New Bulls training center opens in Near West Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- After 22 years, the Chicago Bulls have moved their training facility from Deerfield to a new location in the city's Near West Side, officials said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel along with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf saluted the architects and engineers who they say brought the Advocate Center in on time and budget.

"To the entire Bulls family and the Reinsdorf family, welcome home, glad you are here," Emanuel said.

"This is just another step in the resurgence of the West Side that's been going on since United Center was built and there are a lot more things to come and we are happy to be a part of it," Reinsdorf said.

It is being run as a partnership between the team and Advocate hospital system, and the impact on local business is as you might expect.

"People will be coming in and watching them practice and stuff like that, and they will have more time to visit all the local businesses," said Christina Lemperis of the Palace Grill.

And then there's the housing market.

"They want to be located closer, and I kind of have noticed a few people moving into my neighborhood that, my guess is, they are Bulls players," said Leonard Sherman, a West Loop resident.

Bulls officials say their facility incorporates state-of-the-art exercise nutrition and therapeutic equipment to bring out the best in their players. And this downtown location will not distract them from what's really important.

"We value character in terms of our players, if guys are going to get in trouble they are going to get in trouble, but we think our guys are smart enough to know better," said John Paxson, executive vice president of basketball operations for the Bulls.

Players will begin using the Advocate Center in about two weeks. Legends can only dream about how they would have profited from such a place.

"They got some floors here that are gonna save the players' knees," said Bob Love, former Bulls player.