phoenix suns set to build new training facility

A practice facility that could cost as much as $50 million to build is set to go up near the intersection of 44th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix.

The building will belong to the Phoenix Suns basketball team and is part of a larger plan approved by members of the Phoenix City Council earlier this year that will also include a $235 million renovation of the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The team’s current practice facility is inside that arena.

In a statement, James Jones, general manager of the team, said, “The development of this stand-alone, secure, and private facility will enhance our player health, development, and wellness capabilities, and will allow us to retain and attract the best basketball talent to the Valley for years to come.”

As planned, the practice facility will house two basketball courts, training space, and offices. Team officials say that the state-of-the-art facility will also allow for a greater use of player development and sport science techniques.

The facility will also be used by the Phoenix Mercury team, which plays in the Western Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association.

According to sources, work on the privately-financed practice facility could begin later this summer, with a rough completion date of mid-2021.

By Garry Boulard

---