Wizards reach tentative deal with city to build practice facility at St. Elizabeth's site, according to report

The long-awaited deal to build a new Wizards practice facility is finally reaching a conclusion. Wizards' owner Ted Leonsis has reached a tentative agreement with D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser to build the new facility at the site of the old St. Elizabeth's hospital in Southeast D.C., according to Jonathan O'Connell of the Washington Post.

But in addition to servicing as a practice facility, it will also provide some extra benefit for some other Monumental teams:

It would include a modern training facility similar to those other NBA teams have built in recent years, as well as a home arena for the Mystics, another Leonsis team that currently plays at the Verizon Center.

"It's going to have between 4,000 and 5,000 seats so it can accommodate basketball games and other kinds of events, athletic events and entertainment events," Boe said.

Previously, Leonsis also said a new practice facility would also house a future D-League affiliate for the Wizards, and a facility that can fit 4-5,000 people would certainly fit the D-League mold. He also said at that time he expected construction of the new facility would take 18 to 24 months. Optimistically, that would allow the Wizards to start practicing there in March 2017, and most likely be ready in time for the start of the 2017-18 season.