A standoff over a $27 million budget shortfall is forcing the Dallas Wings to get creative, proposing a unique naming rights deal to salvage their delayed practice facility project.

As the franchise continues pushing to take over development of its long-awaited practice facility, according to city documents, the Wings are now planning to sell naming rights to the new facility as a way to generate additional revenue. But the structure of that deal makes things even more interesting.

Under the agreement, the franchise would return 70% of any naming rights proceeds back to the city, while keeping the remaining 30% for itself. Moreover, a portion of the city’s share is expected to go toward the development of Joey Georgusis Park – the same site where the facility is being planned.

It’s a move that not only helps offset rising costs but also ties the project more directly to community investment, something city officials have continued to emphasize throughout the process.

But this revenue-sharing move doesn’t exist in isolation. Because it’s directly tied to a much bigger issue that has been building for months. And at the center of this entire situation is a growing financial standoff between the franchise and the city.

With project costs rising well beyond the initial $54 million estimate to over $81 million, the Wings have already signaled their willingness to step in and take on a significant portion of the burden. That includes roughly $27 million in private funding, along with a commitment to cover any additional overruns if they are given control of the project.

In return, the city would remain capped at its original contribution, effectively shifting both financial risk and development responsibility toward the Dallas Wings.

What was once pitched as a spring 2026 opening has now been pushed back, with updated projections placing the facility’s completion in 2027. That delay is exactly why Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb has made his stance clear.

Speaking to the Dallas Business Journal, Bibb reiterated that the team wants to take over development of the facility, pointing directly to the ongoing delays as the driving factor. For the franchise, this isn’t just about speeding things up, but regaining control over a project that is central to its long-term future in Dallas.

And the ripple effects are already being felt beyond just the practice facility.

While the Wings had signed a 15-year agreement in 2024 to move into a renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium by 2026, that timeline has now also been pushed back by two years. With the arena project lagging behind, the team is adjusting its plans accordingly. Bibb confirmed that the Wings now expect to play their home games at the American Airlines Center during the 2027 season.

So when you put it all together, the naming rights decision starts to make even more sense.

Because this isn’t just about creating a new revenue stream. It’s about navigating delays, absorbing rising costs, and finding ways to keep a long-term vision intact.

Inside the Dallas Wings’ delayed facility

What’s being built in West Oak Cliff isn’t just a practice gym, it’s a facility which is expected to span roughly 70,000 square feet, designed to meet evolving WNBA standards while also serving as a year-round base for basketball operations.

In this facility, the Wings plan to include two full courts, dedicated locker rooms, a weight room, kitchen space, offices, and training areas, all built with a focus on both performance and player development.

But the vision doesn’t stop with the team.

City documents outline a community-focused wing within the facility, which will be open to the public during scheduled hours. That space is expected to include meeting rooms, while the surrounding area will feature two adjacent soccer fields and a connection to the Chalk Hill Trail, integrating the project into the broader park environment.

That community element has remained central to the development, even when the timelines continue to move.

But until this project is completed, the Dallas Wings will continue to operate out of its current setup in Arlington.

The numbers are in place. The agreements are evolving. But until the doors actually open, the Wings are still building more on paper than on the ground.