New practice facility gives Celtics room to grow

BOSTON — Two full-length parquet courts. A 40-foot exercise pool, two hydrotherapy pools, and a float tank. A film theater, a nap room, a kitchen with a dietician on site, even a barber’s chair in the locker room, a game room with a pool table and a putting green.

Then there’s the two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows — with a giant stained-glass Celtics logo in the middle — in the workout room that overlooks the Mass. [...]

BOSTON — Two full-length parquet courts. A 40-foot exercise pool, two hydrotherapy pools, and a float tank. A film theater, a nap room, a kitchen with a dietician on site, even a barber’s chair in the locker room, a game room with a pool table and a putting green.

Then there’s the two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows — with a giant stained-glass Celtics logo in the middle — in the workout room that overlooks the Mass. Pike and most Boston.

The Celtics did not simply go big with their new Red Auerbach Center at New Balance World Headquarters. They went bigger than most could have ever imagined when plans for the facility began taking shape five years ago.

“Our task is to create an environment conducive to growth,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said prior to Tuesday morning’s grand opening ceremony. “Obviously, people, and culture, and work ethic are a huge part of that environment. But these facilities inspire even more to be doing it. When you walk in here it’s: ‘Wow, you have everything.’ ”

Celtics president of business operations Rich Gotham said the team was not looking to move out of Waltham when first approached with the idea of being part of the development of the Brighton neighborhood, which now includes a new commuter rail stop, the Bruins Warrior Ice Arena and will eventually also include a world-class New Balance track facility. But the chance to more than double the space the team had for workouts, offices, medical care, and player amenities was an opportunity that the franchise had to embrace.

“Every 10 to 15 years in this business you have to revisit your facilities,” Gotham said. “If you want to be considered a top-tier organization, part of that is your facilities. Whether it’s to go out and try to attract free agents, or retain your own players, there is a bit of an arms race that goes on with regard to facilities. The good news is that we’ve leapfrogged the competition for now.

“Being in Boston, closer to where we play, over the highway with 130,000 commuters every day coming by, just felt like a good opportunity for us. Ultimately, we needed more space. To be able to get 70,000 square feet in an area so close to the city is something we didn’t think was going to be viable or feasible. But here we are.”

Stevens said he was involved in many of the basketball-related features of the facility, including the designated film study room.

“We’ve been watching film in the middle of our locker room,” the coach said, “with all the stuff hanging off the stairs, and every distraction imaginable. Being able to walk across the hall into an empty space, and being able to sit down in a study room and a film room, is huge.”

Tuesday’s grand opening included remarks from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck and Randy Auerbach, daughter of the late Celtics coach, president and icon.

“It’s an honor to be the head coach of the Celtics, in large part, because Red Auerbach was once head coach of the Boston Celtics,” Stevens said. “I think everybody would say that who has been in this seat since then. So it’s really cool that his name is on the building.”

The Celtics lit up each of the scoreboards Tuesday with “Red” as the home team and “Auerbach” as the road team and all numbers “18” in reference to the next banner the franchise will chase.

“It’s about prioritizing your players,” Stevens said. “It’s about prioritizing your growth. Being committed to them in every which way and showing that in as many ways as you can. This clearly shows it both from a long-term retention standpoint and when you bring new players in.

“It checks every box.”