Pacers Sports & Entertainment Unveils Plan to Build World-Class $78 Million Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center

INDIANAPOLIS (January 16, 2025) – Pacers Sports & Entertainment today released plans to break ground this summer on a $78 million, state-of-the-art and exclusive sports performance center for the Indiana Fever in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.

Construction on the three-story, 108,000 square foot world-class training complex is expected to begin in August 2025 and open before the 2027 WNBA season. The Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center will be part of the PS&E campus and will be connected by a skywalk to the Virginia Avenue parking garage and at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“We are excited to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to identify the ideal location for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center,” said Herb Simon, owner of PS&E. “The city of Indianapolis continues to be a tremendous partner as we elevate our team, our players and our community.”

While plans for the project are being finalized, the center and equipment will be designed to meet the specific needs of female athletes competing at the highest level, including performance and fitness, recovery and rehabilitation, mental health and wellbeing, as well as lifestyle support.

Specifically, the facility will feature best-in-class amenities, including two regulation-sized courts with natural light, top-notch strength and conditioning equipment, a yoga and Pilates area, a hydration station, and a kitchen full service. To help players recover and rejuvenate, the facility will offer a spa-style retreat with massage, infrared light therapy, sauna, steam room, heat studios, float tank and several hydrotherapy pools. The team will also have a private outdoor courtyard and mental performance spaces. The center will include a hair and nail salon, childcare space and a podcast and content production studio to support gamers’ lifestyles.

“With the goal of making Indianapolis the epicenter of women’s sports, this world-class sports performance center will be the premier location for players to train, recover and push their limits,” said Mel Raines, CEO of PS&E. “This is a game-changer in terms of delivering the ultimate gaming experience and we can’t wait for our team to enjoy the benefits of having an exclusive and unprecedented facility designed specifically for them.”

Raines said the center will offer exclusive fan experiences and a Fever Team Store with exciting and unique merchandise opportunities. The performance center will serve as a hub for the team to expand its outreach and community engagement efforts.

Currently, the team’s dedicated practice field and practice area, which was renovated in 2020, is located within Gainbridge Fieldhouse and is considered among the best facilities in the WNBA. Kelly Krauskopf, Indiana Fever president of basketball and business operations, said having a stand-alone facility would improve the experience for the team and fans.

“This elite training facility is a reflection of our organization’s continued commitment to ensuring our players have the highest level of resources to succeed,” Krauskopf said. “As we look to the future, our focus on creating a first-class player experience designed exclusively for female athletes will set us apart.”

A PS&E subsidiary will build the facility on the west half of the former Marion County Jail, located at the corner of Alabama and Maryland streets. The City of Indianapolis will conduct an intergovernmental land transfer to the Capitol Improvement Board of Marion County, which will enter into an operating agreement with subsidiary PS&E. The installation will be transferred to the CIB at the end of the duration of the operating agreement. The Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts practice facilities are also located on CIB-owned land.

“Last year, we experienced an unprecedented surge of interest and attention in women’s sports around the world, led in large part by our own Indiana fever,” said Indianapolis Mayor, Joe Hogsett. “Indianapolis is proud to see this significant investment from Pacers Sports & Entertainment bring new momentum to 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 sport.

“Our team at Populous is honored to collaborate with Indiana Fever and Pacers Sports & Entertainment to develop a state-of-the-art, best-in-class training facility for one of the best teams in the WNBA,” said Adam Stover, Senior Director of People. “Inclusive of and designed for the players, coaches and staff, this facility will help lay the foundation for the team’s future success, attracting new talent to the organization and providing world-class equipment to the roster current.”

The Indiana Fever, led by Coach Stephanie White, will kick off its 2025 WNBA basketball season May 17 against the Chicago Sky. Fans should visit feverbasketball.com to learn more about ticket options and reserve their seats. Indianapolis will host AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time July 18-19, with tickets expected to go on sale this spring. Sign up to receive email updates on tickets, events and more by clicking here.