HILLSBOROUGH, Ore. — Walking through the brand new training center of the Portland Thorns and the Portland Fire is a practice in seeing double.
The 100,000-square-foot facility, which cost more than $150 million, houses two full-sized basketball courts for the WNBA expansion team, and two full-sized soccer fields — one grass, one turf — for the three-time NWSL champion Thorns.
There are two team lounges, one for each team, outfitted with plush couches, throw pillows and blankets, and plenty of the athletes' preferred snacks, from Cheez-Its to peanut ******* er and jelly-filled dates. Two locker rooms with ample shelf ******* e for each player (plus a little extra for goalkeepers) and a USB-C outlet inside each locker so players can charge their devices while they train. Two meeting rooms for teams and operations staff. Two saunas pierced with sleek, recessed lighting.
But the common ******* es at the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center are just as intentional.
The treatment area, 5,000-square-foot weight room, and cafeteria are shared by both teams. That is where professional soccer player-turned-women's sports executive Karina LeBlanc believes the real transformation can happen.
#foot #full #Soccer
The 100,000-square-foot facility, which cost more than $150 million, houses two full-sized basketball courts for the WNBA expansion team, and two full-sized soccer fields — one grass, one turf — for the three-time NWSL champion Thorns.
There are two team lounges, one for each team, outfitted with plush couches, throw pillows and blankets, and plenty of the athletes' preferred snacks, from Cheez-Its to peanut ******* er and jelly-filled dates. Two locker rooms with ample shelf ******* e for each player (plus a little extra for goalkeepers) and a USB-C outlet inside each locker so players can charge their devices while they train. Two meeting rooms for teams and operations staff. Two saunas pierced with sleek, recessed lighting.
But the common ******* es at the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center are just as intentional.
The treatment area, 5,000-square-foot weight room, and cafeteria are shared by both teams. That is where professional soccer player-turned-women's sports executive Karina LeBlanc believes the real transformation can happen.
#foot #full #Soccer
2 days ago
