Wizards practice facility cost escalates by $10M

Even though construction hasn’t even begun yet on the $55 million Washington Wizards practice facility, costs are still escalating. The Washington Post reported that Events DC has proposed a series of upgrades to the facility that is set on being constructed at St. Elizabeth's east campus.

On July 26, President and Chief Executive of Events DC Gregory A. O’Dell sent D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson a revised budget. In the revised budget, there was an additional $7.5 million for constructing the arena with two levels of seating and an additional $2.5 million for contingencies. According to The Washington Post, the new budget will be paid for by Events DC.

When constructed, Wizards owner Ted Leonsis will move the team’s practices there along with the home games for the Washington Mystics. There will be a minimum of 4,200 seats in the 118,000-square-foot venue along with two practice courts, swimming pools, training rooms, and a kitchen. The facility is slated to open in 2018.