Marvella to Revolutionize Women’s Sports with New State-of-the-Art Athletic Complex
Fever President Allison Barber, PhD. to head non-profit leadership team
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., September X, 2024 - In partnership with Newton County, Indiana, The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Fair Oaks Farms, GT Sports Ventures is excited to announce a pioneering youth sports complex dedicated to, and designed for, women athletes. Honoring the birthplace of Title IX sponsored by U.S. Senator Birch Bayh from Indiana, the first of its kind complex will be named MarvellaTM as a tribute to the Senator’s wife and inspiration for seeking transformational equity in higher education and sports. Occupying 120 acres, with nearly 300,000 square feet of state of the art indoor training and educational facilities, Marvella becomes the first sports campus designed uniquely for women athletes.
Allison Barber, PhD. who recently announced that she will leave her post as the President and COO of the Indiana Fever at the end of the season, will join a powerful leadership team at Marvella to head the non-profit arm of the project and serve in an advisory capacity for all operations. Dr. Barber had this to say about the mission: "Marvella is more than just a sports complex; it’s a powerful statement about equity and opportunity. We are creating a space where athletes can thrive and be inspired, not only through competition but also through leadership and wellness programs that empower them to achieve their fullest potential. This is a tribute to the legacy of Title IX and a commitment to the future of girls in sports.”
Dr. Barber will join Marvella’s leadership and advisory team that includes several high profile, accomplished women from the sports world including Indiana’s own Tamika Catchings, broadcaster Suzy Kolber, and the team of Billie Jean King Enterprises. Announcements regarding the full team are forthcoming.
Ms. Catchings, a Basketball Hall of Famer and four-time Olympic gold medalist, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative: "Marvella is a game-changer for women's sports, offering a place where athletes can pursue their dreams with the resources, support, and inspiration they deserve. This campus will empower a new generation of leaders in sports and in life, and I'm proud to be part of a project that honors the legacy of Title IX while setting the stage for the future."
Marvella – The Girls Sports Leadership Experience, will provide athletes and their families with a special experience. In addition to high level athletic competition on fields and courts designed especially for female sports, guests will be provided with inspirational leadership and wellness programming. The complex will feature:
Versatile Sports Facilities – A massive indoor facility with full-size turf fields and courts to accommodate basketball, volleyball, flag football, lacrosse, and soccer as the first five sports offered. Spaces are designed for teams to congregate in comfort with plenty of storage and female-focused amenities. A multi-purpose arena will host championship games and events.
Thoughtfully Designed Fields – Outdoor rectangular fields and softball fields with specially designed bleachers, platforms, lighting, safe surfaces and digital recording capabilities. Outdoor fields will accommodate flag football, field hockey, rugby, soccer and lacrosse.
Advanced Training Facilities – Cutting-edge equipment and technology for strength, conditioning, and recovery, especially designed for female athletes. Expert coaches will conduct skills training and provide mentorship through clinics.
Holistic Physical and Mental Health Support – On-site urgent care center staffed by sports injury professionals, diagnostic care, injury and disease prevention, nutrition counseling and mental health services.
Educational Enrichment – Workshops, digital programming, a women in sports tribute museum, and celebrity speakers will edify on topics such as leadership, character development, entrepreneurship, sportsmanship, community engagement, resiliency and career development.
Revolutionary Media Center - Campus wired for full content capture of training sessions, tournament games and matches, and featuring a full creation studio for athletes to tell their own stories. Marvella’s own digital platform, the “M Network” will share educational content, training tips and highlight featured speakers and female leaders.
Women in Sports Museum - Interactive displays paying special tribute to the rise of women’s athletics as a result of the historic Title IX legislation, and featuring Indiana as the global capital of women’s sports.
Beyond elite training and amenities, Marvella will foster a strong sense of community by hosting events, tournaments, camps and clinics. The Marvella campus is conveniently located off I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis - adjacent to the existing Fair Oaks Farms campus - providing easy access to the farm’s family-friendly amenities such as an apple orchard, indoor ropes course, dairy tours, interactive museums, and a uniquely designed Fairfield Inn. Partnerships with local schools, clubs, and organizations will ensure accessibility to Marvella for all athletes.
“We are thrilled to create a beautiful space where women and girls can reach their full athletic potential,” said Glenn Tilley, President and Founder. “Marvella is more than just a sports complex; it’s a community hub dedicated to empowering the next generation of female leaders. Our aim is to impact and reach all individuals, regardless of their background, by offering athletes and their families a distinctive experience rooted in sports that fosters the well-being of the mind, body, and soul.”
Sagamore Institute in Indianapolis will be an operating partner of the Marvella Foundation, seeking investment for the project through its impact investing platform, Commonwealth. The Jasper Newton Foundation will support Marvella locally with nonprofit funding opportunities, such as Nancy’s Dream - a program providing scholarships for low-income athletes and participating athletes from single parent households. Billie Jean King Enterprises will help shepherd private investment, sponsorships and strategic partnerships through their unique position in the exploding world of women’s sports that their founder helped build.
Construction on the 100+ acre campus is expected to begin later this fall, subject to the closing of the first round of financing and finalization of all agreements. Phase 1 of the 3 phase buildout is expected to be complete by the spring of 2026.
The groundbreaking for construction of Marvella will be celebrated with a special media event in late fall 2024. The celebration will include tours of the site, media opportunities, interviews with the star-studded women’s leadership team, demonstrations by professional athletes, and opportunities for the community and visitors to engage in various agri-tourism and sports activities that are part of the adjoining and well known Fair Oaks Farms .
About Marvella
Marvella is the country’s first-ever sports and leadership complex designed and dedicated primarily to the needs of young female athletes. Designed with a best-in-quality commitment, Marvella will provide teams, individual athletes, and families a unique sports-based experience that combines safe athletic, educational, and entertainment programming intended to mold values and character while providing a memorable family experience. For details on Marvella’s mission, leadership and programming, as well as artist renderings, please visit www.marvellasports.com.
Media Contact: Lauren Auld Schregardus, BAR Communications
Marvella Contact: Lou Tilley, VP/Co-Founder, Marvella - The Girls Sports Leadership Experience
