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Originally Posted by PHX31
What am I missing about this new campus and training facility... didn't the Suns just build a new training facility over there at 44th St & Camelback Rd?
Also, that's an interesting spot for this facility. It's close, but not really close enough, to Footprint Center. It is only about 1/3 of a mile from the arena, but it doesn't seem like a very pleasant walk for players and coaches/executives so they'll likely just drive.
That area of the "southeastern Warehouse District" is honestly probably the best part of the entirety of the Warehouse District, although overall the WD sucks so it's not a hard statement to make.
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Yes, but that doesn't mean the Mercury should train in the same facility. The end of NBA season overlaps with the start of WNBA training, so there's a potential they could both need the facility at the same time. The agreement with the city to help fund the arena renovations required the Suns and Mercury to make substantial investments within Phoenix city limits. Both locations meet that description.
Also, I think part of the reason the Suns training facility is at 44th St & Camelback is the proximity to Paradise Valley, where a lot of players live. WNBA atheletes make much less, so they're probably living throughout the metropolitan area, making a central location better for them.
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Originally Posted by muertecaza
Feels like a big lost opportunity that the Tempe plan wasn't passed. Not personally a big fan of the location.
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I'm not a big fan of either location, but Tempe would have been better. It sounds like we're getting more sports sprawl, a sort of Westgate 2.0, only in a location that is closer to the east side of town.
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Originally Posted by locolife
I would have preferred Tempe as well, I'm a Tempe resident that voted for it. But wasn't meant to be. Is it a lost opportunity, not sure, the team says the majority of their season ticket holders are in North Scottsdale. If that's right, they're probably heading to a great spot. I can be there from Tempe in about 20 minutes so it's okay, not the best, but it can work a lot better than Glendale.
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This is probably what saves the new location -- the proximity to the fan base.