Approval of WNBA Practice Facility, DCFC Stadium Marks New Era for Detroit Sports

December 1, 2025

Detroit City Council approved two major sports development projects on November 26: a $198 million soccer stadium for Detroit City FC in Corktown and a $50 million WNBA practice facility on the city's east riverfront. Unlike past controversial stadium deals such as Little Caesars Arena, which received over $403 million in public subsidies but failed to deliver promised development, these projects faced minimal community opposition. The DCFC stadium includes community benefits like free tickets, public art funding, and labor standards, while the WNBA facility will be paired with a youth sports academy, though critics argue the split structure avoids triggering Detroit's community benefits ordinance.

Who is affected

Detroit City FC soccer team
Detroit's future WNBA team (unnamed, launching 2029)
Corktown area residents near the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital
East Jefferson riverfront community near the contaminated Uniroyal site
Detroit City Council members
Pistons Sports & Entertainment group
Workers at the new facilities (promised $17 minimum wage and union neutrality at DCFC stadium)
Community organizations receiving funding commitments
Local business owners concerned about parking
Detroit youth who will access the sports academy
Detroiters for Tax Justice advocacy group
Union advocates and the Home Rule Project

What action is being taken

Detroit City Council is approving tax breaks and community benefits agreements for both projects
DCFC is providing $1.2 million to the surrounding Corktown area
The club is giving away 3,000 free tickets each season to residents
Developers are committing $50,000 toward public art
More than $1 million is being earmarked for community organizations over 12 years
Developers are demolishing the abandoned hospital site

Why it matters

This represents a significant shift in Detroit's approach to publicly-subsidized sports development, with greater emphasis on community benefits and accountability after the disappointing results of the Little Caesars Arena project. The return of WNBA basketball to Detroit after 20 years marks an important milestone for women's professional sports in the city. The projects test whether lessons have been learned from past development failures, particularly regarding the balance between public subsidies and tangible community benefits, though concerns remain about developers potentially circumventing community benefits requirements through project structuring.

What's next

The DCFC stadium construction will proceed at 20th Street and Michigan Avenue with 15,000 seats and 76 apartment units
The WNBA practice facility construction will move forward on the contaminated Uniroyal site
More information about the youth sports academy is expected sometime in 2026
The WNBA expansion team will launch in 2029, playing games at Little Caesars Arena and the Wayne State fieldhouse
Developers must partner with Detroit workforce agencies to provide job opportunities to residents for the practice facility

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle