Cavs Break Ground On New Practice Facility

It won’t be long before the Cavaliers have a new place to walk through plays, scrimmage and run sprints. And no less than Donovan Mitchell took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the soon-to-be under-construction practice facility.

The building is scheduled to open in 2027 and is part of a large redevelopment on the banks of the Cuyahoga River that’s being funded by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. This particular practice facility will encompass 21,000 square feet.

“We wanted to emphasize how much an investment like this means to us,” Mitchell said, via The Associated Press. “Since I arrived here two years ago, I’ve just heard nothing but how serious Cleveland is about their sports.

And seeing it, shows how serious and how much they care about their players and the investment about their bodies. This is going to be huge for the longevity of our careers.”

The Cavs have been training in nearby Independence since 2007 at the Cleveland Clinic Courts. Cleveland Clinic is likely to also hold the naming rights to the new facility, given that it extended its partnership with the Cavs for the next 25 years.

Along with the Cavs, the public will have access to the new facility. Renderings of the building were released in March.

Mitchell signed a three-year contract extension with the Cavs this summer. He and the Cavs conclude the preseason this week, before opening the regular season on Oct. 23 at Toronto.

“This project is the first step in creating a more vibrant and growth-oriented neighborhood, transforming the look and feel of downtown,” Gilbert said in a statement. “We are grateful to our partners at the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic for their support with this very important and exciting project that will ignite our new vision for the riverfront.”