City Council in Dallas agrees on an allocation of $5.5 million to support the construction of a practice facility for the Dallas Wings basketball team.
Dallas City Council Approves $5.5 Million for Dallas Wings Practice Facility, Despite Unspecified Location
During a meeting on Wednesday, the Dallas City Council granted additional funds to aid the construction of a practice facility for the WNBA's Dallas Wings, who are set to relocate to the city next year. The council unanimously approved an amendment to their contract with architecture and design firm Gensler, increasing it from $25 million to nearly $31 million for the construction of the offsite facility. The facility will be situated adjacent to Arcadia Park and Dallas National Club, with a tentative completion date of May 2026. However, the specific location of the facility was not revealed during the meeting, causing some council members to voice their concerns.
Council members Cara Mendelsohn, Jesse Moreno, and Paul Ridley voted against the proposal, questioning why a decision regarding the location was being made without disclosing the site. Without the location details, Moreno expressed his inability to support the project. City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert addressed these concerns by stating that a special park board meeting on June 11 would provide more information about the location, emphasizing the decision for withholding the information was due to it being a closed session discussion.
City records indicate that the practice facility will be constructed at Joey Georgusis Park at 1200 N. Cockrell Hill Road, which encompasses a largely undeveloped area of nearly 200 acres. Besides the WNBA facility, the site will also house four new soccer fields and be part of future development plans in Oak Cliff.
The Dallas Wings have been playing at the University of Texas at Arlington's College Park Center since 2016, following their rebrand and move to the area. Last year, Dallas announced a 15-year deal with the WNBA, which included a commitment from the city to build the team a practice facility. Initially, it was planned to be near the Memorial Auditorium and the Kay Bailey Convention Center. However, construction delays due to the center's tight schedule for renovations in preparation for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup resulted in a relocation of the facility. The Memorial Auditorium renovations are included in the convention center's redesigning, which is estimated to cost the city $3.5 billion.
Penelope Rivera is KERA's breaking news reporter, and tips can be sent to her via email at [email protected].
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- The Dallas City Council has approved a significant increase in funding for the construction of a practice facility for the WNBA's Dallas Wings.
- The approved amendment to the contract with Gensler now stands at nearly $31 million.
- Despite the council's decision, the exact location of the practice facility remains undisclosed, causing some council members to voice concerns.
- City records suggest the facility may be constructed at Joey Georgusis Park, an almost 200-acre, largely undeveloped site in Oak Cliff.
- The WNBA facility will also feature four new soccer fields and is part of future development plans in the area.
- The sports industry is abuzz with the latest breaking news about the relocation of the Dallas Wings' practice facility, with Penelope Rivera of KERA News at the helm of reporting this development.
