Dallas Wings Practice Facility

Approving the use of land in Far West Oak Cliff for a Dallas Wings practice facility was a “no brainer,” Dallas Park and Recreation board president Arun Agarwal said during the body’s meeting last Thursday.

The City of Dallas had only recently identified a portion of undeveloped park land at 1200 North Cockrell Hill Road, known as Joey Georgusis Park, as an option for the WNBA team’s $55 million facility set to open in 2026.

Board members had questions about the location, why it was chosen and what other options the city had considered.

The Wings expected to move to Memorial Auditorium in 2026 under a 15-year, $19 million use agreement that also included the construction of a practice facility, but delays to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment pushed back the team’s move-in date to at least 2027.

The April 2024 agreement with the Wings still binds the city to provide the facility on time. The Dallas City Council will vote June 11 whether to adjust its contract with the Wings, who practice and play home games at UT-Arlington’s College Park Center, to include the proposed location.

Background and Context

The Dallas Wings are a professional basketball team that plays in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was previously known as the Tulsa Shock and was relocated to Dallas in 2016.

The team has been playing their home games at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, but they are looking to move to a new facility in the near future.

The proposed practice facility in Far West Oak Cliff is a key part of the team’s plans, and it is expected to be a state-of-the-art facility that will provide the team with a top-notch training environment.

What Locations Were Considered?

Rosa Fleming, director of convention and event services, said during the park board meeting last week that the city’s contract with the Wings did not stipulate an address, though before the convention center delays, the intent was for the facility to be adjacent or in close proximity to Memorial Auditorium. The Joey Georgusis land is about 8 miles west.

Fleming said her department outlined several locations that could be considered for the facility.

“All of them were an expense for the city in terms of real estate, which is something that the City Council has asked us to not do and to look at locations in the city that can be used and that are currently already owned,” Fleming said. “At that point, we contacted Park and Recreation and we went and looked at four additional sites.”

These included Samuell Grand Park in East Dallas, Joey Georgusis and two other locations, Fleming said.

The terrain at Samuell Grand would have complicated building the facility without an extra expense, and Fleming said other locations wouldn’t have worked because of flooding concerns.

Other Options Considered

Council District 12 representative Lane Conner asked if Fair Park, two miles east of downtown Dallas, had been considered as a location for the facility.

Fleming said convention and event services considered the Fair Park Coliseum, but it would require a lot of renovation to meet WNBA standards in terms of size, number of courts and other accommodations, such as medical areas.

Conner also asked if any closed down YMCAs in the area had been considered.

“All of those would require retrofit,” Fleming said in response. “Additionally, we would have had to purchase them.”

Why Joey Georgusis?

Among the positives of the chosen site are that it’s flat and hadn’t been used for 22 years, Fleming said.

“The family who donated it was asking for something to be done,” she added.

The new Wings facility will be one component of an undisclosed city initiative, “ProjectX3,” that will also include soccer fields and other elements intended to encourage sports development in Far West Oak Cliff.

Fleming also cited the location’s proximity to Interstate 30 and DFW Airport, which is about 18 miles away.

“That creates easy access in and out,” she said. “So it checked all of the boxes that we had in terms of questions.”

What is the Area Like?

The land covers 200 acres near Interstate 30 and Loop 12. Its official address is 1200 N. Cockrell Hill Road, but the entrance is along Pinnacle Park Boulevard next to an empty warehouse and across from a senior-living apartment complex called Hillside West.

Other apartment complexes border the west side of the land, and to the south, along Rock Quarry Road, are several more warehouses and distribution centers and the remains of a rock quarry.

The city doesn’t consider it an official park because it hasn’t been developed, but Fleming said it will be rezoned to park land.

Council District 14 representative Rudy Karimi said at last week’s board meeting that the area is “flex commercial” and borders community and residential areas.

“Where this area is proposed, I don’t think there’s really any risk of batch plants and things like that,” Karimi said.

Fleming said there is light industrial use of the area and traffic is public because it’s along the Cockrell Hill corridor.

“We have a mix of uses throughout that area,” she said.

Conclusion

The proposed practice facility for the Dallas Wings in Far West Oak Cliff is a significant development for the team and the city of Dallas. The facility will provide the team with a state-of-the-art training environment and will be a key part of the team’s plans for the future.

The city’s decision to choose the Joey Georgusis site for the facility was based on a number of factors, including the site’s proximity to Interstate 30 and DFW Airport, as well as its flat terrain and lack of use for 22 years.

While there were other options considered, including Fair Park and closed down YMCAs, the Joey Georgusis site was ultimately chosen due to its suitability for the facility and its potential for future development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the proposed practice facility for the Dallas Wings?

A: The proposed practice facility is a $55 million facility that will be located in Far West Oak Cliff, on a 200-acre site near Interstate 30 and Loop 12.

Q: Why was the Joey Georgusis site chosen for the facility?

A: The Joey Georgusis site was chosen due to its proximity to Interstate 30 and DFW Airport, as well as its flat terrain and lack of use for 22 years.

Q: What other options were considered for the facility?

A: Other options considered included Fair Park and closed down YMCAs, but the Joey Georgusis site was ultimately chosen due to its suitability for the facility and its potential for future development.

Q: What is the timeline for the construction of the facility?

A: The facility is expected to be completed by 2026, although the exact timeline may be subject to change.