The Cleveland Cavaliers have begun construction on a new performance facility. The ‘Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center’ will become the new home of the Cavs upon completion. In coordination with the facility, it will be the first Cleveland Clinic-backed professional sports facility open to the public. The center will be located on the Cuyahoga River and is scheduled to open in 2027.
The @ClevelandClinic Global Peak Performance Center will become the new training facility home for the Cleveland Cavaliers and is the first Cleveland Clinic-backed professional sports facility opened to the public. pic.twitter.com/1KolSmFjPY
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 21, 2024
Cavs to Open New Training Facility
The Cavs announced the plans for the facility back in March. However, this is the first construction done yet. The place will be roughly 210,000 square feet and feature brilliant technology. Cavs Governor Dan Gilbert is privately funding the facility. Initially, Gilbert wanted a casino in this location, but it never was done. Gilbert is keen on expanding the entirety of the Cuyahoga Riverfront community, with this being the first of many renovations.
“This project is the first step in creating a more vibrant and growth-oriented neighborhood, transforming the look and feel of downtown,” said Gilbert. “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.”
The Cavs have been in their dame training facility in Independence, OH, since 2007. With times changing and the Cavs staff expanding, it was time for a change. The move will also be a marketing ploy for potential free agents. Cleveland has never been a highly ranked destination for top free agents, but with their roster stability now and new facility, that could change soon.
Additionally, the team hopes the new facility will allow them to extend the careers of their players and help them become the best versions of themselves.
New Technology
Within the facility, there is some mind-blowing technology. A ‘shot lab’ has been mentioned. The lab will essentially allow players to feel as though they are playing in NBA arenas in order to practice shooting.
Since LeBron James’ second departure from Cleveland in 2018, the Cavs have rebuilt quickly becoming one of the NBA’s more exciting teams. This is another step in the direction of building a new culture.
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 organization.” Said Cavs President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman. “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 Last Word
The landscape of the NBA is changing more than ever. This new state-of-the-art training facility will make the Cavs a better product on and off the court. Also, Cleveland has a chance to become a regular contender with the continued support of the franchise. Finally, being a public court is great for the community. A massive facility like this will have people visiting from all over the country, not just Ohio.
