Live Nation has announced that the 20,000-seat outdoor concert venue in west Phoenix formerly known as the Ak-Chin Pavilion has a new name-in-title sponsor, Talking Stick Resort, and is now called Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre.

Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona are enterprises of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

“Talking Stick Resort prides itself on partnering with organizations with goals that align with our own,” said Ramon Martinez, director of public relations for Talking Stick Resort. “Live Nation is just that type of partner. Like us, they are committed and passionate about providing guests with unparalleled entertainment. We are proud to have the Talking Stick Resort name associated with a legendary venue where people go to have unforgettable experiences.”

Martinez said that once Talking Stick Resort realized the naming rights for the venue were becoming available, the resort’s leadership reached out to Live Nation to begin discussions, which led to negotiations that took several months.

“Our goal in pursuing partnerships with any organization, venue, sports team or event is always the same: to grow and solidify the brand recognition of Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort,” said Martinez. “That recognition we generate helps us reach new potential guests in other parts of our state and more from out of state. In terms of the [SRPMIC], anything that we can do to make the Enterprises successful positively impacts the Community and its future, not only financially, but through the career development of Community members. We also always strive to be a source of pride for the Community in all that we do.”

The on-site branding of the newly named venue is not up yet, but it is actively being developed and will be in place to kick off the 2023 concert series. There will be Talking Stick Resort signage throughout the venue, including above the stage and in an exclusive Casino Arizona VIP area.

Martinez said that now that there is an announcement of the name change, there will be an official event to recognize the Community in the months to come.

Talking Stick Resort is an exclusive casino and resort sponsor of the Arizona Diamondbacks, which includes signage throughout Chase Field, including Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona logos on the baseball diamond on the field. The resort also has an exclusive suite and private lounge inside the stadium that they are working on, and they are currently finalizing the branding.

The resort is also a major sponsor of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Grand Canyon University and the Arizona Rattlers.

The resort sponsors major events throughout the Valley and is the exclusive casino sponsor of the WM Phoenix Open, Bell Bank Park and Topgolf. Other events sponsored by the resort include the Scottsdale Polo Championship, Pat’s Run, Celebrity Fight Night, the USA Today Food and Wine Festival, Fiesta Bowl, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl and more.

For more than 30 years, the venue has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment across all genres, including Metallica, David Bowie, Jason Aldean, Wu-Tang Clan, Elton John, Pearl Jam, The Police and Fleetwood Mac. The venue is also the only Phoenix Point of Pride in Maryvale, a program initiated by the Phoenix Pride Commission in 1991 to foster a sense of community pride among Valley residents.

The venue has gone through a multitude of name changes since its inception:

•   Desert Sky Pavilion, 1988-1996

•   Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion, 1996-2001

•   Cricket Pavilion, 2001-2006

•   Cricket Wireless Pavilion, 2006-2010

•   Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion, 2010-2013

•   Desert Sky Pavilion, again in 2013

•   Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2013-2023

• Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2023-present

Currently, announced performers on the 2023 Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre show schedule include the 98KUPD UFEST featuring Godsmack and more (May 6), Dead & Company (May 23), Shania Twain (May 30), Matchbox Twenty (May 31), Janet Jackson (June 7), ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd (August 13), Foreigner (August 20) and Eric Church (September 16), with more shows to be announced soon.