With shovels in the dirt, the Indiana Fever and Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), alongside city officials, officially began construction Thursday on a landmark $78 million facility dedicated exclusively to the WNBA team.
The new Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center, a 108,000-square-foot, three-story building, is slated to open ahead of the 2027 season. Located on the former Marion County Jail site at the corner of Delaware and Maryland streets, it will connect directly to Gainbridge Fieldhouse via a skybridge.
The project represents a significant investment in women’s professional sports, a point emphasized by team and city leaders.
“What we’re celebrating today is the beginning of something transformational, an exclusive facility built specifically to support our players at every level, both professionally and personally,” said Kelly Krauskopf, president of the Indiana Fever. “We’re building upon our city and organization’s commitment to being a global leader in women’s sports.”
The state-of-the-art center is designed to provide holistic support for athletes. Plans include two regulation-sized courts bathed in natural light, cutting-edge strength and conditioning areas, and dedicated spaces for yoga and Pilates. Recovery and wellness amenities will feature a spa-like retreat with massage rooms, infrared light therapy, a sauna, steam rooms, and multiple hydrotherapy pools.
Going beyond the court, the facility will also house a hair and nail salon, a childcare space, mental performance areas, and a podcast and content production studio.
“We are excited to create a performance center specifically for our elite female players that gives them the resources to thrive on and off the court,” said Mel Raines, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett highlighted the project’s impact on the city’s downtown core and its sports economy.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks the transformation of a piece of prime, downtown real estate into a state-of-the-art facility,” Hogsett said. “Developments like these are solidifying Indianapolis as a world-class sports city and a true destination for women’s sports.”
The facility is being built through a partnership between the city and PS&E. The city transferred the land to the Capitol Improvement Board of Marion County (CIB), which then entered into an operating agreement with an affiliate of PS&E. The facility will be donated to the CIB at the end of the agreement term.
While the Fever’s current practice court inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse is considered one of the top facilities in the WNBA, the new center will elevate the team’s resources to an unprecedented level. The building will also feature a Hall of Excellence to honor team history and a new Fever team store.
Construction is being led by Shiel Sexton, with design by Populous, a global architecture firm known for its work in professional sports.
