The Celtics "will relocate their practice and training center" from Waltham, Mass., to a "new state-of-the-art facility at New Balance’s 15-acre, mixed-use Boston Landing development in Brighton," according to Donna Goodsion of the BOSTON HERALD. The team "signed a long-term lease for an approximately 70,000-square-foot facility with two parquet basketball courts, expanded strength and conditioning facilities and team office space." Cantilevered 55 feet in the air, the facility "will be adjacent to" the Bruins’ new practice rink, which is under construction. The Celtics’ practice courts "will be visible" from the Massachusetts Turnpike "through a 40-foot glass wall." The new facility will "include audio-visual technology throughout, a players’ lounge, work space for the coaching and front-office staff, an expanded media work room, press conference and broadcast facilities, and a hospitality area" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/11). In Boston, Gary Washburn notes construction is "scheduled to begin this fall and the Celtics are scheduled to move into the Brighton facility" in June '18, "meaning they will spend another two seasons" in Waltham. Celtics President Rich Gotham "would not offer specifics about the length of the lease with Boston Landing, only saying it was 'long term.'" He said that the club "has been working on the framework of a new facility for nearly two years." Gotham noted that the Celtics’ brass "viewed some recently-built practice facilities as well as older ones and college practice facilities to develop ideas for something unique" for the team (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/11). ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg noted the announcement comes as the Celtics "prepare to launch into a competitive free-agent market." Part of Boston's pitch to top-level talent "will include the sparkling new facilities" (ESPN.com, 5/10).
SLIGHT DELAY: In Atlanta, Chris Vivlamore reports the start of construction on the Hawks’ new practice facility "has been delayed until at least late June." The $50M-plus facility "was to break ground in mid-May." Those plans "have been pushed back until after the NBA Draft, which will be held June 23." The facility "is scheduled to be opened" for the '17-18 season (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/11).
