DC Mayor Muriel Bowser "has reached a tentative deal to build" a $56.3M Wizards basketball practice facility and Mystics arena for Owner Ted Leonsis "on the east campus of the former St. Elizabeths hospital," according to Jonathan O'Connell of the WASHINGTON POST. Officials said that the city "plans to build and own the facility while the teams’ owner would contribute" $10M "to aid the surrounding neighborhood." Events DC, the District’s quasi-public convention and sports agency, "would manage the property and contribute up to" $32.5M of the cost. The project "would include a modern training center similar to those other NBA teams have built in recent years." The Mystics "would move their home games to a 5,000-seat arena at St. Elizabeths from the Verizon Center." The deal will "require approval" by the DC Council. Like other NBA owners, Leonsis "has been pushing for a state-of-the-art venue to replace existing practice space at the Verizon Center as he tries to attract marquee free agents." The Wizards "currently use a single practice court at Verizon that has no stands, as well as a weight room the team shares with other sports teams using the building" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/15).
