PHOTOS: Chicago Sky building state-of-the-art performance center in Bedford Park, team announces

CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky will soon have their own “Skytown” in the southwest suburbs.

In partnership with the Village of Bedford Park, the Sky announced Thursday they will break ground this fall on a custom-built WNBA performance center that’s scheduled to be completed by December 2025. According to the Sky, the $38 million facility will provide over 40,000 square feet of space for a practice facility that will be dedicated to the team’s players and also be home for team staff.

In renderings provided by the team, shown below, the new facility is named “Skytown.”

The performance center, the team says, will be located on land next to the Wintrust Sports Complex, located at 5499 West 65th Street in Bedford Park. That’s close to Wintrust Arena, where the Sky play their home games on Chicago’s Near South Side, which the team says will allow players to live downtown, simplify in-season travel and be able to experience Chicago’s top restaurants, cultural attractions and neighborhoods.

According to a Sky press release, the performance center will include: two regulation-sized WNBA courts, first-class amenities, private facilities for players, player lounges, a high-tech film room, an advanced training room with cutting-edge strength and conditioning equipment, a private chef’s kitchen, locker rooms with personalized lockers, secured parking, content creation studio, beauty stations, and more.

“We could not be more excited to announce a practice facility that will raise the bar on athletic performance, set the standard for player amenities and support our players with exceptional resources built exclusively for them,” Nadia Rawlinson, Chicago Sky Co-Owner and Operating Chairman, said in a press release. “Living in downtown Chicago will also give Sky players the opportunity to experience all of the benefits of our world-class city.

“We thank Bedford Park, who stepped up to be part of the first of its kind public-private partnership for a WNBA practice facility and to bring this transformational vision to life.”

“As a lifelong Bedford Park resident, educator and coach, I am thrilled to announce the expansion of the Wintrust Sports Complex to feature the Chicago Sky’s state-of-the-art practice and training facility,” Bedford Park Village President David R. Brady said in the release. “I want to thank our board and the Sky leadership for believing in a collective vision and investing in the future of Bedford Park.

“We are excited to be part of ‘Skytown’ and are looking forward to welcoming them to their new home.”

Additionally, the team says, the Sky will be able to strengthen their community outreach and programming, given the new facility’s “proximity to underserved areas on Chicago’s West and South Sides.”

As part of their community outreach, the Sky are also announcing new community partnerships with the Obama Foundation and YMCA of Metro Chicago, including programming at their new respective facilities.

“Teaming up with the Chicago Sky has allowed us to inspire, empower and connect more of our young people on the South Side,” Michael Strautmanis, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at the Obama Foundation, said in the release.

“We are so excited that the Chicago Sky will be practicing in our backyard and look forward to bringing the ‘Power of Play’ and inspiring joy, hope and opportunity in Bedford Park and across ‘Skytown,'” Dorri McWhorter, CEO of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, said in the release.

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