Site of old Marion County Jail to become $78 million Indiana Fever practice facility

Indianapolis’ professional women’s basketball team, the Indiana Fever, announced plans on Thursday to build a $78 million practice facility in the city’s downtown.

The facility is expected to be built on the site of the former Marion County Jail, which is currently being torn down.

The Indiana Fever currently has a dedicated practice facility within the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but officials with Pacers Sports and Entertainment, or PS&E, said they want to build a complex centered around the needs of female athletes.

“The vision is really nothing short of creating the preeminent female performance center in the world,” said CEO of PS&E, Mel Raines. “Building this facility to think about the female athlete is something I don’t think has really been done before.”

The practice facility will include two regulation-sized courts, a spa-like retreat, a hair and nail salon, a childcare space, and a podcast and production studio.

“As we look toward Indianapolis becoming the epicenter of women’s sports, having professional sports teams and dedicated training facilities for them is a key piece of putting that together,” Raines said.

In a press release, PS&E said it will manage the design and construction of the facility and the land will remain owned by the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County. According to one city official, the land is being divided into two halves with only half being used for the Fever complex.

Online, some members of the community expressed frustration that a portion of the city’s downtown would be used for yet another sports complex.

“We’re just giving [the land] away to put a glorified Nike store on it,” one commentator wrote. “I’m going insane.”
 

for those wondering why it's bad, this is directly adjacent to the transit center in an area that desperately needs consistent foot traffic, and this project would gift Simon Properties more real estate to lord over while being dead most of the time and not utilizing the TC at all

— Cross-laminated Tinder (@nickhasthoughts.com) January 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM

I’m spiraling. This parcel shouldn’t have a project on it valued even a penny under $500 million dollars. And that’s on the short side. We’re just giving it away to put a glorified standalone Nike store on it. I’m going insane

— Eric_Time (@erictime.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM

On one hand….progress and a tiny smidge of equity for women in sports. And it’s not a hotel. On the other hand. Can we get some freakin density around here. Can we clear the sidewalks? I can’t walk in my neighborhood. Help.

— Salamander Baby (@angryparakeet.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 9:15 AM

But city officials say the downtown practice facility is about building pride in the community.

“We're told that a performance center on the site will serve as a hub for the team, but it will also expand community outreach and engagement efforts for youth,” said Megan Vukusich, director of the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development. “And so, we're really excited to not only capitalize on the sports market but also to serve as an additional community engagement hub as well.”

The practice facility is expected to be open ahead of the 2027 season.