phoenix Suns Arena will be issued in a mobile format. Fans may access their tickets via the Phoenix Suns app or via email / text link. SafeTix Technology from TicketMaster has been deployed to prevent fraudulent and duplicate tickets.