Rockets Owner Tilman Fertitta Accidentally Spills Plans For $70M Practice Facility

A $70M practice facility is being planned for Houston's Galleria area, billionaire Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in what appeared to be an accidental admission during a press conference April 26.

“I really screwed up,” Fertitta said in a video Fox 26’s Mark Berman tweeted after Fertitta blurted out plans for the venue during a press event introducing new Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

After spilling the tea, Fertitta said he had hoped to make a formal announcement, adding the organization would like to have the facility ready for the next NBA season. Fertitta insinuated the project was experiencing permitting delays and couldn’t offer a timeline for the project, the Houston Chronicle reported.  

“We’ll lay it all out for you guys soon, and it’s really exciting,” Fertitta said. “It’s gonna be great. It’s in the Galleria area. I think it’ll be a great tool to recruit players.” 

The Rockets have been practicing inside the Toyota Center, the 18,300-person capacity arena that has been home to the team since it opened in 2003.

Fertitta bought the team in 2017, and was scouting potential practice facility locations “south around the Clear Lake area, or Sugar Land or Katy or downtown,” he told the Chronicle shortly after the purchase.

Fertitta made the slip when answering a question about his willingness to spend money on his team compared to other NBA owners, the Chronicle reported.

“We're the only team that has their own private 767 to fly around in,” he said. “We're building a $70M practice facility right now. We've been at the top in cap every single year.”