Thunder Practice Facility Won't Be Ready for Start of Season

Originally Published: Jul 7, 2010 9:3 AM CDT

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Construction on the new practice facility for the Thunder won't be finished before the NBA team starts its third season in Oklahoma City.

Plans had called for the $14.5 million facility to open in late September when the team's training camp begins, but construction delays now mean the Thunder Training Center won't be ready for use until November or December.

Project manager John Russell says the delays are partially due to construction add-ons but mostly because of weather issues, including heavy snowfall during the winter, which resulted in the loss of more than 50 construction days.

The Thunder now has a temporary practice facility in far north Oklahoma City. Team officials don't know yet if they'll move when the new facility is finished or wait until after next season to do so.