The Dallas Wings are set for a major venue upgrade, but fans will have to wait a little longer than expected. Head coach Jose Fernandez confirmed Thursday that the team will play all of their 2027 home games at the American Airlines Center—the home of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and NHL's Dallas Stars. This marks a significant step up from their current digs at the 7,000-seat College Park Center (CPC) in Arlington, where they've been based since rebranding from the Tulsa Shock in 2016.
The move to AAC comes as part of a broader transition plan. Initially, the Wings were supposed to play at the 20,000-seat arena this season under a 2024 agreement with the city of Dallas, which guaranteed AAC access if renovations to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium weren't completed in time for the 2026 season. That contingency is now kicking in. The team's permanent home—a renovated Memorial Auditorium seating around 8,400—isn't expected to open until 2028. Meanwhile, their state-of-the-art $81 million practice facility in West Oak Cliff, originally budgeted at $54 million in 2024, has faced delays and is now slated to open in spring 2027.
"We will be in the practice facility next year to open up training camp," Fernandez told Front Office Sports. "That is going to happen, and we will be playing all of our games in American Airlines arena next year as well."
The cost overruns on the practice facility have been notable. In March, the Dallas City Council approved covering $57 million of the new $81 million budget, with the Wings funding the remaining $24 million. Despite the setbacks, Fernandez emphasized the organization's commitment to improvement. "You've seen the investment in our ownership group. It was disappointing that some things did not happen with the city of Dallas that delayed the construction," he said. "But there were investments made in regards to the facilities here at CPC."
Interestingly, Wings CEO Greg Bibb noted in March that AAC wasn't considered a long-term solution, describing it as not viable for the team's future needs. Still, for the 2027 season, the move to a larger, more iconic venue represents a temporary but exciting upgrade—giving fans a chance to experience WNBA action in a premier NBA/NHL arena before settling into their new home in 2028.