Suns To Host Warriors In Another Outdoor Game At Indian Wells

Welts Is Joined By Indian Wells' Raymond Moore (c) And Charlie Pasarell At Announcement

The Suns yesterday said they will host the Warriors in an outdoor preseason game at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on October 10, according to Drew Schmenner of the Palm Springs DESERT SUN. TNT will televise the game, the Suns' second outdoor game in as many seasons, and Suns President & COO Rick Welts said that the game's starting time has not been set. But Welts noted that he "did anticipate the game would start earlier" than the 7:00pm PT tipoff of last year's Nuggets-Suns game, because Turner Sports "must juggle televising two" MLB playoff games as well. The "cold is also a consideration" for this year's contest, as "temperatures dropped during the second half last year." Welts said that the Suns and the NBA are "talking about providing the players with specially-designed apparel to wear under their uniforms." Welts also said that the team hopes to "expand their outreach activities in conjunction with the event." Last year, Suns players, dancers and the Gorilla mascot visited area schools. Tickets will go on sale April 1, and while prices have not been set, last year's ranged from $10-100. Schmenner notes last year's game was the first outdoors NBA contest in 36 years, and the "economic impact was heralded as one of the event's highlights," with an estimated impact of $3.695M in the region (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 3/19).