Cleveland Cavaliers break ground on new training complex

The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic and Bedrock Real Estate have broken ground on the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center.

This state-of-the-art facility spans more than 210,000 square feet and will soon become one of the largest and most advanced training and performance complexes in the world.

The Populous-designed complex is also the first vertical development in Bedrock Real Estate’s ambitious $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront Master Plan.

The ground-breaking event also represented a historic moment for the Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic as the organisations announced a 25-year extension of their long-standing partnership that began in 1993. This will create one of the longest continuous relationships between a professional sports organisation and a medical provider.

Dan Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers Chairman and Bedrock Real Estate Founder and Chairman, said:

Today’s ground-breaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is one of the first steps in transforming and revitalising the Cuyahoga riverfront. Combining our practice facility with the sports medicine experts from the Cleveland Clinic means that not only will our players have access to the best possible care, but so will the residents of Cleveland and the surrounding areas – creating a multiplier effect that will benefit both the City and the Cavaliers.

Populous was a key sponsor of the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition, focused on elevating the live experience through niche’s including architecture & design, fan experience, hospitality, premium & VIP, sustainability, technology and venue commercialisation. Global Director & Senior Principal at Populous, Declan Sharkey, was one of some 60+ C-suite speakers at this industry-leading event.

Cavaliers players will soon have an unparalleled, cutting-edge facility designed to optimise their athletic performance and overall well-being.

The Center will feature advanced technology and equipment, best-in-class biomechanical testing systems, high-tech training equipment with integrated data analytics, virtual reality and simulation technology for skill development and wearable sensors for real-time performance monitoring.

Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and the holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, said:

The groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center marks an exciting moment in our collaboration with our partners, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bedrock Real Estate.

Together, we are building a facility that will redefine the standards of performance and wellness. This center will serve not only elite athletes but also individuals from all walks of life, reflecting our shared commitment to health, innovation and community development. Our partnership strengthens Cleveland’s position as a leader in both healthcare and sports excellence.

The Center will offer comprehensive care for the general public, including athletes of all sports and levels. The care will be personalised to the individual and informed by data inputs from one of the largest sports health data hubs.

The interdisciplinary Center will provide access to high-tech testing and training equipment and expert professionals from specialties, including sports medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, exercise physiology, neurology, nutrition, psychology and genetics.

Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations said:

We have established a championship-level culture in Cleveland, and this is another example of the commitment and overall investment we have made towards the long-term health and well-being of our players and the organisation.

We are extremely fortunate to partner with the Cleveland Clinic, which shares our vision of making this facility a global destination and a sustainable hub of resources and innovation. The community engagement and location along the Cuyahoga riverfront downtown takes this project to extraordinary heights, and we couldn’t be more excited about the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The facility is expected to open in 2027.

Source and images courtesy of Cleveland Cavaliers

Sports Venue Business boasts a raft of new offerings under the SVB LIVE banner, including Networking Events & Webinars, the pinnacle being the SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition; which was held at Croke Park in 2024, with an Opening Night Icebreaker at Aviva Stadium. Some 240 high-level execs from across the global sports and entertainment sector were in attendance.