CHICAGO-The Chicago Bulls basketball team announced Wednesday that it plans to find or build a new practice facility in the city, preferably near the United Center, located just west of the downtown. The team currently practices in the Sheri L. Berto Center in Deerfield, IL, a distance of 25 miles of traffic-laden streets for players to manage through on game days.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has pushed the idea of the move. “Emanuel has done a tremendous job promoting investment in the city,” Reinsdorf said. “The mayor stressed that the Bulls brand is important to the city…and he thought centralizing our team assets inside the city limits would be a show of our ongoing commitment to Chicago.”
Reinsdorf said the team had already been considering a move, as there is no growth space available at the Berto Center. The facility also includes offices for coaches and operations staff. The Berto Center will be sold after the move, the team said.
The team said it is in the process of exploring a variety of site options, and a timetable has not been established for the project. The new center will be privately funded, the team said, but the land around the United Center is part of a TIF district, making some public funding a possibility. Expansion would also allow for more digital and video production capabilities, and other training efforts, the team said.
Emanuel released a statement he would be happy to see the 20-year hiatus of the players practicing away Chicago end. “I proudly welcome the Chicago Bulls back to the city,” the mayor said.
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