Completion of the Chicago Sky’s new training facility in Bedford Park will be delayed into 2026 as the team and the village expand the original plans for the building.
The $38 million facility originally was expected to be completed in October 2025. The building is being constructed in partnership with the village of Bedford Park as part of the second phase of development at the Wintrust Sports Complex, which also will add two turf fields, a hotel, a gas station and two restaurants this year.
After altering the original construction plans to expand the facility, the Sky and the village now anticipate that completion will be delayed several months. Despite the additions, the Sky told the Tribune they expect the facility to be available for training camp in April 2026.
“Construction of the Chicago Sky facility in the village of Bedford Park is on schedule for delivery before the start of the 2026 WNBA season,” Sky President and CEO Adam Fox told the Tribune. “As the WNBA continues to experience record-setting growth, we’ve kept a sharp focus on the competitive and consistently evolving landscape to ensure our performance facility meets the needs of elite players now and into the future. Since our July 2024 announcement, we have worked collaboratively with the village of Bedford Park to make additional facility updates consistent with that goal.”
This delay was first publicly discussed in a December meeting of the Bedford Park board, during which the village suggested that ALPA Construction — the company in charge of Phase 2 — does not expect to finish the facility until April 2026.
A published copy of the meeting’s minutes offered only a vague description of that conversation, which also included details about financing the development.
“Chicago Sky backed off on a request for more money,” the minutes read. “President (Davidy) Brady stated that they are having trouble getting a loan. They are requesting the village to front the money for them, interest-free.”
The suggestion that the Sky were “having trouble” securing a loan sparked alarm among some fans online. The reality is more mundane — fluctuating plans for the recent additions to the training facility have altered both the construction plans and the final cost estimations for the project.
Until the new details are finalized, the Sky will not pursue an application for a loan, which is why the village and the team agreed to an altered payment plan.
“As a practical matter, we have not yet discussed financing with any lenders, but we will do so in the very near future when updated construction specs and budgets are completed,” Fox said.
Photos: Chicago Sky break ground on their new practice facility in Bedford Park
Brady confirmed to the Tribune that the village and the Sky remain in lockstep in regards to their financial agreement. And Sky leadership ensured the team will fulfill the entirety of its fiduciary commitment on an agreed-upon timeline with the village.
Last summer, the Sky agreed to pay an up-front sum of $5.9 million, which accounts for about 15.5% of the original estimated cost of $38 million. An original payment plan outlined in Bedford Park’s public board meetings detailed that the franchise was expected to make an initial payment of $1.5 million in September, then fulfill a final payment of $4.4 million in the ensuing 180 days.
The Bedford Park board outlined the agreement with the Sky over a series of meetings throughout 2024. The legal language resembles a tenancy agreement. While the training facility will be exclusive and purpose-built for the Sky, it will not belong to the team — which means the Sky will not have ownership equity in the building that is ultimately constructed.
With their $5.9 million front-end payment, the Sky would secure a 10-year deal to occupy a 43,000-square-foot portion of the 125,000-square-foot facility constructed in Phase 2 of the Wintrust Sports Complex project. After 10 years, the Sky will have an option to renew for another decade. Bedford Park will cover all utilities and maintenance throughout the tenure.
When Bedford Park originally made this agreement, Brady told the Tribune the village wanted to maintain flexibility toward the needs of the Sky throughout the process. And during their conversations, village leadership voiced certainty about the team’s ability to uphold its financial responsibilities for the project.
“It’s unusual for a Chicago sports team to pay money for any building project,” Brady said during a June board meeting. “So that part is good.”
Village attorney Larry Gryczewski agreed: “Like the mayor said, to get money up front from the Sky or any team owner — ask the Bears — that’s hard.”
And according to Brady, this flexibility is why board members were open to the idea when the team approached them with a pitch for expansion to the training facility.
The Sky have not announced the specifications of the addition, which is anticipated to result in a 33-50% increase in the overall size of the project. Original plans for the facility included two full-length basketball courts, a training room, a player’s lounge, a content creation space and administrative offices. The cost of the overall build — and the Sky’s contribution — will also increase with the expansion.
Both Brady and Sky leadership expect the final plans for the additions to be agreed upon, announced and financed within the next month. Brady also noted the project could be further affected by the financial fluctuation created by the Trump administration’s tariff policies.
“It’s a time of uncertainty,” Brady told the Tribune. “We want to see the Sky have the best training facility in the WNBA and we’re hoping that will be accomplished. But it’s also tied in with our Phase 2. It’s a pretty big project.”
For the Sky, avoiding future delays will be key.
The original construction timeline would have allowed the Sky to utilize their new facilities as an additional attractor during a highly anticipated WNBA free-agency period following the expected completion of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Sky are one of six WNBA teams without their own stand-alone practice facility. The team trains at Sachs Recreation Center, a Deerfield Park District subsidiary with a single practice court. Players can access these facilities only during regular hours of operation (5 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and must follow government holiday schedules.
For years, this type of accommodation was standard in the WNBA. But facilities have become a keen focus as the league’s popularity and success grow, raising the standard for player treatment along the way. Expansion teams such as the Golden State Valkyries are entering the league with new facilities, while other teams have committed to constructing their own spaces in the coming years.
Maximizing the upcoming free-agency window will be crucial as the Sky attempt to build a competitive roster around young stars Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese — a venture that will be much more attractive with competitive facilities.
