Celtics to Construct New Practice Facility at Boston Landing

The Boston Celtics are planning to construct a new "world-class" practice facility at Boston Landing that will be completed by 2018.

CBS Boston passed along confirmation of the plan from Celtics president Rich Gotham, who provided a statement about the new facility:

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We are proud to team with New Balance Development in the creation of a best-in-class athletic training and practice facility that will provide Celtics players, coaches, and training staff with the resources, technology, and programming to compete at the highest level in an increasingly competitive NBA landscape. The Boston Landing location will bring us closer to our game day home at the TD Garden while providing high impact brand visibility.

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Darren Rovell of ESPN provided an image of the facility:

The CBS Boston report noted the practice arena will feature glass walls that will house 17 championship banners that will be seen from the highway. Construction is set to begin this fall in the same area as the Boston Bruins' practice facility, which will open this summer.

The Celtics announced other features will include two parquet floor basketball courts, improved training facilities and areas for physical therapy. The new location will also feature work areas for the staff. All told, it will cover about 70,000 square feet.

It's been nearly two decades since the Celtics changed their practice location. Healthpoint in Waltham, Massachusetts, has served the purpose since 1999.

Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe discussed the potential impact:

Ultimately, teams are always trying to keep pace with the newest technology available, both for their home arenas and their practice locations. Being able to showcase a dedication to that area is something that helps when it comes to free-agent recruitment, even if it's not the biggest deciding factor.

All signs point to the Celtics' next practice facility being a state-of-the-art complex once it's complete in 2018. Based on the team's steady growth over the past couple of seasons, its opening could coincide with the franchise's rise back into contention in the Eastern Conference.