WNBA’s Dallas Wings take flight

Article posted by Coliseum, May 7^th, 2024

Image: Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Dallas (Facebook)

The Dallas Wings of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) are making a move to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Arena in time for the 2026 season.

The Dallas Wings said the move comes after City of Dallas Council Members approved a 15-year, $19 million use agreement for the arena. The agreement is pending approval by the WNBA.

The New York (US)-based WNBA is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of 12 teams, all based in the United States.

The Wings will play the 2024 and 2025 WNBA seasons in College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, where the club has played the last eight seasons. They will then move to their new home.

Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb said, “The Dallas Wings would like to thank the City of Dallas and especially Mayor Johnson for his strategic vision and commitment. The City of Arlington, the University of Texas at Arlington, and College Park Center continue to be valued partners, and we look forward to playing in Arlington for the next two seasons.”

The Wings said the proposed deal comes at a time when interest in women’s sports, the WNBA, and the Wings is at record levels.

The Wings saw record attendance in 2023, and virtually every business metric record has been, or will soon be, broken during the 2024 season.

The Wings have sold out of Season Ticket Memberships and already experienced ticket sales growth north of 200 percent. Individual ticket sales are up more than 1,100 percent.

The sellout of Season Ticket Memberships for the 2024 season marks a first in the team’s history. A waitlist for Season Ticket Memberships has been established, with benefits including presale access to 2024 WNBA Playoff games and an opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to select 2024 regular-season games. The team is expected to announce multiple individual-game sellouts in the coming days.

Mayor Johnson said, “Dallas is the place to be right now – for residents, for businesses, and for professional sports teams and their fans.

“This deal has been a top priority for us because we know the Dallas Wings will soar in the city they represent. We will be thrilled to welcome the Wings to the heart of our city – and we are even more excited to see this franchise anchor our new convention center district that will transform downtown Dallas for decades to come.”

The City of Dallas and the Dallas Wings plan to formally release further information following WNBA league approval and the finalization of agreements.

Bibb added, “The Wings have had on-going talks with Mayor Johnson and Dallas officials about the City’s planned renovations to Memorial Auditorium. While there are many details that remain to be worked through, including approval by the Dallas City Council and the WNBA’s Board of Governors, the possibilities of relocating to downtown Dallas are boundless.

“Women’s basketball has captured the nation’s attention like never before, and both the WNBA and the Wings are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity. The City of Arlington, the University of Texas at Arlington, and College Park Center continue to be wonderful partners, and we look forward to continuing that relationship during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

“The City of Dallas’s proposal offers a fitting, world-class stage for our remarkable athletes and devoted fans and we look forward to commenting further at the appropriate time.”

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