The Bhathal household has had a busy 12 months, final January and in September. Now, the household is investing additional within the two groups, saying plans to construct a $75 million dual-team coaching facility that may accommodate each groups.
In a from the Thorns on Thursday, the workforce outlined plans for the formidable advanced, which shall be designed particularly for feminine athletes. The efficiency heart will embrace two full-sized soccer pitches, a observe gymnasium with two full-sized basketball courts, a power coaching facility, dressing rooms for every workforce with “spa like” facilities, eating room with a chef and nutritionist, rooms for gamers’ households and extra.
The Bhathals plan to spend $150 million or extra on the challenge, which is ready to happen throughout a number of phases; the primary of those phases would be the coaching facility. Lengthy-term, the Bhathals plan to show the campus into a middle for ladies’s sports activities efficiency and restoration, per the discharge.
The ability shall be created with RAJ Sports activities, the sports activities funding wing of the Bhathal household’s funding agency, RAJ Capital. RAJ Sports activities additionally within the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and minor league baseball’s Sacramento River Cats. The agency is operated by brother-sister duo Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage; Bhathal Merage is the controlling proprietor and governor of each groups, whereas Bhathal is an alternate governor.
“Once we acquired the Portland Thorns and the Portland WNBA franchise our household dedicated to investing into the Thorns, the WNBA franchise, and the Portland metro area” Bhathal Merage mentioned within the press launch. “Constructing an progressive coaching facility that gives the very best surroundings for our athletes throughout skilled soccer {and professional} basketball shall be a recreation changer for ladies’s sports activities.”
In constructing the ability, RAJ Sports activities will repurpose a former Nike workplace advanced west of Portland, which it says is a part of its “dedication to sustainability.”
Portland’s WNBA franchise will be part of the league alongside , with each workforce starting play in 2026. The Portland workforce doesn’t but have a reputation or branding.
