The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
T3 facility gives media a sneak peek
Members of the media got a sneak peek Nov. 2 at the new T3 Performance facility in Avon.
The facility at 1965 Recreation Lane isn’t set to open until Nov. 6, but the media was invited to tour the 56,000-square-foot facility and speak with management.
T3 — which stands for test, teach, train — was started in Westlake in 2009 by Mike D’Andrea, who still holds many athletic records in Avon Lake.
D’Andrea was the number one recruited linebacker to go to The Ohio State University, but was injured. He was reinjured by trying to get back into sports too quickly which inspired him to open the facility as a way to train athletes so if they do get injured they can get back onto the field safely, according to Director of Sales and Marketing Jeff Sudbrook.
“Our core business and what we really are at the heart of our operations is our performance training,” D’Andrea said.
Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen was on hand for the festivities and briefly spoke about the journey of bring the facility to fruition.
“It started, I think, almost five years ago when we had talked to Mike about the possibility of building a facility here and at that time he wasn’t ready,” Jensen said.
In the meantime, another entity had attempted to develop the location, but Jensen said that fell through.
“That didn’t move forward and Mike decided to come through here,” said Jensen. “I know for him it’s a journey of love and frustration and stress, but we’re certainly, as a city, welcoming Mike to this facility. We’re glad that he’s a part of this community.”
The company’s original premises, which Sudbrook described as a one-room office, are dwarfed in comparison to the monolithic size of their new facility. It features a 150-foot by 180foot full-turf field, four 60- foot batting cages and two 60-foot bullpens as well as gym equipment zones for both athletes and their parents.
The facility also dedicates about 3,000 square feet to University Hospitals with which they have partnered.
“We are very excited for this partnership given the reputation that T3 comes with,” said Ben Galetka, a physical therapist with Uni- versity Hospitals. “For what we do with sports medicine and orthopedics and physical therapy, it’s a great opportunity for us to more of the west side of Cleveland and then to really help with keeping these athletes that we have in Lorain County in the game.”
According to T3athlete. com, there will be another open house for members and non-members from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 19.