Portland women’s dual sport performance center

Article posted by Coliseum, February 17^th, 2025

Image: Populous

RAJ Sports, the sports investment platform for the Bhathal Family, owners and operators of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team Portland Thorns FC and the new Portland Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise, recently announced plans for a first-of-its-kind dual sport women’s performance center in Portland, Oregon (US) serving both the women’s professional soccer and women’s professional basketball team.

‘POPULOUS’ stated that designed by the leading global architecture and design firm Populous as a facility that champions innovation and athletic excellence the performance center will feature a first of its kind elite training core elevating the standard of athletic development by integrating cutting-edge training, advanced recovery and holistic wellness with lifestyle elements specific to the needs of the female athletes in a collaborative multiteam setting.

Delaware (US)-based RAJ Sports, led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, focuses on investment opportunities in sports and sports-related properties drawing on the Bhathal family’s multigenerational experience and relationships in the industry. The firm seeks to leverage the power of sports to affect broader social and economic change through a variety of business and philanthropic strategies. Its deep experience in professional sports operations and large-scale real estate developments that create thriving community centers positions the firm to deliver valuable assets that will support further growth for the players, the staff and the fans.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is a women’s professional soccer league at the top of the United States league. The league comprises 14 teams (16 in 2026). It is owned by the teams and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States). The NWSL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

Image: Populous

The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon (US) that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team NWSL which received support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The 25,218-capacity Providence Park in Portland, Oregon (US) serves as their home arena.

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women’s professional basketball league in the United States. The league comprises 13 teams. It is considered the premier professional women’s basketball league in the world. The WNBA is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

The Portland WNBA team is an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon (US). The team will compete in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member of the Western Conference. It is scheduled to begin play in 2026. The team will play its home games at the 19,393-capacity Moda Center.

Populous is a global architectural and design practice with regional headquarters in Kansas City (US), London (UK) and Brisbane (Australia) specializing in sports facilities, arenas and convention centers as well as in the planning and design of major special events.

Image: Populous

Populous is at the forefront of innovation and leading the charge in women’s professional sports. The firm began with a singular focus –to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses and amplify the pure emotion shared in human moments. Over the last 40 years, the firm has designed more than 3,500 projects worth over $60 billion across emerging and established markets.

‘POPULOUS’ further stated that from recovery lounges and hyperbaric therapy to active recovery pools and red-light therapy every detail is crafted to maximize performance, accelerate recovery and sustain peak excellence. Built with intention, it will foster an environment of interaction between both teams while embracing the importance of family, community, and the evolving needs of female athletes.

Stated Sherri Privitera, Director of Women’s Professional Sports, Populous, “Advocating to drive change in women’s sports, our team at Populous is committed to helping the female athletes optimize their performance by designing training facilities that honor their unique needs and talents. Our local offices rooted in the Portland community, combined with our team of experts across the country, are thrilled to work in concert with the Portland Thorns and the WNBA expansion franchise to design this new, purpose-built training facility.”

Added Jeff Yrazabal, Principal, Populous, “With the resounding success that the Portland Thorns have had in the NWSL the City is eager to welcome the newest WNBA franchise to our community. For our team based in Portland it’s exciting to work alongside both the organizations creating a world-class training facility that will help pave the way for their future successes.”

Image: Populous

Shared Lisa Bhathal Merage, “When we acquired the Portland Thorns and the Portland WNBA franchise our family committed to investing into the Thorns, the WNBA franchise and the Portland Metro region. Building an innovative training facility that provides the best possible environment for our athletes across professional soccer and professional basketball will be a game changer for women’s sports. Our goal is to create the most inclusive and welcoming environment for our athletes, the staff, the supporters, the fans, the partners, and the community as we strive to be an elite organization on the field, on the court and in the community.”

The 12-acre performance center will feature the following:

A 63,000-square-foot training facility;
A 17,000-square-foot practice gym featuring two full-size basketball courts;
Two full-sized soccer pitches with an outdoor training zone;
A 5,000 square-foot, dynamic strength training facility featuring top-of-the-line equipment, an outdoor turf zone and a yoga/pilates room;
Elite training core program integrating strength and conditioning, Sports Science and Sports Medicine;
Dedicated dressing rooms for the WNBA and the NWSL teams with amenities designed for the female athlete in a spa-like setting;
Dining room with a full-time chef and nutritionist offering performance-focused meals and refueling stations throughout the facility;
Dedicated rooms for the players’ families;
Team meeting rooms and social media content rooms; and
Private player parking and player entry for convenience and security.

The campus, which is envisioned to be the global epicenter of women’s sport, will be built over multiple phases at a total capitalization in excess of $150 million and will consist of the performance center for the Thorns and the WNBA teams along with future uses with the goal of creating a peak performance and recovery innovation center focused on the female athlete. The first phase announced recently is a $75 million, 12-acre state-of-the-art facility designed by Populous.

Image: Populous

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