WATCH: Florida Gators show off new state-of-the-art training facility
The Florida Gators are finally opening their new James W “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center, and showed off the new training facility. The facilities are designed to give new facilities to all student-athletes on campus, as well as help day-to-day operations for their football program as it’s closer to their practice fields.
Florida’s new training facility
The video showcase gives an inside look, beginning with the entrance-area of the Heavener Center displaying Gators excellence. The video continues with a look at team meeting facilities — including rooms dedicated to each position with desk/study areas for position meetings.
From there, they show off the team kitchen, dining area and recreation areas — before giving a look at their strength and conditioning facilities. The strength room appears to be adjacent to the indoor practice facility as well, with glass windows between the workout area and the field.
Finally, fans get a glimpse at what the players will call home on game day with a view of the locker room, bearing Jordan-brand logos and orange lighting on the ceiling to fit the Florida atmosphere. The lockers have player photos over their space, showing off their positions and where they’re from.
The Gators will finally be moving into their new 142,000-foot, $85 million home this week, as the Heavener Center makes its debut.
“It screams commitment,” said head coach Billy Napier. “A lot of time, energy and certainly investment from a lot of our supporters have made it to really improve our facility. Everyone wants to talk about recruiting when it comes to the facility but I think it’s more important to our player experience.”
Florida executive associate athletics director Chip Howard oversaw the construction of the new facility, which began in 2016. Howard explained to Gators Online that Sunday is the first time players have walked through the new building in five months.
“Once we get a chance on Sunday night to see the players’ reaction, that’s when it really hits you,” Howard told Gators Online. “It’s kind of like when you build a house. When it’s studs it’s one thing, but when you see the granite countertops and all the finishes, it blows you away. I think that’s what they’re going to be excited about. And the fact that they’ve got a new home that’s going to be the nicest in the country.
“When you see what the players’ reaction is and the next day see them actually utilizing the space, that makes everything worthwhile. The process of taking six years to get to this point, it took a little longer obviously because we totally changed locations, but it’s going to be worth it. This is the right building. Why do a building that’s not going to be quite right? This is the best in the business.”