Discussions are underway for transforming the long-abandoned Uniroyal site along the Detroit riverfront into a multisport complex and youth sports academy, officials confirmed. This development comes with the added potential of hosting a newly bid WNBA team in Detroit, offering a practice facility and headquarters should the team materialize. The initiative is led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, as reported by Local 4.
The site in question, a 44-acre parcel just west of the bridge to Belle Isle, was once the home of a tire factory that shut its doors in the early 80s. According to the Detroit Free Press, the City of Detroit owns it and has had failed attempts at redevelopment in the past, including an aborted plan for luxury housing. Mayor Mike Duggan has expressed strong support for the new vision, which suggests a greater community focus over previous proposals.
This development appears to be a compelling component of a larger vision to revitalize the riverfront and provide resources for local youth. "This kind of use of this Riverfront land fits perfectly into the mayor’s mission to return as much of Detroit’s riverfront as possible back to residents," a statement from Mayor Mike Duggan's office shared with Local 4 detailed. The project, still in the early stages of planning and discussion, will require approval from the Detroit City Council before proceeding.
Alongside the sports complex, a team of investors that includes notable figures in Detroit's sports and business communities has lodged a formal bid for a WNBA expansion team, citing the potential for more than 20 additional sporting events in the city annually. The bid is backed by influential names such as General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Detroit Lions principal owner Sheila Hamp, as stated in a Detroit News article.
Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem is on record emphasizing the dual benefit of the proposed complex, meant to serve as an elite practice venue and a community sports hub. Tellem pointed out, "Our goal is to build this sports campus and develop a youth sports academy for the city of Detroit," emphasizing the prospective impact on Detroit's youth sports scene, as per a report by the Detroit News.
