Phoenix Suns set to welcome back fans

That’s it for the road trip, and now the Phoenix Suns can eagerly await the first home crowd of the 2020-21 season.

With a strong start to the season, this is a team worth watching.

Fans will be back at Phoenix Suns Arena beginning with healthcare workers as the team’s guests Sunday against the Boston Celtics.

Those healthcare workers and their families receive complimentary tickets after securing the invitation through for the game against Suns.com/HeroTickets and following instruction.

“As the true MVPs of our community, we want to honor and thank our healthcare heroes for all they have done during these challenging times,” said Phoenix Suns President and CEO Jason Rowley in a team release. “With an exciting new era beginning on the court and a practically new building to play in, we’re thrilled to welcome fans back to Phoenix Suns Arena. Our staff has worked tirelessly with the NBA and health officials to ensure proper protocols are in place to keep everyone safe.”

To a man, the Suns including Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton have yearned for the return of the home-court advantage.

As for other fans, presales for PayPal Sixthman Season Ticket Members begin Thursday for games beginning Feb. 8 (Cleveland Cavaliers), through March 4 (Golden State Warriors).

Single-game tickets for the same games for non-members will go on sale Friday, and up to 1,500 ticketed fans are expected.

Prior to attending any game, all guests at Phoenix Suns Arena will be required to submit a Fan Promise – an online, standardized health questionnaire about COVID-19 symptoms and exposure.

Phoenix Suns fans should be ready for a few new restrictions and features.

Additional measures, according to the Suns release, include:

Masks: Wearing masks will be mandatory for entry and must be worn at all times unless actively eating and drinking and only in ticketed seats.

Social Distancing: Physical distancing will be required at all times, particularly in queueing areas (arena entrance, concessions, restrooms and Team Shop) which will be clearly marked and monitored by arena staff. All attended points of sale will have Plexiglass barriers between fans and staff. There will also be six-foot physical distancing in the arena bowl between parties in ticketed seating pods.

Contactless Accommodations: Phoenix Suns Arena has transitioned completely to paperless ticketing and offers numerous hands-free, cashless payment experiences via the Suns Mobile Wallet within the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon. New capabilities include:

Grab & Go Concessions: Three unique Grab & Go stands are available throughout the main concourse stocked with an assortment of soda, water and alcoholic beverages. Fans can grab, scan and checkout through the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon.

Hand-sanitizer stations will be available throughout the concourses on all levels of the arena.

One of the stars of the Suns’ new show is a new center hung scoreboard. It’s big — six times larger and clearer than its predecessor.

It will be a welcome move forward as the country continues to make progress against the pandemic.