Detroit City Council approves tax breaks for WNBA headquarters

November 19, 2025

The Detroit City Council has unanimously approved brownfield tax incentives worth $34. 5 million for a development project that will bring a WNBA franchise to the city on a contaminated former Uniroyal manufacturing site along the Detroit River. The project includes a $50 million WNBA practice facility and headquarters, plus a separate youth sports development academy to be run by a nonprofit organization.

Who is affected

Pistons Sports and Entertainment (project investors and developers)
Richard Haddad (Chief Operating Officer for Pistons Sports and Entertainment)
Detroit residents, particularly families seeking local youth sports facilities
Adjacent neighborhoods near the former Uniroyal site
An unnamed nonprofit that will operate the youth development academy
Former Detroit Shock/Pistons players including Deanna Nolan and Rick Mahorn
Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University (mentioned in relation to previous community benefits process)
Detroit City Council members
Detroit's Planning and Development Department
Detroit's workforce development agency

What action is being taken

The City Council is authorizing brownfield tax breaks for the development
Investors are planning a practice facility and headquarters for the WNBA franchise
The brownfield plan is awaiting state approval for $34.5 million in cleanup cost reimbursement
Developers are required to partner with the city's workforce development agency to promote hiring of Detroit residents
Developers are required to work with the Planning Department to mitigate negative impacts

Why it matters

This project represents a significant redevelopment opportunity for a severely contaminated, long-blighted site along Detroit's riverfront that has been vacant since manufacturing operations ceased in 1980. The development will bring professional women's basketball back to Detroit while creating new youth sports facilities that residents currently must travel to suburbs to access. However, the project's structuring as two separate components—despite being described as unified in city documents—allows developers to avoid more rigorous community benefits negotiations that would be triggered by the combined $75+ million investment threshold, potentially limiting formal commitments to surrounding neighborhoods.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com