Footprint Center Bag Policy 2026: Size Rules & Clear Bag Guide

If you are searching for the Footprint Center bag policy before a Phoenix Suns game or concert, read this first. The Footprint naming rights ran from 2021 to 2025, and since October 2025 the arena has been called the Mortgage Matchup Center. The official policy lives on the venue’s “Know Before You Go” and “Policies & Rules” pages at mortgagematchupcenter.com.

The short version is simple: no backpacks of any size, and every bag must fit within 14″ x 14″ x 6″. Bags larger than a 4″ x 6″ clutch go through X-ray screening lanes, while guests with no bag or a small clutch get the faster Evolv express lanes.

Quick Answer

Official Policy Verification & Source Check

• Official source: Mortgage Matchup Center — “Know Before You Go” / “Policies & Rules” (mortgagematchupcenter.com)
• Source type: Venue official website, event-specific policy page
• Last checked: October 2026
• Confidence level: High — dimensions are quoted verbatim from the official page
• Notes on conflicting figures: Third-party sites agree with the official 14″ x 14″ x 6″ limit. One caution: an older Ticketmaster blog phrased the exception as “14 x 6 x 12″ for single-compartment bags, which is outdated — the current official rule is a uniform 14″ x 14″ x 6”. We publish the official figure.

How We Check This Policy. We verify every bag rule against the venue’s own published pages rather than relying on travel blogs or fan forums. For this article, we pulled the bag rules from the Mortgage Matchup Center’s official “Know Before You Go” section and cross-checked the dimensions against third-party coverage. Where older third-party wording disagrees, the official venue page wins, and we name the outdated figure so you know which version to trust. Policies can change by event, so always confirm on the event page before you leave.

What Makes Footprint Center’s Bag Policy Different

Most NBA arenas either demand clear bags or set a small clutch limit. The Footprint Center — now the Mortgage Matchup Center — instead allows standard opaque bags up to a generous 14″ x 14″ x 6″. That is large enough for a tote or crossbody with everything a parent or concertgoer needs. The trade-off is strict: backpacks of any size are banned outright.

The second differentiator is the two-lane entry system. Bags over 4″ x 6″ head to X-ray screening lanes, while guests with no bag or a clutch under 4″ x 6″ use Evolv express lanes. If you travel light, you will genuinely move faster.

Finally, the lack of any bag check is a hard line worth planning around. If security turns your bag away, your only option is walking it back to your car or hotel. Knowing that before you park changes how you pack.

Allowed Bags and Size Limits

Purses and Totes

Purses, totes, crossbodies, and shoulder bags are all welcome within 14″ x 14″ x 6″. There is no clear-bag requirement, so opaque fashion bags are fine. Just remember the 4″ x 6″ threshold: anything bigger goes through the X-ray lane rather than the express lane.

Measure your bag before you leave, including handles and hardware. A tote that measures 14″ x 15″ fails, even if it compresses — and without a bag check available, a rejection means a trip back to the car.

What a Compliant Bag Looks Like

A compliant bag at the arena is a tote or crossbody that fits comfortably within 14″ x 14″ x 6″ — like the clear tote shown above, photographed at an arena security screening table. Opaque bags are fine too; the size limit and the X-ray lane are what matter.

Diaper and Medical Bags

Purses, medical bags, and diaper bags are explicitly allowed within the same 14″ x 14″ x 6″ limit. They face additional screening, including X-ray, so plan for a slightly longer stop at the lane.

Bring only what you truly need and keep medical items accessible for inspection. If you carry prescriptions, keep them in their original labeled containers.

Security Screening: How Entry Actually Works

Entry is split into two streams. Guests carrying bags larger than 4″ x 6″ are directed to X-ray screening lanes, where the bag runs through the machine while you pass the checkpoint. Have it open and ready before you reach the front.

Guests with no bag, or with a clutch smaller than 4″ x 6″, use the Evolv express lanes. These walk-through sensor lanes move noticeably faster. If your party splits up, pick a meeting point inside.

Arrive early for marquee events. Suns playoff games and big concerts push the X-ray lanes to capacity, and the longest lines form in the final 30 minutes before tip-off or showtime.

On-Site Bag Storage

There is no bag check at the arena. Oversized bags are not held at the gates — guests are told to return them to their vehicle or hotel. This makes advance measuring the single most important step in your preparation.

If you are driving, give yourself an extra 15 to 20 minutes of buffer in case security rejects your bag. No third-party locker services are advertised at the venue, so assume none exist.

Food, Beverage and Other Prohibited Items

Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the arena. Sealed water bottles are generally not allowed either — check your specific event’s “Know Before You Go” page, as special events can tighten the rule further.

Professional cameras with detachable lenses, tripods, and selfie sticks are restricted for most events. Signs are subject to event-specific size rules. Weapons of any kind are prohibited, and all guests are subject to search.

Prohibited Items

• Backpacks of any size (except qualifying drawstring and media bags)
• Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″
• Outside food and beverages
• Professional cameras with detachable lenses (most events)
• Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks
• Weapons of any kind
• Noisemakers such as air horns
• Laser pointers

Packing Strategy for Faster Entry

• Go clutch-only if you can. A bag under 4″ x 6″ unlocks the Evolv express lanes and skips the X-ray queue entirely.
• Measure before you leave. Include zippers, clasps, and handles. If it is borderline, swap it for a smaller bag.
• Consolidate your group. One compliant tote for the whole party beats three bags in three X-ray lanes.
• Check the event page that day. Special events like the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four can impose stricter clutch-only rules that override the standard policy.

Category-Specific Packing Tips

Families with kids. One diaper bag within 14″ x 14″ x 6″ per family is the cleanest setup. Pack diapers, wipes, and one change of clothes only — leave the full backup kit in the car. Expect the additional screening lane to take a few extra minutes.

Concertgoers. Skip the tote for shows and go with a small crossbody or wristlet under 4″ x 6″. You will use the express lane while the merch-line crowd waits at X-ray. Earplugs and a portable phone charger fit easily in a clutch.

Suns game regulars. If you bring the same bag every game, measure it once and tape the dimensions inside. A consistent 14″ x 14″ x 6″-compliant bag removes all game-day guesswork.

Before You Go Checklist

• ☐ Bag measures 14″ x 14″ x 6″ or smaller
• ☐ No backpack packed — switched to a tote or crossbody
• ☐ Event page checked for special-event rules (clutch-only events)
• ☐ Medical or diaper supplies consolidated into one bag
• ☐ Meeting point set if the party splits between express and X-ray lanes
• ☐ Arriving 60+ minutes early for big games and concerts
• ☐ Oversized items left at the hotel or in the car

FAQs

Is the Footprint Center now called the Mortgage Matchup Center?

Yes. The Footprint naming-rights deal covered 2021 through 2025, and the arena was renamed the Mortgage Matchup Center in October 2025. The official bag policy is published on mortgagematchupcenter.com under “Know Before You Go” and “Policies & Rules.”

Can I bring a backpack to a Suns game?

No. Backpacks of any size are prohibited. The only exceptions are single-compartment drawstring bags and credentialed media backpacks that fit within 14″ x 14″ x 6″.

What is the exact bag size limit?

All bags must be within 14″ x 14″ x 6″. An older Ticketmaster blog phrased the drawstring-bag exception as “14 x 6 x 12,” but the current official rule is a uniform 14″ x 14″ x 6″ for every allowed bag type.

Which entry lane should I use?

If your bag is larger than 4″ x 6″, use the X-ray screening lanes. If you have no bag or a clutch smaller than 4″ x 6″, use the Evolv express lanes — they move faster.

Can I bring a diaper bag?

Yes. Diaper bags and medical bags are allowed within the 14″ x 14″ x 6″ limit, but they face additional screening, including X-ray. Pack light to keep the process quick.

Is there somewhere to check an oversized bag?

No. The arena does not offer bag check, and oversized bags are not held at the gates. You will need to return them to your vehicle or hotel, so measure your bag before you arrive.

Related Bag Policies

• Toyota Arena Bag Policy Guide
• T-Mobile Center Bag Policy Guide
• Kia Center Bag Policy Guide
• Climate Pledge Arena Bag Policy Guide

Conclusion

The Footprint Center bag policy — now the Mortgage Matchup Center policy — is straightforward: 14″ x 14″ x 6″ maximum, no backpacks, and X-ray screening for anything over a 4″ x 6″ clutch. There is no clear-bag requirement, but there is also no bag check.

Measure your bag at home, check the event page for special-event variations, and choose the right lane at the gate. For the smoothest night, go clutch-only and glide through the Evolv express lanes.