Delay in the Dallas Wings’ Move to New Arena
The expected transition of the Dallas Wings to a renovated arena in the city center has been postponed, at least for a year, due to construction delays. However, the new training facilities are expected to be completed as planned.
Greg Bibb, CEO and managing partner of the club, told The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday that the Wings will play at least one more season at the University of Texas at Arlington, located about 20 miles from downtown Dallas.
The WNBA team has been playing in Arlington since it moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the 2016 season.
The Dallas City Council approved on Wednesday the construction of the training facilities, costing $55 million, which will be built a few kilometers west of downtown. Bibb indicated that the Wings intend to use those facilities while continuing to play their home games in Arlington.
The renovated arena, which will be called the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Arena, was the former home of the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association. That franchise became the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA in 1973.
The city approved $7.7 million for renovations last year as part of a 15-year use agreement, which included a provision stating that the training facilities had to be completed before 2026.
