INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark will soon have a place to play ball that they do not have to share with the Pacers.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced Thursday it will build a $78 million sports performance center for the Fever at the Marion County Jail site in downtown Indianapolis. The three-story, 108,000 square foot facility will feature two full-size basketball courts and a new team store for Fever merchandise.
It will be the fourth exclusive practice facility in the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces built its performance center in 2023, and the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury built their facilities last year.
The Fever's performance center will break ground this summer and is scheduled to open before the 2027 WNBA season.
“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. “The city of Indianapolis continues to be a tremendous partner as we elevate our team, players and community.”
The practice facility continues a string of Simon-related investments around Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Bicentennial Unity Plaza opened adjacent to the arena in 2023 and the Simon family plans to develop the CSX building across Pennsylvania Street into a hotel and concert venue.
IU Kelley School of Business economist Phil Powell believes the old jail's redevelopment is a logical move considering the Fever's success with Caitlin Clark and the city's history with sports investments.
"It only makes sense that Indianapolis is among the first cities to embrace its women's basketball team and gives it the resources it needs to be competitive," Powell said. "Not a lot of downtowns in America have all of their sports teams in the heart of the city."
The facility will connect directly to Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a skywalk attached to the Virginia Avenue parking garage. It will also feature cutting-edge training equipment, a dedicated recovery area, and lifestyle amenities such as a hair salon and childcare space. Additionally, the team will have access to podcast and a content production studio equipment to support player lifestyles.
“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,” PS&E CEO Mel Raines said. “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.”
The Fever tip-off their 2025 season on May 17 against the Chicago Sky, as Indianapolis prepares to host the AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025 on July 18 and 19.
