Downtown Phoenix lost its YMCA this fall after 75 years. The city's NBA and WNBA teams plan to give it a new one. The Phoenix Suns, the Phoenix Mercury and the Valley of the Sun YMCA announced a $60 million, three-story community center built around youth basketball, KJZZ and KOLD/AZFamily reported.

The building is planned at about 55,000 square feet with three basketball courts (one NBA-size court and two high school-size courts, per KOLD) and is expected to open in 2029.

What the New YMCA Will Hold

Beyond the courts, the plan includes health and wellness space, education and workforce development programs, and, per KOLD, tutoring, internships, career development, nutrition classes and a full-service cafe. About 60 affordable housing units are planned on three floors above the center, developed by VanTrust Real Estate, according to KOLD; KJZZ also reported the 60 units.

It replaces the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA, which announced its closure in September. A YMCA spokesperson told KJZZ the old building needed major repairs and infrastructure upgrades. Valley of the Sun YMCA president and CEO Bryan Madden called the project an "exciting new chapter for the YMCA."

An All-Star Legacy Project

The teams are framing the project as a lasting legacy of NBA All-Star 2027 in Phoenix, KOLD reported, with a groundbreaking planned during All-Star Weekend. For youth basketball in the Valley, the takeaway is simple: three more full courts in the middle of the city, run by a nonprofit, on a site families already know.

The project was announced Oct. 19 and covered again this week by Youth Sports Business Report. Details are from KJZZ, KOLD and Youth Sports Business Report. More on our youth sports page.