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Northern Arizona Suns to Become Northern Arizona Rodeo Clowns for One Special Night

Theme Night to Honor Area's Ranching and Rodeo History
1st 1000 to Receive NAZ Suns Cowboy Hat

Article audio is made possible by CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. A Talking Glass Media production.

Since coming to Prescott Valley before the 2016-2017 NBA G-League season, the Phoenix Suns G-League team has been known as the Northern Arizona Suns. However, for one game on Saturday night, January 19th, against the Texas Legends, the NAZ Suns will change their name, logo and uniforms to the Northern Arizona Rodeo Clowns.

“We want to give a nod to the past, we’re recognizing the Fain Land and Cattle Company, The World’s Oldest Rodeo, the PBR, the Turquoise Circuit Rodeo and so much more about this area that most everybody knows,” Northern Arizona Suns President Chris Presson said at a press conference announcing the theme night, adding it was important for the team to put its own little twist on the area’s history. “It’s not every day that in business you can change your name for a day and it’s OK. That’s the value part of what we bring to this area. We want to be fun and we want to be creative.”

POST GAME CONCERT with DAVEY ARNOLD

In addition to the team name and unique jerseys, fans will be able to enjoy a multitude of amenities off the court. A mechanical bull, face painting and a postgame concert by country artist Davey Arnold will be available for people to enjoy. Furthermore, the first 1,000 fans will take home their very own NAZ Rodeo Clowns cowboy hat.

Northern Arizona Suns Director of Business Operations Ashley Stovall said the event came from an offseason meeting where team personnel gathered to brainstorm theme nights and promotions for the following season in order to enhance entertainment behind the basketball game. Stovall mentioned the Rodeo Clown theme night was a team effort from the front office staff to the sales staff.

In terms of the logo and uniform design, Stovall says the credit goes to the creative department of the Phoenix Suns.

“We gave them some ideas and concepts of what we were thinking about and then they really pulled it together and made it what you see today,” Stovall said, adding the logo alone took four to six weeks to create from design concept to approval.“They presented us with probably about four different design ideas and this is the one that we selected because we felt it incorporated both our brands, the NAZ Suns and rodeo clowns, into it.”

“They really did a great job at putting this together,” Stovall said.

Combining ranching and rodeo culture with basketball for one special evening, Presson hopes the event appeals to the area’s multiple fan bases.

“It helps us to attract a unique base of fans that may not have otherwise come to a game that may have interest in this particular game,” Presson said. “It’s kind of all in one.”

Meanwhile, on the court, Head Coach Bret Burchard, who fondly remembers participating in a rodeo intermission event during his childhood where he had to wrangle some pigs, hopes to instill some characteristics of a rodeo clown into his players.

“I try to teach the players a lot more than just shooting and passing, hopefully, qualities that transcend what they do for us this year and then what they do in their basketball careers,” Burchard said. “I was just thinking about the characteristics of the rodeo clown and how it kind of fits what we’re trying to teach our guys. It sounds silly but two qualities really stood out to me and one was the selflessness of the job…what can you do to help your teammate be better. The second piece of it is just the joy in which a rodeo clown does his job.”

“We try to play with great enthusiasm and great joy and hopefully that transcends to the fans and the community,” Burchard continued. “We’re excited about the night and what it means for the community and what it could do for our team.”
Dressed in what Presson called “true rodeo clown uniforms” the Northern Arizona Rodeo Clowns hit the floor for one special night against the Texas Legends on Saturday, January 19th, at the Prescott Valley Event Center. Tip-off is 7 pm.

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