The Basketball All Star Game

NBA All-Star Game 2009
Comes to Phoenix

The NBA 2009 Basketball All Star Game and Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona is going to be big.

How big?

Estimates are for about 150,000 people to come to the Phoenix area for the All Star Game on Sunday, February 15, 2009.

Plus, the NBA predicts that about 600 million people in 200 countries around the world will watch the televised game.

What is the All Star Game?

For those who aren't familiar, the National Basketball Association (NBA) holds an annual basketball competition with the best professional players from throughout the league split into two teams: the East Conference All Stars and the Western Conference All Stars.

Phoenix’s US Airways Center is the 2009 home of the NBA All Star Game

Basketball fans get to see top players together in two "dream teams."

The 2008 basketball All Star Game roster included Jason Kidd, Yao Ming, Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who was voted the 2008 All Star MVP.

This is the third time that the Basketball All Star Game has been held in Phoenix.

Of course, not everyone who wants to see the game will be able to fit into Phoenix’s US Airways Center, which is the home of the Phoenix Suns basketball team and the WNBA Mercury team.

But All-Star Weekend is more than just one basketball game.

So, if you can’t get in to see the big game, there are numerous other activities scheduled in downtown Phoenix during the five day All Star Weekend from February 12 - 16.

The Jam Session, held February 12-16, is billed as the world’s largest interactive basketball theme park at the Phoenix Convention Center, just 2 blocks from US Airways Center.

This should be the easiest event to attend because it will be held over 4 days and the venue is so large.

There will be over 30 unique attractions spread out over 450,000 square feet.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet NBA players and legends, basketball-playing celebrities and musical performers.

You can play basketball against friends and test your skills on-court. Kids get their own area to do the same in the Kids Zone.

There will also be a trading card and collectibles area and exclusive merchandise at the NBA Store.

While you’re there, head over to the Center Court to see dance teams, mascots and NBA and WNBA players in basketball shooting contests.

The Rookie Challenge showcases the NBA's top rookies and second year players on Friday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. at US Airways Center.

All-Star Saturday Night (February 14, 1:00 p.m. at US Airways Center) features a variety of All Star Basketball Games where NBA players, WNBA players, and NBA legends will be in attendance.

Events include:

• Shooting Stars: a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players.
• the Skills Challenge: big name guards will compete against the clock to finish a number of free-throws, lay-ups, passes and agility drills.
• The Three-Point Shootout pits 6 long-range basketball shooters against the clock, and each other, to see who is the best.
• the Slam Dunk Contest gets fans involved in the voting. Fans can text or click their votes online for the best slam dunker. The public will be counted for 50 percent of the final vote while a panel of judges and top NBA dunkers will contribute the other 50.

So, who gets tickets to the big NBA All Star Game 2009 on Sunday?

Many of the tickets for the February 15 game will go to NBA officials and sponsors. The NBA Phoenix Suns receive a small percentage of tickets and some of those go to season ticket holders.

NBA Basketball All Star Game 2009 tickets are available to the public from ticket brokers and are expected to sell for well over the printed ticket value.

If you can’t get tickets or can’t make it to Phoenix, you can watch the NBA All Star Game 2009 on TNT. The game starts at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 15th.

If you're hoping to see NBA players outside the All Star venues, both teams will be staying at the new 1000 room, 31-story Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Getting around downtown Phoenix is fairly easy.

Most of the basketball All Star game venues are within walking distance in downtown Phoenix.

Plus, Phoenix's new light rail transit system will be operating in time for the 2009 All Star Weekend as well.

The greater Phoenix area has plenty of places to stay and interesting attractions.

Check out our destination pages for ideas on where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Phoenix and the adjacent cities of Scottsdale and Glendale.

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