Fever unveil plans for $78 million training facility after Caitlin Clark’s historic season
The Caitlin Clark the performance paid off big for the Indiana Fever and women’s basketball.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment unveiled its $78 million plan to build a “world-class” performance center in downtown Indianapolis exclusively for WNBA team, which is expected to open before the start of the 2027 season.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks with Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the first half of Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024. (Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images)
“We are excited to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to identify the perfect location for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center,” PS&E owner Herb Simon said in a statement. “The city of Indianapolis continues to be an outstanding partner as we improve our team, players and community.”
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The 108,000-square-foot practice center will be connected to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where both the Fever and Indiana Pacers to play, and construction is expected to begin in August 2025.
According to a team press release, the center’s design will be geared toward 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.”
“This elite training facility is a reflection of our organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring our players have the highest level of resources to succeed,” Indiana Fever president of basketball and business operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement released by the team.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots as Dallas Wings’ Jacy Sheldon (4) and Natasha Howard, right, defend during the first half of a WNBA game on Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
“As we look to the future, our focus on creating a world-class gaming experience designed exclusively for female athletes will set us apart.”
The new center will have two regulation courts, a full-service kitchen, and areas dedicated to yoga and pilates. In addition, the team said other features included in the design include “a hair and nail salon, a childcare area, and a podcast and content production studio that supports the player’s lifestyle.”
The Fever has its own stand-alone training center at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which was last renovated in 2020.
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Clark’s historic rookie season produced record numbers for the WNBA, both in ratings and attendance. For the first time in league history, the league announced full-time charter flights for all of its teams in May, which was projected to cost around $25 million per year over the next two seasons.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark reacts after a 3-pointer during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on August 16, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Las Vegas, Seattle and Phoenix have opened new training centers in the past few years, and Chicago has one under construction.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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