USA Basketball Is Coming to Glendale
The national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball will be the latest sporting gem to join Glendale’s all-star sports and entertainment line up thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Glendale City Council Nov. 18, 2008. City officials formally announced plans to bring USA Basketball to the city’s Sports and Entertainment District during a press conference held at the Glendale Media Center, which is located in the heart of the city’s sporting excitement next to the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Joining Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and Glendale’s City Councilmembers for the announcement were Gov. Janet Napolitano, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, USA Basketball officials, Arizona legislators, Rick Burton of Rightpath Development, Dr. Kathleen Goeppinger of Midwestern University, Jerry Colangelo and Tommy Lasorda of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The event host was Al McCoy, the voice of the Phoenix Suns.
“Bringing USA Basketball to Glendale interested us greatly due to its potential to draw visitors to our city,” said Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs. “I want to thank our residents, whose support and encouragement allow us to move forward with exciting endeavors such as this one today.”
About USA Basketball
USA Basketball is responsible for the selection and training of USA national teams that compete at the highest levels of international competition. All major basketball organizations in the United States are included within USA Basketball’s membership. Most recently, USA Basketball’s senior men’s and women’s teams captured gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The locating of USA Basketball to Glendale brings together several partners and will be facilitated by developer Rightpath Limited.
“We have the privilege of standing here today because of the dedication of the city of Glendale leaders and staff and the board of USA Basketball,” said Rick Burton of Rightpath Development. “We have partnered with the city of Glendale in the past to do some great things, and we’re proud to be a part of this partnership.”
About the Project
USA Basketball will be housed in a multi-use facility, which will serve as its new world headquarters and be the anchor of a one-of-a-kind campus for Arizona. The complex will be built west of Loop 101 at 99th and Maryland avenues, at Rightpath’s Main Street development and immediately adjacent to Jobing.com Arena and University of Phoenix Stadium.
Components of the project include:
- Executive offices for USA Basketball
- USA Basketball multi-court training facility
- 150-room hotel
- Midwestern University Sports Medicine Clinic
- Fitness facility
The Numbers
An economic impact study completed by Elliott D. Pollack estimates that the project will result in a 25-year economic impact to Glendale of more than $24 million. The study also projects a one-time economic impact of 741 jobs, $39.3 million in wages and $89 million in economic activity. The ongoing impact of the USA Basketball campus to the region includes 475 new jobs in Maricopa County (with 272 to be located in Glendale), $21.9 million in annual wages and $54.3 million in annual economic output.
The project will continue development along the west side of Loop 101 and creates another destination for the Sports and Entertainment District. The campus, which will be a true community amenity, also includes a first-of-its-kind, local, state-of-the-art sports medicine facility and will allow unique training and competition opportunities for area youth. It is also expected that the project will allow Glendale to host future national and international basketball competitions and other related events and programs. Additionally, the facility provides an opportunity to create the nation’s first USA Basketball museum.
“It’s wonderful to welcome USA Basketball to Glendale and the state of Arizona; it will be a great home and a great partnership,” said Gov. Janet Napolitano.
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