SAN ANTONIO — Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to commemorate the grand opening of the Victory Capital Performance Center.
The new state-of-the-art practice facility is home to the San Antonio Spurs and marks a new era in athletic training and development.
And the newest member of the team, Cedi Osman, is enjoying all the facility has to offer.
"I think this is a great opportunity for us just to come here and work and rehab," Osman said. "The only thing we can do is come here and work hard."
The Spurs have already moved into the basketball gym ahead of the new season and are conducting training camp at the new venue.
But it doesn't just offer a gym for the players to hone their skills.
It offers the players the needed rehabilitation, camaraderie, and top-quality food.
"We have a great restaurant chef who's cooking food every day for us," he said. "I think that everybody's really having a lot of fun here and we like to spend a lot of time here, so we're definitely happy to have this practice gym."
According to the Spurs, the new campus (located in San Antonio's "La Cantera" neighborhood) will feature a human performance research center, a 22-acre park, the Victory Capital Performance Center, the Frost Plaza, and more including a public outdoor event plaza, and space for medical and commercial use.
The Spurs will also have the most advanced innovations in sports technology and performance.
Which brings a smile to Spurs' Julian Champagnie.
"It's the best facility I've ever seen and I've been to a lot of facilities," he said. "Just the aura behind it. The thought behind it. A lot is going on in there. It's one-of-one for sure."
So, just how unique is it?
The team gym is equipped with a motion capture shooting lab, environmental training room, hydrotherapy pools, sensory deprivation tank, team dining room, and performance kitchen.
And the shooting lab is something that Champagnie is fond of seeing as he is one of the team's best perimeter shooters.
"The shooting lab is the most impressive part for me," he said. "With me being the guy that wants to shoot the basketball and to just go in there and work on it and chip away, that's the best part for me."
The Victory Capital Performance Center is the gold standard when it comes to training facilities across the league.
It provides everything the players and coaches will need to succeed on the court and more.
And that extra attention to the player's needs has not gone unnoticed by the pair of Spurs.
"Obviously, this is a nice environment. Just the gym being open 24/7, we can come whenever we want," Osman said.
"I think the food is a big plus. Having it right there for us. We can just practice and go eat," said Champagnie. "We have a huge pool. The cold tubs are way bigger."
Osman adds that he appreciates the team coaches being ready to help the players improve on the court inside the new practice facility.
"Everybody's trying to help us get better. Coaches are here with us all the time," he said.
The new 134,000-square-foot Victory Capital Performance Center will also be home to the team's basketball operations.
In addition, the new facility will offer Spurs fans a unique experience.
It will also feature a tour path for fans to get a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a Spurs player.
Overall, the Victory Capital Performance Center will bring together the community, the franchise, and the players.
“Our 50-year legacy is interwoven with San Antonio’s rich history and through this partnership with Victory Capital, we are excited to continue investing in the future of the Spurs and the city of San Antonio,” said RC Buford, Chief Executive Officer for SS&E in a release.
And the players are thrilled to be a part of a franchise that continues its drive to be the best as demonstrated with the new Victory Capital Performance Center.
"I'm definitely happy to be part of this team," Osman said.
Twitter: @KENS5, @JeffGSpursKENS5
