- January 17, 2025
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) have released plans to break ground this summer on a state-of-the-art, $78 million exclusive sports performance centre for the Indiana Fever in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
PS&E Owner Herb Simon said:
“We are excited to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to identify the perfect location for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center. The city of Indianapolis continues to be a tremendous partner as we elevate our team, players and community.”
While the project plans are being finalised, the centre and amenities will be designed to address the specific needs of female athletes competing at the highest level, including performance and conditioning, recovery and rehabilitation, mental health and wellness, and lifestyle support.
Specifically, the facility will have best-in-class amenities including two regulation-sized courts with natural light, premier strength and conditioning equipment, yoga and Pilates area, hydration station and full-service kitchen. To help players recover and recharge, the facility will offer a spa-like retreat with massage, infrared light therapy, sauna, steam, heat studios, float tank and multiple hydrotherapy pools. The team will also have a private outdoor courtyard and mental performance spaces. The center will boast a hair and nail salon, childcare space, and podcast and content production studio to support player lifestyles.
PS&E CEO Mel Raines said:
“With the goal of Indianapolis becoming the epicenter of women’s sports, this world-class sports performance center will be the preeminent place for players to train, recover and push their boundaries. It’s a game changer in terms of providing the ultimate player experience and we can’t wait for our team to reap the benefits of having an exclusive and unparalleled facility
designed specifically for them.”
Raines said the centre will offer exclusive fan experiences and a Fever team store with exciting and unique merchandise opportunities. The performance centre will serve as a hub for the team to expand their community outreach and engagement efforts.
Currently, the team’s dedicated practice court and training area, which were renovated in 2020, are located within Gainbridge Fieldhouse and considered among the top facilities in the WNBA.
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Indiana Fever President of Basketball and Business Operations Kelly Krauskopf said having a stand-alone facility will elevate the team and fan experience:
“This elite training center is a reflection of our organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that our players have the highest level of resources to be successful. As we look to the future, the focus of creating a first-class player experience designed exclusively for women athletes will set us apart.”
An affiliate of PS&E will construct the facility on the west half of the former Marion County Jail site, located at the corner of Delaware and Maryland streets. The city of Indianapolis will make an intergovernmental land transfer to the Capitol Improvement Board of Marion County, which will enter into an operating agreement with the PS&E affiliate. The facility will be donated to the CIB at the conclusion of the term of the operating agreement. The Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts practice facilities are also located on land owned by the CIB.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said:
“Last year, we experienced an unprecedented boom in interest and attention on women’s sports around the world, led in large part by our very own Indiana Fever. Indianapolis is proud to see this significant investment from Pacers Sports & Entertainment drive further momentum in women’s basketball in our community and continue to elevate our status as a major league sports city.”
Construction will be led by Shiel Sexton and the architect of record is Populous, a global design firm known for being at the forefront of innovation and leading the charge in women’s professional sports.
Adam Stover, senior principal at Populous, said:
“Our team at Populous is honored to collaborate with the Indiana Fever and Pacers Sports & Entertainment to develop a cutting-edge, best-in-class training facility for one of the premier teams in the WNBA. Understanding and designing for the players, coaches and staff, this facility will help to lay the foundation for the future success of the team, attracting new talent to the organization and providing world-class amenities for the current roster.”
About Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Pacers Sports & Entertainment is the corporate identity exemplified by the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Indiana Mad Ants, Pacers Foundation, Inc., and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Its team of inspired and dedicated employees promises to deliver quality entertainment and unparalleled service.
Declan Sharkey, Global Director & Senior Principal at Populous, spoke about “Enhancing Your Fan Experience & Raising Revenue Through Experiential Design” at the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference. Watch the recording here.
About Populous
Populous is a global design firm that designs the places and events where people love to be together, such as the Super Bowl, Sphere Las vegas, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Over the last 40 years, the firm has designed more than 3,000 projects worth $40 billion across emerging and established markets.
Populous’ comprehensive services include architecture, event planning and overlay, interior design, branded environments, wayfinding and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hotels and hospitality, and sustainable design consulting. As well as stadium design the practice specialises in elite and community-based training facilities. Populous has offices on four continents with regional centres in Kansas City, London and Brisbane.
For more information visit www.populous.com
Source & imagery, courtesy of Populous
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