The home of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) officially has a new name. Under a landmark 10-year, $115 million naming rights agreement, the venue will now be called the Mortgage Matchup Center.
The deal ties together three organizations led by billionaire Mat Ishbia — chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) since 2013, and majority owner of the Suns and Mercury following his $4 billion acquisition in February 2023.
A New Era for Phoenix’s Arena
Opened in 1992 and most recently known as the PHX Arena, the venue previously carried the Footprint Center name under a deal with environmental technology company Footprint. That partnership ended earlier this year, paving the way for a permanent naming rights partner.
With Mortgage Matchup — UWM’s consumer-facing brand — stepping in, the arena gains a sponsor closely aligned with Ishbia’s broader business ecosystem. The agreement also designates Mortgage Matchup as the official mortgage partner of the Suns, Mercury, and the G League affiliate Valley Suns.
The partnership extends beyond Phoenix. Mortgage Matchup is already the league-wide mortgage partner of both the NBA and WNBA, a relationship first established in 2024.
More Than Basketball
The Mortgage Matchup Center is more than just a home court. The venue draws over two million visitors annually, hosting basketball games, major concerts, and family-friendly events, embedding itself in the cultural fabric of Phoenix.
Josh Bartelstein, CEO of both the Suns and Mercury, emphasized the arena’s role as a community hub:
“Our arena hosts more than basketball games and entertainment events – it represents a sense of belonging, community, and moments fans carry with them forever. That’s exactly why Mortgage Matchup is the perfect partner.”
Ishbia echoed the sentiment, noting the opportunity to connect fans with Mortgage Matchup’s broker network:
“The Phoenix Suns and Mercury have a diverse, passionate, and engaged fan base in sports that will allow us to make strong connections between mortgage brokers and consumers.”
Strategic Significance
This partnership underscores a growing trend in U.S. sports where team owners leverage their business holdings to maximize synergy and visibility. Ishbia’s dual role as UWM CEO and franchise owner allows for tighter brand integration and control over how the arena deal is activated.
For UWM, the move represents a chance to strengthen brand recognition in front of live audiences and millions of broadcast viewers, while aligning with two high-profile basketball properties. For the Suns and Mercury, the naming rights agreement delivers financial certainty and reinforces a long-term vision under Ishbia’s ownership.
A Basketball Legacy at the Core
Ishbia’s connection to basketball runs deep. A former Michigan State University player, he was part of the Spartans’ 2000 NCAA Championship-winning team and later worked alongside head coach Tom Izzo before moving into the mortgage business.
Now, he is combining his passions for sport and business in a way that places the Suns and Mercury at the forefront of the sports-commercial crossover era.
Arena naming rights are no longer just about visibility. They are about ecosystem building — creating links between ownership, business strategy, fan engagement, and broader commercial ambitions. The Mortgage Matchup Center is not just a venue; it is a case study in how sports and corporate identities can merge to unlock lasting value.
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