Dallas Wings Training Facility Funding Sparks Debate Among City Leaders

Dallas city officials are making significant investments in women's sports, particularly as the WNBA's Dallas Wings prepare for a relocation that has stirred both excitement and apprehension.

The Wings' transition to Memorial Auditorium, part of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, has encountered delays, pushing the expected move to 2027. This shift has prompted city leaders to expedite plans for a dedicated training facility.

On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council allocated $5.5 million for the design of this off-site training center, which is projected to cost between $48 million and $54 million. The facility will be situated at 1200 N. Cockrell Hill Road in West Dallas, distinct from the arena where the team will eventually host its home games.

While enthusiasm for the Wings' relocation was palpable among council members, some voiced apprehensions regarding the rapid pace of the project and the limited public discourse surrounding its financial implications and site selection.

"We are very much in support of the Wings," remarked Council member Chad West, acknowledging the need for careful navigation of the process. "Just an issue we have to work through today."

Questions arose from Council member Paul Ridley, who probed the necessity of a separate training facility, asking, "Can you tell us why they need a practice facility? To practice as well as to play games?"

City staff clarified that the new convention center complex lacks sufficient space for the promised training amenities. The council's vote was solely focused on approving additional design funding.

Despite calls from some members to postpone the vote for two weeks to gather more public input, the motion failed. Several council members cautioned that even a brief delay could jeopardize the project's timeline.

"It's very rare to be able to go at this kind of speed," Council member Omar Narvaez stated emphatically. "If any of my colleagues think that two weeks is not a big deal, it is a big deal. Those two weeks could delay everything. The Dallas Wings have to be ready and practicing by April 2026."

City Manager Kimberly Tolbert reinforced this sense of urgency, noting, "We are already in the month of May, less than a year to get design completed ... and for them to be able to move in. We don't want to be back in front of the city council explaining why we could not keep the project on track."

Ultimately, despite lingering concerns, the council voted in favor of advancing the funding. Leaders underscored the importance of establishing Dallas as a premier destination for professional sports.

"If we are going to act and be the sports city," Council member Zarin Gracey asserted, "... we definitely need to keep this moving."

City officials also addressed circulating rumors regarding a delay in the Wings' move to Dallas, affirming that plans remain on schedule for welcoming the team in 2026.

Robbie, who grew up in northeast Texas, reflects on her family's six-generation history in a small town, underscoring the local connection to this evolving sports narrative.