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Thorns FC & Portland Fire WNBA Team Break Ground on New Performance Center

Post Date:05/13/2025

The community is buzzing with excitement as the Portland Thorns FC and the Portland Fire WNBA team prepare to make Hillsboro their new training home with the world’s first dual-sport performance center exclusively for professional women's teams.

Groundbreaking event

Mayor Beach Pace helped celebrate the groundbreaking event in April alongside Governor Tina Kotek, Senator Ron Wyden, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, team representatives, and investors.

“I grew up playing soccer. When I was looking at where I could play in college, I was told, ‘Don’t worry about it, because no one will ever pay to see women play sports,’” Pace said.

“But now, when I go to Thorns games and see the stands full, and when I come to an event like this. I get very emotional, because I was told opportunities like this wouldn’t exist. I was told it would never happen. And now it is.”

Portland Fire and Thorns FC logos

A World-Class Facility

Located on a 12-acre site on NE Aloclek Drive at the intersection of NE Evergreen Parkway, the facility repurposes former Nike office buildings into a state-of-the-art complex tailored to the needs of professional athletes.

The expansive 63,000-square-foot center will feature:

two full-sized soccer fields
two full-sized basketball courts
a 17,000-square-foot practice gym
a 5,000-square-foot strength training area
recovery lounges and wellness spaces

Facility renderings

The initiative is spearheaded by RAJ Sports, the sports investment platform of the Bhathal family, who own both the Thorns and the new WNBA franchise.

Lisa Bhathal Merage emphasized the project's significance, stating, "This performance center will be changing the dynamic for women's sports for generations to come. It's the first dual-purpose professional women's sport performance center in the world.”

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Commissioner Jessica Berman also highlighted the facility's innovative approach, noting its potential to serve as a model for future investments in women's sports infrastructure.

Construction Timeline

The first phase of construction is scheduled for completion ahead of the 2026 seasons for both teams. The Portland Fire will make their debut at the Moda Center in 2026, while the Thorns will continue their legacy at Providence Park as one of the NWSL's founding teams.

The City of Hillsboro is honored to be the training home for these world-class athletes and part of the epicenter of women’s sports.