On the same day that the Los Angeles Sparks will introduce their new head coach Lynne Roberts, the franchise set into motion another pillar of its future. The Sparks announced Thursday that they have partnered with Transwestern Real Estate Services to begin the process of building a practice facility.
Transwestern works with teams and leagues to acquire land and properties and provide brokerage services. The company has been part of recent projects with the Phoenix Mercury and Overtime Elite.
“We are building more than a practice facility; we are investing in the future of women’s basketball in Los Angeles,” Sparks governor Eric Holoman said in a statement. “This facility is part of a broader vision to elevate the LA Sparks as the premier franchise in the WNBA and to create an environment where our players have every resource they need to achieve greatness. Los Angeles is a city of champions, and we are determined to bring that winning legacy to the Sparks.”
For the last two seasons, L.A. practiced out of El Camino College, a community college in Torrance, Calif. The Sparks shared the space with students at the school, restricting their access to the building and forcing players to look elsewhere to work out beyond those hours. [The Athletic]
Back in 2019, when Andy Armacost first toured UND Athletics’ old offices in the 1927-vintage Memorial Stadium building, he remembers thinking, “Hmm. This is a Division I program without a Division I place to live.”
That was then. This is now:
UND Athletics’ spectacular new headquarters is a sign of the department’s commitment to “compete at the highest level,” Armacost said at the offices’ grand opening on Nov. 15.
And just as important, the offices — and the support they’ll provide for UND athletes — send a message to those athletes from the University. That message is, “We believe in you. We’re behind you. We’re going to cheer you on to victory,” Armacost continued. [UND.edu]
Fort Bend ISD approved the plan to build an aquatic practice facility amid discussion of the 2023 bond shortfall at the Nov. 18 board of trustees meeting.
The board-approved budget for the May 2023 bond includes $22.9 million for a natatorium. The current estimate for the project—a naturally ventilated facility with garage doors that open—is $6 million greater than the approved budget, according to the agenda packet.
According to the packet, the project will require use of program contingency funds from FBISD's 2014 or 2018 bond programs.
“The action that you would be taking tonight would be directing staff to move forward with a practice facility as it was budgeted for, not necessarily advertised as part of the [2023] bond,” FBISD Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn said. [Community Impact]
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