“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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