The Falcon   |   Volume 81, Issue 26

Published 6/02/10   |   Log In

Royal Brougham welcomes Storm

Renovations in lower Royal Brougham Pavilion began over the Christmas break, as the Seattle Storms women's basketball team prepares to use the area for their practices this coming April.
Photo credit: LAURA EASLEY/The Falcon.

Storm set to practice this April; renovation costs SPU nothing

By DAVID TRISTANO, Sports Editor

Published: January 13, 2010

On Dec. 7, Seattle Pacific and the Seattle Storm agreed on a five-year partnership for the Seattle Storm to use the lower gym in Royal Brougham Pavilion as their new practice facility beginning this April.

The facility use agreement includes a new professional length court that will be installed in the lower level of the pavilion as well as use of the upper-level basketball courts when not in use by SPU for practices or classes.

This past Christmas break, SPU renovated the pavilion's lower gym. The Furtado Center, where the Storm used to practice, houses new backboards, hoops and wall padding, all of which will be relocated to the pavilion's lower gym in an effort to get the gym in top condition by April.

The current lower gym has a floor made of tartan, a polyurethane athletic surface installed in the 1970s by the university. SPU will install a portable hardwood basketball floor. When the Storm's season is over, the floor will be unassembled and stored in a storage space next to the gym, said SPU Athletic Director Erin O'Connell.

"It gives the institution the advantage for an upgraded facility," O'Connell said. She also mentioned the potential of renting out the gym.

The agreement comes at no cost to the university. O'Connell said all of the funds were donated from the Gates Foundation, but declined to state how much. SPU has a policy of not releasing financial transactions in private contracts, she said.

O'Connell described the Storm as a very down to earth group.

"(Storm) doesn't have the same bling as the NBA or NFL," O'Connell said. "But they are very motivated, passionate athletes, just like our student athletes."

The WNBA season runs from May through September, during which SPU is on summer break. Once the new school year begins, SPU students and athletes will resume use of the court.

O'Connell said the basketball operations for the Storm first contacted her last February asking for a tour of the pavilion. The Storm scoured all over the Puget Sound area looking for a suitable practice facility.

Amy Foster, assistant director of conference services at SPU, was involved with the Storm in securing the partnership. Foster's job entails reserving rooms and space on campus for any clubs or outsiders who need space.

"It's a great way for SPU to have more community outreach," Foster said. "Anytime we can get in the community to include them in the campus is a great tool. The Storm is an excellent basketball team. It's a win-win."

The Seattle Sonics added the Storm in 2000 and both teams practiced at the Furtado Center, a facility built and owned by the Sonics across from the Seattle Center. The city bought the facility in 2005 to build the new headquarters for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Sonics and Storm were allowed to use the facility, as long as the Sonics continued playing at KeyArena, according to the SPU athletic Web site (http://spufalcons.com).

Once the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, Force 10 Hoops L.L.C bought the Storm from the Sonics in March of that year. The Storm were still allowed to use the Furtado Center, but when the city terminated the Sonics' KeyArena lease, Force 10 Hoops entered negotiations for the Storm to continue using KeyArena and also have a facility where they could practice. The SPU athletic Web site stated that the Gates Foundation worked with the Storm, enabling them to use the Furtado Center up until the start of 2010.

Although the agreement is set for five years, the Storm has the option to leave if they receive funds to build their own practice facility.

Regarding the Storm's arrival this April, the tone is optimistic. "They are completely excited to be here," Foster said.

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