Advocate Center

nbaplatformservices

the-berto-center

The Berto Center

admin

advocate-center-ribbon-cutting-ceremony

Advocate Center ribbon cutting ceremony

Bulls.com

September 12, 2014 — The Chicago Bulls today hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the team’s new downtown training facility, the Advocate Center. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, President and COO Michael Reinsdorf, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman were joined by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., and Advocate Health Care President and CEO Jim Skogsbergh to commemorate the official opening.

Advocate Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

“Today is a historic day for our team and the City of Chicago, not only for officially opening this world-class facility, but because we are bringing our Chicago Bulls downtown,” said Jerry Reinsdorf. “I want to thank Mayor Emanuel and local community leaders for their continuous support throughout the process. I also want to thank Advocate, an incredible partner of the Chicago Bulls. It has been amazing to watch the Advocate Center come to life over the past year. We know this facility will play a key role in achieving our team’s number one goal – winning championships – while also having an impact on the redevelopment efforts for the Near West Side neighborhood.”

“Chicago is a great place to live, work and play, and since the Bulls already play here, I am thrilled that the team can now do their daily work at the Advocate Center and in close proximity to the United Center,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This investment by the Chicago Bulls, like many others across the city, is helping to drive the revitalization of a great neighborhood.”

“We are excited about the new facility and our continued partnership with the Chicago Bulls to strengthen our communities,” said Jim Skogsbergh. “We are looking forward to working closely with Chicago Bulls Charities as they focus on health and wellness, youth education, and violence prevention.”

Joining the celebration were three special Advocate patients who officially cut the ribbon. Heart transplant patient Ray Thompson, pediatric patient Ricardo Guthrie and breast cancer survivor Janice Bailey, were thrilled to join the festivities.

In June 2012, the Bulls announced their decision to relocate the training facility to Chicago in an effort to improve player convenience while fostering collaboration between the team’s basketball operations and front office staff. Within the next year, the Bulls selected a site location and broke ground across from the United Center on South Wood Street between Monroe and Madison Streets. In June 2014, the team announced an expanded multi-year agreement with Advocate, which included naming the training facility the “Advocate Center.”

"I'm extremely excited that the new Bulls facility is located in the 27th Ward,” said Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. “This will bring tourism and help generate development in the area."

Approximately 60,000-square-feet in size, the Advocate Center features a “saw-toothed façade” on the west side of the building. The north side of the building features opaque glass at eye level that becomes increasingly transparent at higher levels allowing Bulls fans to view the team’s six championship banners hanging from the building’s rafters as they walk along Madison Street. Additionally, Madison and Wood Streets are lined with new trees and landscaping.

The facility provides a seamless transition for Bulls players as they move between fitness, nutrition and therapy areas with state-of-the-art-equipment and energy efficient technologies allowing players and coaches to operate each room’s electricity and temperature from a single device. Other amenities include a specialized sound system throughout the facility and a fiber optic line between the United Center and Advocate Center to instantly share information.

The main level of the facility houses two full-size basketball courts, expanded locker rooms with therapeutic hydro-pools, video room, coaches’ offices, updated weight room and a designated media room. The first floor is also equipped with a customized Gatorade Sports Fuel Bar to assist in the training, hydration and recovery of the players. The second floor contains a green roof terrace, executive offices, conference rooms and a perched cardio room.

The building’s exterior incorporates Advocate Center branding on the north, east and west sides, with interior signage located in the basketball court area and video room.

Athletico Physical Therapy, a valued team partner for more than 10 years and Exclusive Physical and Occupational Therapy Provider for the Bulls, serves as the lead sponsor for an auxiliary building located on the east side of the Advocate Center. The building will offer players the convenience to receive on-site therapies and training assistance from Athletico therapists and athletic trainers during practice and after home games. The Athletico building is scheduled to open in early 2015.

The Bulls and Advocate share a commitment to improving the lives of those in need and honoring those who have conquered challenging medical circumstances. On October 16th, Advocate is sponsoring the Bulls’ preseason game vs. the Atlanta Hawks to highlight its support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and its successful initiative, “Stories of the Girls.” To incorporate the pink theme, the team will turn all arena and in-game elements pink and encourage all Bulls fans to show their support by wearing pink. This is the second consecutive year Advocate has sponsored a Bulls preseason game focused on Breast Cancer Awareness. Additionally, the Bulls and Advocate partner on current programs, including “Safety Together,” which enlists the help of Bulls team mascot Benny the Bull to educate young people in local schools about the importance of hand washing and cleanliness. Bulls players and Bulls Entertainment Network performers will continue to visit Advocate Children’s Hospital locations to spend time with patients and their families while distributing gifts, taking pictures and signing autographs.

The firm, 360 Architecture, was the lead project architect for the Advocate Center, and McHugh Construction served as the General Contractor.

The Bulls have practiced in the Sheri L. Berto Center in Deerfield, Ill., since 1992, and intend to sell the current practice facility.

About Advocate Health Care
Advocate Health Care, named among the nation’s Top 5 large health systems based on quality by Truven Analytics, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care, including 12 hospitals that encompass 11 acute care hospitals, the state’s largest integrated children’s network, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), three Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health care companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Advocate Health Care trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $614 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2012.

Michael Reinsdorf, President and COO, Chicago Bulls
“We have looked forward to opening this state-of-the-art training facility and I know the players are especially excited to get in here and start working,” said Michael Reinsdorf, President and COO, Chicago Bulls. “The Bulls are eager to embark on the next phase of our community efforts with Advocate during the 2014-15 season, beginning with the Breast Cancer Awareness pre-season game in October. We made a commitment to finding more ways that both organizations can make a difference in Chicago and this is just the start.”

John Paxson, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Chicago Bulls
"The opening of the Advocate Center will provide our players, coaches and training staff with elite resources to condition, practice and rehabilitate," said John Paxson, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Chicago Bulls. "As an organization, we will be afforded the opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between our basketball and business operations staffs to deliver our fans a team to be proud of and give us a more consistent presence in the Chicago community."

Gar Forman, General Manager, Chicago Bulls
“We are thrilled to welcome our players to the Advocate Center for the 2014-15 season,” said Gar Forman, General Manager, Chicago Bulls. “We are confident that the Advocate Center’s unparalleled amenities and modern technology coupled with the convenience of a downtown location will provide our players with the tools they need to compete at the highest level.”

Michael Meagher, Senior Vice President, James McHugh Construction Co.
“We truly value the opportunity to serve what we believe is one of the best sports franchises in the United States,” said Michael Meagher, Senior Vice President, James McHugh Construction Co. “Their building leadership team matches their reputation. We are most proud of the fact that the Bulls organization took the initiative in setting MBE and WBE participation goals for the project – that’s very unusual on a 100% privately funded project and they are setting a great example for other private owners.”

George Heinlein, Senior Principal, 360 Architecture
“It has been an honor to continue our work with the Bulls organization on this exciting project,” said George Heinlein, Senior Principal, 360 Architecture. “Their forward-thinking approach and appreciation for design has resulted in a world-class facility for the players and staff. The Advocate Center will provide improved synergies for the team and further integrate them into the heart of the downtown community.”

Mark Kaufman, Founder and President, Athletico Physical Therapy
“Athletico Physical Therapy and the Chicago Bulls have shared a strong and mutually beneficial partnership for over 10 years,” said Mark Kaufman, Founder and President of Athletico Physical Therapy. “The Chicago Bulls are a world class organization and we are proud to partner with a group that shares our core values.  We are very much looking forward to bringing our medical service to the West Side Chicago community and help people continue to do the things they love. The same renowned service we provide to the Chicago Bulls will be provided to the West Side Chicago community.”

Jeff Kearney, Senior Director, Gatorade Sports Marketing
“Sports fueling is the next frontier in meeting athletes’ performance needs and no one is better equipped to help meet those needs than Gatorade,” said Jeff Kearney, Senior Director, Gatorade Sports Marketing. “In partnership with the Chicago Bulls, we are thrilled to debut the first NBA installed Gatorade Fuel Bar in the new Advocate Center. The Gatorade Fuel Bar puts the importance of sports fueling front and center and provides the training staff, strength coaches and their athletes with the education, resources and products they need for training and competition.”

chicago-bulls-host-opening-of-advocate-center

Chicago Bulls host opening of Advocate Center

advocate-center-time-lapse

Advocate Center time-lapse

Bulls and Advocate Health Care tour new Advocate Center

bulls-and-advocate-health-care-tour-new-advocate-center

Chicago Bulls announce expanded partnership with Advocate Health Care
Photo gallery: Advocate Center tour

Shortly after it was announced that the Bulls’ new practice facility will be named the Advocate Center as part of a multi-year agreement, the team hosted 13 members of Advocate Health Care’s leadership group for a luncheon. Afterwards, the group went on a behind the scenes tour to see the work in progress. 

Some talked about the benefits of having the facility downtown across the street from the United Center. Others highlighted the significantly larger space—nearly twice the size of the Berto Center—and openness. All came away impressed and excited about the team’s future in the new building. 

Given the Bulls have practiced at the Berto Center in Deerfield since 1992, the new facility’s new name will take some getting used to. But Michael Reinsdorf, President and COO for the team, believes the identity will catch on quickly. 

“I really like how the name flows,” said Reinsdorf. “The Berto Center had a great ring to it, and Advocate Center also has a great ring to it. I’m really excited about our partnership with Advocate and we don’t really look at it as a naming rights deal. It’s truly a partnership that is with one of the leaders in the healthcare industry. They want to make a difference in the community, just as the Bulls want to make a difference in the community. We’re hoping to partner together to come up with incredible programs that will make a difference in the lives of so many people.” 

Jim Skogsbergh, Advocate Health Care’s President and CEO, shared Reinsdorf’s sentiment and reiterated that their partnership with the Bulls is about much more than the practice facility.

“It looks like it’s going to be a first class facility, which is appropriate, given it’s a first class organization,” said Skogsbergh. “We’re so proud to have our name associated with the Bulls, a great organization that is not only competitive in its arena, but also gives back so much to the community, which is where our heart is. We’re excited about what this partnership is going to mean for the communities which we care so much about and we’re anxious to serve. It’s a great day for us and a great facility. I can’t wait to see it when it is finished.” 

With Advocate set to enter its third season of partnership with the Bulls as 2014-15 gets underway, Skogsbergh said it was how well the first two years went that made it appealing to take the relationship to another level. 

“The things that have meant so much to our patients mean just as much to us,” Skogsbergh explained. “There have been on-court experiences at games and it’s just awesome for those kids, the patients, and the families. Players have come to our campus as well and that’s huge, just huge. We also did a lot of work around breast cancer and we know that there are more opportunities like that as we take this relationship deeper. There are a lot of good things to come.” 

Kelly Jo Golson, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer for Advocate, recalled how early on in the partnership, she could see that many of the same shared values existed between her company and the Bulls. And while the naming opportunity is a significant part of their relationship, she looks at it more so as two organizations coming together to improve their community. 

“They’ve been phenomenal,” said Golson. “The Bulls have not only been open to us coming to them and saying, ‘Here’s an idea we have,’ but for them to reach out to us about how we can make a greater impact. Sometimes when players come to the hospital for a visit, they’ll request that media is not there. They just want to brighten the day of some of our younger patients.” 

The significance of the team’s corporate partners is certainly not lost on John Paxson, Executive VP of Basketball Operations for the Bulls. 

“It’s always great when someone looks at an opportunity and says we want to partner with the Bulls,” said Paxson. “All of us, including myself in this position, we don’t take that lightly. We know the commitment they are making and we know they want to get value out of this. For years, ‘Berto Center’ has rolled off people’s tongues. They know that’s where the team has practiced. It’s going to be the same thing with the Advocate Center. It’s going to be a beautiful building and they’ll have a lot to be proud of.” 

Though there are a few months of work left to be done, it won’t be long before the Advocate Center’s doors are open and another season is right around the corner. But for now, as guests sport hard hats rather than practice jerseys, everyone was imagining how nice it is going to be. 

“When I’m standing on the basketball court in that big space, that’s really exciting,” said Reinsdorf. “But then you walk around through the weight room, locker room and offices… every area in the new facility has been well thought out. It’s literally across the street from the United Center, which will allow greater interaction between our business side and our basketball side. I couldn’t be more excited.” 

For most of the people on hand Wednesday, it was their first time touring the structure which will house the team’s basketball operations and coaching staffs when it opens prior to the 2014-15 season. 

Paxson holds the unique perspective of having been with the organization since 1985 as both a player and an executive. While being downtown is a key element, he feels the team simply outgrew the Berto Center and the time was right for the team to upgrade. 

“Our players have wanted to live in the city for quite a while,” explained Paxson. “Being up north, as much as we’ve loved the Berto Center, it’s been difficult when you think about guys traveling downtown on gamedays. This is going to allow our players to live in the city and be part of the community. 

“It will shorten a lot of things—commutes to practices, home after games and so on,” Paxson continued. “All the things we worry about in terms of rest and preparation will be alleviated. On top of that, our players are going to have access to everything state of the art in terms of conditioning, fitness and rehab. You’re always trying to stay current or ahead of the curve and we think we’re doing that.” 

Paxson also views the building as a re-energizing vehicle, an inspiring next step for the organization. He also likes that long-term, it will be another tool for the Bulls to use when recruiting free agents. 

“They all know the organization’s great reputation, but now you can sit down and say, ‘Look, here’s what you have access to: the city, the practice facility, everything is here and it is close.’ I think it is going to help,” stated Paxson. 

Paxson was part of a group that traveled to see several newer training facilities on both the professional and collegiate levels. They took ideas from all of them in an attempt to create a building in which every aspect will be improved. In short, it’s a place where the team’s players can come to work on their games, improve as a team, and be comfortable while doing so. 

When asked what jumped out at him after seeing the interior of the building, General Manager Gar Forman cited its size and layout. 

“We spent a lot of time planning, but to get inside and see the framework of what it’s going to look like shows us how much of an upgrade it will be from where we’ve been,” Forman said. 

At the end of the day though, for Forman it comes down to putting the team in the best possible position to succeed. 

“It’s the chance to have a world class facility for our players to train,” said Forman. “The building is going to be great—the flow of it will result in increased interaction. As players go from the training room to the weight room to the gymnasium, they’ll get to see that openness and they’ll be very comfortable. We think it’s a place where they are going to want to spend a lot of time.” 

Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was equally pleased with what he saw. 

“We’re thrilled and we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Thibodeau. “It’s going to be a great facility with everything state of the art. It’s going up very quickly and I know our players are very excited to get down here.” 

Thibodeau also likes the thought of allowing his players to get in additional rest on gamedays. 

“It will be huge with how we practice and prepare and in terms of recovery,” said Thibodeau. “It’s going to be the best. There’s no question about it.”

bulls-new-downtown-training-home-the-advocate-center

Bulls' new downtown training home: The Advocate Center

advocate-center-tour

Advocate Center Tour

none

Presented By

AT&T

<a title="Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now" href="https://www.nba.com/bulls/postseason">Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now!</a>