Tag: Gretchen Sheirr

Tilman Fertitta sees $70M training center providing edge to Rockets

“This will be a great recruiting tool for free agents, to have a facility like that,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta says of his team’s new $70-million practice center.

Tilman Fertitta lives by the motto “Put your money where your mouth is.”

So, when Houston’s owner referenced his team’s unannounced new practice facility during April’s introductory press conference for head coach Ime Udoka, he smiled because he had already seen virtual renderings of the Memorial Hermann training center.

The practice facility, which is located on Houston’s I-610 West Loop (just north of I-10), is scheduled for completion in mid-2024.

“We’re building a $70-million practice facility right now,” Fertitta accidentally said in April 2023 as he answered questions. “We were hoping it would be ready for next season, but just with permitting and everything, we’ll lay it all out for you guys soon.”

Tuesday was that day.

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, walked the 75,000-square-foot facility with media members, Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone, and Memorial Hermann representatives. During the tour, Sheirr gave a detailed explanation of each area of the training center and how the space would be effectively used to benefit the organization as a whole.

Having the facility relatively close to the Toyota Center was intentional. The current location is a 10-minute drive from downtown Houston to Old Katy Road.

“A lot of teams go out and put (training centers) on pieces of land that is not close to where everyone lives because it is the best thing to do economically,” Fertitta said. “To have this right here in the middle of town, near everybody, means a lot. It will allow the players to come to the facility even when there is no practice.”

The site should be a massive upgrade on what the team uses at Toyota Center. The new facility has two full-length basketball courts for drills and practices, which should be a major benefit relative to the current system of splitting up on each end of the court.

While there, players can take advantage of the new locker rooms, which feature walk-in style closets; a lounge and dining area; and a strength and conditioning area equipped with cold tubs, hot tubs and a jet pool. There is an outdoor training area with a conditioning ramp and stairs. The training center also features a visitors’ locker room, which is rare in the NBA. Opponents have their own entrance onto the practice court, away from their opponent.

Fertitta, who purchased the team in 2017, said he has always envisioned a facility that would benefit the players and attract NBA free agents interested in joining the Rockets.

“We all know you are just looking for a little bit of that edge,” Fertitta told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “We need an edge. That is why we have this general manager (Stone) and this head coach (Udoka). I think they give us a little bit of an edge.”

“Our players will be excited about it. This will be a great recruiting tool for free agents … to have a facility like that.”

The Rockets have certainly been through tumultuous times over the last three seasons, winning fewer than 25 games per year. Although he was very patient during the rebuilding phase, Fertitta did not like losing, especially after watching his team have so much success during the previous decade.

In Tuesday’s comments, Fertitta admitted it was hard for him to allow the process to play out. But he trusted the individuals he had put in charge of leading the Rockets back to prominence, and that’s something he knows will take a little more time to play out.

“We will never be complete, with the Rockets, until we all have rings,” Fertitta said. “I have two (title) rings from being involved with Les Alexander (previous owner), but it is not the same.”

“I don’t know where this is all going to end up in two years, three years, four years, five years,” Fertitta concluded. “But so far, I think our management has made the right decision.”

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Rockets offer first look at $70-million practice complex, which opens in 2024

On Tuesday, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta invited media members to an early preview tour of the team’s new practice facility, which will open in mid-2024.

On Tuesday, Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta and the Fertitta family invited media members to an early preview tour of the team’s new training center, which is scheduled for completion in summer 2024. The facility is located minutes north of The Post Oak Hotel, which is also owned by Fertitta, on Houston’s I-610 West Loop.

Since opening Toyota Center in 2003, the Rockets have trained on a single practice court inside the building. Fertitta, who bought the franchise in October 2017, has stated on multiple occasions a desire to build a new facility with multiple practice courts.

Tuesday’s tour offered a first look as construction approaches the halfway mark of its scheduled 14-month process. The facility’s framework was shown, including locations and layout for dual-courts; locker room, treatment, and conditioning areas; workspace for the front office and coaching staff; and other amenities.

Artist renderings for the final vision were on display. As part of an introductory press conference in April for new head coach Ime Udoka, Fertitta estimated the total cost at $70 million.

“We’re the only team that has their own private 767 [aircraft] to fly around in,” Fertitta said in response to a question about spending. “We’re building a $70-million practice facility, right now.”

Because it remains an active construction site, closed-toed shoes and long pants were required for attendees. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety gear were distributed on site.

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets, guided the tour. Once completed, Fertitta addressed media members and answered questions regarding the facility.

Here’s our roundup of the sights, scenes and what was learned. At 75,000 square feet, the Rockets are tripling the size of their current Toyota Center training infrastructure, according to the team.

As wins rise, Rockets reap benefits of higher fan attendance, engagement

The #Rockets have won six straight games — all inside Toyota Center — and the data makes clear that fans are showing their appreciation.

With six straight wins, the 2023-24 Houston Rockets (6-3) are on the rise under new head coach Ime Udoka. And after three rebuilding seasons with records near the bottom of the Western Conference, fans are already showing their appreciation for that growth.

The raucous environments at Toyota Center were hard to miss during the team’s opening homestand, which concluded with a 6-1 record and Sunday’s statement win over the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. But beyond fan engagement being clearly higher, raw attendance numbers are improving, as well.

The Rockets sold out four of the seven games on that homestand — and with an average nightly attendance of 17,121, they are at 94.8% of capacity. That’s up from 90.4% in the 2022-23 season and 86.3% in the 2021-22 campaign, according to ESPN data.

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, told Vanessa Richardson of the Space City Home Network that all VIP courtside seats are sold out for the season, which hasn’t happened since the 2018-19 season. In recent days, the team opened a waitlist for future opportunities. Lexus Lounge memberships are also at capacity.

“People definitely like wins, so it’s been fun,” Sheirr said. “A lot of it is about wins on the court, but it’s also about the full-360 experience when you’re here. It’s a testament to how great the fans are in Houston, and to how fun it is to be at Toyota Center.”

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As 2023-24 begins, Rockets in process of $30-million renovation of Toyota Center

As the 2023-24 NBA season begins, the #Rockets are in the middle of a $30-million-plus renovation of Toyota Center. Here’s what the upgrades entail.

Located in downtown Houston, Toyota Center first opened its doors to fans in October 2003. Now, as the 2023-24 NBA season begins 20 years later, the arena is getting something of a face-lift.

According to Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets, Toyota Center is undergoing a substantial renovation to upgrade its amenities. Parts of the renovation are already complete; others are slated for the coming months and years.

In all, the renovation — fully funded by the Rockets and owner Tilman Fertitta, according to Sheirr — is estimated to cost $30 million, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

“We’re really looking at the way that the consumer has changed over the last 20 years since Toyota Center has opened and making sure that when we go through these renovations, we are looking forward to the next 20 years,” Sheirr said on our latest “The Lager Line” podcast.

The modernization changes, which could also help Houston lure other marquee events to the arena (such as future NBA All-Star games and top concerts), have and will include these amenities:

  • For 2021-22 season, upgraded arena lighting and cellular connectivity and added a new Wi-Fi system;
  • For 2022-23 season, upgraded club suites areas with new concept suites: Sneaker Suite and Greenroom, along with adding the Sire Spirits Social Club and courtside loge boxes;
  • For 2022-23 season, added Gentle Ben as main concourse concession and bar;
  • For 2023-24 season, replaced arena’s original LED ribbon board and installed new LED ribbon boards above and below the original, doubling the square footage of displays;
  • For 2023-24 season, updated and expanded two end-zone scoreboards while adding new courtside signage and a fresh outdoor marquee sign;
  • For 2023-24 season, added more frictionless grab-and-go concession stands (first introduced in 2022-23) while introducing new options such as Lance McCullers Jr.’s Maven Coffee and Garrison Brothers Distillery;
  • For 2023-24 season, renovated and updated media workrooms and media dining areas;
  • For 2023-24 season, expedited point-of-sale system for team’s official Toyota Center store;
  • After 2023-24 season, will install a new control room and new center-hung scoreboard;
  • For future, further upgrades are still under consideration.

“Tilman runs a first-class organization across all of his businesses,” Sheirr told The Lager Line. “And if you wait too long and let anything slip, and you lose that status, it’s hard to get it back.”

“Our fans spend their time and hard-earned money. They can do plenty of things with that, but they choose to come to Rockets games, and they choose to come to Toyota Center for concerts. So, we want to make sure we’re delivering the best experience possible. That means keeping things new, fresh, and up-to-date to today’s standards.”

Sheirr offered further context and insight on the changes in the latest episode of “The Lager Line” podcast, sponsored by Karbach Brewing.

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Podcast: Rockets president Gretchen Sheirr on 2023-24 and beyond

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, shares what’s new for the #Rockets in 2023-24 (TV network, #Liftoff brand) and beyond (renovation to Toyota Center).

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets, joins Saturday’s “The Lager Line” podcast to discuss what’s new for the team in the 2023-24 NBA season and beyond.

Discussion topics include Houston’s offseason roster changes and why that sparked the “Liftoff” theme; what the newly formed Space City Home Network (SCHN) could mean to fans watching on television; and how a $30-million renovation project will shape Toyota Center’s future while potentially providing new opportunities.

Hosted by Ben DuBose, the show also features Sheirr’s insight on offseason additions, including Ime Udoka as coach, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks as influential veterans, and Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore as first-round rookies from the 2023 draft class.

Today’s podcast, which is sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, can be listened to below in its entirety. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Rockets organize basketball campaign to celebrate ‘713 Day’ in Houston

“Anytime I see 713, I think of Houston,” said native Houstonian and former #Rockets player Gerald Green, who teamed up with Steve Francis to lead #713Day basketball activites for children.

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To the average person living outside of Houston, July 13 is just another hot summer day.

To residents of Houston and surrounding areas, it is recognized as “713 Day”; the numbers are the initial area code created in 1947 for the city.

On Thursday, the Rockets partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and launched a campaign called “713 Day of Basketball.” Former players hosted seven free youth basketball clinics at community centers around the city.

“Anytime I see 713, I think of Houston,” said native Houstonian and former Rockets player Gerald Green, who, along with Steve Francis and NBA shooting coach Chris Matthews, led basketball-related activities for children at the Moody Community Center.

“It is a great day to go out and play basketball,” Green added. “The Houston Rockets are very big in the community, so why not go out on ‘713 Day,’ play some basketball and enjoy yourself.”

Also in attendance was the president of basketball operations for the Rockets, Gretchen Sheirr, who made the Moody Community Center her final stop of the “713 Day of Basketball” activities.

“I came to this location because two years ago, in partnership with Memorial Herman Hospital, it was one of the first courts we refurbished,” Sheirr told reporters. “We want to make sure that kids will have the resources to develop the skills they need to play the game of basketball.”

The Rockets also gave each child who participated at all seven locations a “713 Day of Basketball” T-shirt and a voucher for a special $7.13 ticket to select Rockets games during the season.

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Rockets hold company service day at Houston’s historic Freedmen’s Town

Rafael Stone, Ime Udoka, Jabari Smith Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr. joined numerous #Rockets staffers to take part in Friday’s company-wide service day at Freedmen’s Town in Houston.

In appreciation of Juneteenth, Rockets and Toyota Center employees took part Friday in a company-wide day of service at historic Freedmen’s Town, which is located in Houston’s Fourth Ward.

Young players Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. were joined at the site by general manager Rafael Stone, new head coach Ime Udoka, president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr and dozens of other staffers to conduct cleanup tasks at Saulnier House, Wiley Park and Freedmen’s Town Association. In 2020, the Rockets produced a video highlighting the area’s historical significance.

Saulnier House was one of the original homes built in Freedmen’s Town after emancipation was proclaimed in Texas on June 19, 1865.

After taking part in Friday’s service work, Stone, Udoka, and the players all met with lodal media members. Scroll on for a roundup of quotes, photos, and videos related to the organization’s service day, and click here for their responses to basketball-related questions.

Rockets, Fertitta family honor Houston’s first reponders on Patriot Day

To honor the sacrifices of Sept. 11, 2001, Rafael Stone, Gretchen Sheirr, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kevin Porter Jr. were among Rockets leaders who took time to visit Houston’s first responders.

In honor of sacrifices made by first responders on Sept. 11, 2001, the Houston Rockets, Toyota, and family of owner Tilman J. Fertitta teamed up Monday to show their Patriot Day appreciation to police, fire, and military personnel throughout the Houston area.

As part of a companywide day of service, Rockets and Toyota Center staffers distributed memorabilia and ticket vouchers to local police and fire stations. General manager Rafael Stone, president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr, and players Jae’Sean Tate and Kevin Porter Jr. were among those who made personal visits.

The team also hosted a Toyota Center luncheon for area first responders and military members. Head coach Stephen Silas and several alumni, including Matt Bullard, Mario Elie, Elvin Hayes, and Calvin Murphy, were on hand for the event — which highlighted heroes who showed extraordinary acts of courage while serving.

Scroll on for photos, videos, and reaction from players, staffers, and executives who took part in Monday’s events.

Rockets join Texas sports consortium for Uvalde community support

Through the “Sport for Healing Fund,” the Rockets are teaming up with the Spurs, Mavericks, and other organizations on a new investment to provide support for the Uvalde community.

The Houston Rockets have teamed up with Texas and national professional sports organizations to form the Sport for Healing Fund, created to provide long-term support for the Uvalde community.

Following the deadly elementary school shooting in Uvalde, the fund is designed to provide long-term community support in Uvalde by creating and investing in trauma and healing-centered care for youth and families. For the project, the Rockets are joining the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, San Antonio Spurs, and the NBA in providing initial funding.

Efforts will be anchored around sports and building safe places, like community outdoor play areas, where young people can play and heal through on-the-ground mental wellness and counseling resources.

Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) is managing the fund in conjunction with San Antonio Area Foundation, which will distribute investments into the Uvalde community. Fans who would like to join the sports groups by contributing to the fund are invited to donate here.

“The Uvalde community will forever be thankful for the generous partnerships established to pay tribute and remember our loved ones,” said Rob Fowler, Uvalde’s parks and recreation director.

“We are well aware that the road to mental health recovery from this traumatic event is a long journey,” Fowler added. “However, the youth of our community will heal with the support from our local and national sports community. Physical spaces for healing and resources for mental healthcare are vital to the recovery of our beloved community.”

Childhood trauma is a pervasive public health issue across the country. By providing both physical spaces for healing and free resources to children and the adults around them in the Uvalde community, the fund’s programs are designed to help reduce the stigma of mental health challenges and decrease the service gap between sport and healing.

“The Fertitta family and the Rockets organization are heartbroken from last month’s senseless loss of life,” said Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations. “We are honored to join the Spurs, Mavericks, and Stars to help bring healing to this shattered Texas community.”

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Rockets to expand Memorial Hermann partnership, add new Toyota Center amenities

In a deal that will bring new amenities to Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets are expanding their partnership and collaboration with the Memorial Hermann Health System.

HOUSTON — In a press conference Tuesday at the Toyota Center practice court, the Rockets announced an extension and expansion of their existing partnership with the Memorial Hermann Health System.

Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Rockets, and Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, were on hand to deliver the news.

After nearly two decades of working together, the groups described the new arrangement as a unique, first-of-its-kind collaboration and branding partnership. Effective July 1, 2022, Memorial Hermann’s entire orthopedics and sports medicine service line will be rebranded to include the team as Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics.

In addition, Memorial Hermann’s sports medicine institute clinics will be named the Memorial Hermann | Rockets Sports Medicine Institute, and the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital will be named the Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedic Hospital.

In a press release, Memorial Hermann said it is proud to be the first health system in the country to be able to co-brand its orthopedic programs with a national sports team partner.

“We’re joining forces to offer exceptional, best-in-class orthopedic care, yes — but also to help build a healthier Houston,” said Dr. David Callender, President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System. “We are excited to show Greater Houston what we can accomplish by bringing our two exceptional teams together.”

Memorial Hermann and the Rockets first entered into a sponsorship agreement in 2005, making Memorial Hermann the official healthcare provider of the franchise. The two organizations have a long-standing cooperation on community wellness initiatives and beyond.

For over 10 years, the Rockets and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital have presented the Be Fit Challenge, which encourages and rewards students for healthy nutrition and physical activities. In addition, Memorial Hermann recently provided funding for numerous new breast-feeding stations to be installed in Toyota Center, providing private, tech-savvy breast-feeding and lactation spaces for mothers.

Memorial Hermann is also funding the installation of more baby-changing stations in all men’s and women’s restrooms in the arena.

Just last month, Memorial Hermann — in partnership with the Rockets and the City of Houston — unveiled two newly refurbished basketball courts at the Moody Community Center. Local children were treated to mini-clinics by Rockets players and coaches and given backpacks filled with items from Children’s Memorial Hermann and the Rockets.

The refurbished basketball courts, one inside and one outside, will provide this northeast Houston community with a quality place for kids and adults to get active and engage with one another through basketball, exercise classes, children’s activities, and more. This collaboration was the first of many planned efforts and initiatives that will improve health and the quality of life for Greater Houston.

“This collaboration with Memorial Hermann is truly an honor for the Rockets organization, and it strengthens our fantastic long-standing partnership while further aligning the commitment we both have to the Houston community,” said Sheirr.

“The world-class service Memorial Hermann has provided to Rockets players over the years is indicative of the care they bring to all patients with unmatched knowledge and passion,” Sheirr concluded.

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