Everyone loves a free t-shirt, but over the years, the Phoenix Suns have upped their giveaway game. Here is a list of all the Suns’ game day promotions for the 2019-2020 season, ranked from worst to best.
The Phoenix Suns released a complete list of all their home game promotions for the 2019-2020 season. 22 out of their 40 games at Talking Stick Arena will feature some type of promotional event.
One of their “home” games is actually in Mexico City against the San Antonio Spurs on December 14. That is more of an NBA Global Games initiative, which, while a great cause and definitely a promotion, is not what will be captured here.
The Suns also hosted a Domestic Violence Awareness Night on October 14 before their preseason matchup against the Denver Nuggets which featured a large food drive, but since it was preseason, that promo was also not included in this list.
This is more of a which-promos-are-most-awesome type of ranking. If the game included a giveaway, it was automatically bumped ahead of others that didn’t.
Extra points were awarded to creativity, uniqueness, and quality of the swag. A good mashup and a clever pun also earned promo nights major credit.
The Suns aren’t skimping this year. 55% of home games with a promotion is solid, albeit some better are than others. Nights range from super unique novelties to simple wearing-a-different-jersey games.
Here they are, ranked from worst to best:
#22: Orange Friday – 1/31 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
It is amazing the Phoenix Suns had the audacity to call this a promo night. The biggest draw here is the team will be wearing the new orange Nike Statement Edition uniforms they have been pushing so hard. They are nice and all, but at least they are giving stuff away on other Orange Fridays.
#21: APS Los Suns Night – 3/3 vs. Toronto Raptors
In yet another uniform-only promo, the Phoenix Suns will don their cultural Los Suns uniforms, which roughly translates to [confirms with Google Translate] The Suns. It has always been a mystery to me why they don’t just use Los Sols, but I’m sure there is a good reason having to do with proper nouns.
#20: Gorilla’s Birthday – 1/5 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Everyone’s favorite NBA mascot turns 39 this year. One more year to grasp on to youth before officially being over the hill next season at age 40. There will probably be some cool dunks and theatrics, but the Phoenix Suns haven’t released much details yet so this day is hard to rank high. If they give out free birthday cake, I reserve the right to rerank.
#19: Dos Equis Latin Night – 12/21 vs. Houston Rockets
The Los Suns uniforms are likely to make another appearance on Dos Equis Latin Night. The most interesting promo in the world, this is not. No details yet on what the Mexican beer company has in store, but it will likely just be a bunch of advertising. I don’t always attend promo nights, but when I do, it isn’t Dos Equis night.
Tie #17: Military Appreciation Night – 11/10 vs. Brooklyn Nets
Tie #17: Pride Night – 4/3 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Considering both our military troops and equal rights for the LBGTQ community are awesome, these appreciation nights come in a dead tie. No giveaways here, so they rank lower on the list, but warranted recognition will be plentiful.
#16: Valley Kidz Night / Growth Poster – 1/12 vs. Charlotte Hornets
Finally, our first giveaway! Everyone loves free stuff, but a growth poster? That’s just a long piece of paper with a ruler on it. The Valley Kidz angle has potential, but I struggle with this because the Valley Boyz are tough, cool, and fashionable. Kidz, well, are none of those things.
#15: Orange Friday Placards – 11/29 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Placard is a word you rarely ever see spelled out, and when you do, it looks weird. Like it is missing letters or something. Regardless, it is kind of a cheap giveaway considering it is just construction paper on popsicle stick. Moreover, it is just promoting the new orange jerseys (again), which is an odd thing for 10,000 people to passionately wave signs about.
#14: “Beat L.A.” Placards – 11/12 vs. L.A. Lakers
Don’t look now, but the placards are back, but this time they emphasize a meaningful cause. Beating the Lakers is definitely something fans can behind to hold up signs in unison. There are only 5,000 of these being given out, so they will be more scarce than their orange jersey cousin.
#13: Orange Friday / Rally Towel – 1/3 vs. New York Knicks
Rally towels would be a cool giveaway if Suns fans actually used them. Many professional sports teams have tried to incorporate them over the years with varying success. These particular towels are sponsored by an auto-glass company, a loathsome group to anyone who they have harassed at a car wash. Negative points for that.
#12: Suns Schedule Magnet – 10/26 vs L.A. Clippers
This giveaway gets an extra point for its practicality, although in the world of stainless steel refrigerators, finding a place to stick a schedule magnet is becoming more difficult. Still, figuring out the Phoenix Suns play next without having to Google is more convenient than you might think.
#11: Health & Wellness Night / Water Bottle – 3/21 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Most people don’t go to Phoenix Suns games to be reminded about health and wellness. They go to eat hotdogs and popcorn, drink beer and soda, and cheer the Suns onto victory. However, with the water bottle craze going on now in America, handing them out for free is a good move. Plus, it will be late March in Arizona, a good time to remind Valley newcomers to stay hydrated.
#10: Educator Night / Suns Mouse Pad – 1/10 vs. Orlando Magic
Teachers are awesome, and a mouse pad is a low-key solid gift. Combining the two into one promotional night is the perfect mashup. I actually could use a mouse pad. I’m using a mouse right now without one and it feels naked.
#9: Tip Off / RISE PHX Shirt – 10/23 vs. Sacramento Kings
Everyone knows the three certainties in life: death, taxes, and mankind losing their collective minds for free t-shirts. No matter what age, race, or wealth status, once the t-shirt cannon comes out, elbows will fly at a chance to take home an XXL swath of cotton with advertising all over it. The Phoenix Suns are kicking off the season by just handing them out, a smart and safe move.
#8: Suns Pennant – 11/21 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Pennants are traditionally thought to be baseball paraphernalia, but over the years, they have crossed over into other sports. They have also, strangely enough, unlike baseball cards, maintained the test of time. Cool pennant collections can be found in kids rooms and man caves alike. Solid giveaway before Thanksgiving.
#7: Fan Appreciation / Suns Pool Towel – 4/15 vs. L.A. Lakers
You can never have enough pool towels. Ever. Even if you don’t use them for drying off, everyone, at some point is working on a project in their house and asked someone close by, “Will you grab an old towel for me? I need it.” Also of note, the Phoenix Suns are wise to have fan appreciation night near the end of the season to reward fans who are still coming out when the likelihood is the team will not be in the playoff hunt
#6: International Night / Globe Mini Basketball – 2/8 vs. Denver Nuggets
Let’s face it: mini basketballs are awesome. Whether you win one at a carnival or just play around with one for a few minutes at a Wal-Mart, these things rock. The mini balls being given away here are actually globes because, get this, it is International Night! Someone deserves a promotion for this promotional pun. Fans of all ages will be Euro-stepping their way out of the arena.
#5: Devin Booker Bobblehead – 2/28 vs. Detroit Pistons
The bobblehead ranks up there with the greatest inventions of all time. Who doesn’t like a good bobblehead (besides the wife of a guy who has way too many of them on prominent display in their house)? This year, the Phoenix Suns are doing a Valley Boyz collection where the bobbleheads will feature players dressed in fashionable attire. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for Devin Booker’s “fashionable attire.”
#4: Deandre Ayton Bobblehead – 12/23 vs. Denver Nuggets
The second part of the three-piece Valley Boyz bobblehead series features Deandre Ayton. You know you’ve made it when they make a bobblehead of you and give it out for free. If nothing else, this giveaway is right before Christmas, so you can always repurpose it for your office white elephant gift exchange.
#3: Fiesta Night / Basketball Ice Cube Mold – 12/9 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Call me a bourbon snob, but this is amazing. Ice balls are the only way to drink your favorite alcohol, and this mold puts it in the shape of a basketball for you. Bobbleheads are cool, but ubiquitous. I’ve never seen an ice mold be given out. Cheers to you, promo creator. Have a drink on the rock!
#2: Superhero Night / Ricky Rubio Action Figure – 3/8 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
This is another one that gets a major boost for creativity. Bobbleheads, sure. But action figures? I need this. Hopefully they dress Rubio’s action figure up in traditional superhero garb, with a unitard and underwear on the outside. Give him a cape too. A superhero is what the Phoenix Suns hope he is on the court this season, so making him an action figure is absolutely fitting.
#1: Kelly Oubre Bobblehead – 2/7 vs. Houston Rockets
The crown jewel of them all. The originator. The icon. The OG. Kelly Oubre Jr. will be featured as a bobblehead in the Valley Boyz fashionable attire collection series. He is the very reason this promotion exists, so this giveaway is the Holy Grail. I can only imagine the hours Oubre will spend with the promotion team making sure every detail is just right, down to the painted fingernails.
Respect.