Bulls Open New Practice Facility On West Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Bulls have cut the ribbon on their new $25 million training center, across the street from the United Center.
"Hopefully this will lead to a few rings for us in the near future," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said as he led the official opening of the team's new practice facility, which replaces the Berto Center in Deerfield.
Reinsdorf said the 60,000-square-foot Advocate Center, at the corner of Monroe and Wood streets, will lend to the continued revitalization of the city's Near West Side.
"This is just another step in the resurgence of the West Side that's been going on since the United Center was built. There are a lot more things still to come, and we're happy to be a part of it," he said.
The training center houses two full-size basketball courts, expanded locker rooms with therapeutic whirlpools, a video and media room, and an updated weight room.
Bulls Vice President John Paxson said the team wanted to move from the Berto Center in Deerfield because more players now choose to live downtown.
"The reality is our players have been moving to the city for a number of years now, and they want to live here, and they want to be a part of the community of Chicago – the city of Chicago – and take part in what that means," he said.
The north side of the building features glass walls where the team displays its six NBA Championship banners.
The Bulls will begin practicing at the Advocate Center in two weeks.
The city would like to build a new CTA Pink Line stop at Madison and Paulina, but has yet to announce any official plans for a stop near the United Center.