McGanney Sports Center

- 150 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton, CA 94027

Introduction / Overview

For residents and families throughout the Peninsula and Bay Area, the McGanney Sports Center in Atherton, California, stands out as a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to athletic development and competition. While it is primarily the central hub for the Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) “Gator” athletic program, its presence and quality set a high standard for sports facilities in the region. This is not a public, membership-based gym in the typical sense, but rather a premier institutional sports complex that provides exceptional training and competition venues for student-athletes and the wider school community.

The center is a reflection of the institution’s deep commitment to high school athletics, emphasizing not just skill development, but also important life lessons such as competing with honor, leadership, perseverance, and self-discipline. Having undergone a significant remodel in 2018, the McGanney Sports Center is now a modern, integrated facility that houses a multitude of resources designed to support every aspect of an athlete's journey, from daily practice and strength training to competitive games and medical care. The positive reviews reflect the quality of the environment, with local users expressing enjoyment for the "Fun times watching the Gators!" and noting the overall "Nice gym" atmosphere. It is a key cornerstone of the Atherton sports landscape.

Location and Accessibility

The McGanney Sports Center is conveniently located within the beautiful 63-acre campus of Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton, which sits in the heart of the Peninsula, making it a recognizable landmark for the community.

The precise address for the facility is 150 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton, CA 94027, USA.

Its location is easily accessible from major roads in the area, providing a central venue for local competitive games across various leagues, including the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL), the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL), and the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL). In line with modern standards for premier sports facilities, the McGanney Sports Center prioritizes accessibility for all visitors and participants, featuring critical design elements to ensure comfort and ease of use:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

The presence of these features ensures that spectators, visiting teams, and all members of the community can access and enjoy the center's resources comfortably.

Services Offered

As a comprehensive sports center, the McGanney facility supports an extensive program of high school athletics. The services are highly specialized and focused on providing a complete training and competition environment for student-athletes across numerous varsity, junior varsity, and freshman-only teams. These services extend beyond simple court space to include advanced training and medical support.

• Full Indoor Gymnasium Access: The primary function of the center is to host practices and competitions for team sports like Basketball and Volleyball.
• Athletic Performance Center: A dedicated, specialized area designed for strength and conditioning training, ensuring athletes have the resources to build power, speed, and endurance safely.
• Sports Medicine / Athletic Training Room: Provides on-site, expert medical care and physical therapy support for student-athletes, managed by professional athletic training staff.
• Flex Fitness Studio: A versatile space used for various training modalities, including flexibility work, cross-training, and specific team conditioning sessions.
• Team Meeting Room: Dedicated space for coaches and teams to hold strategic planning sessions, video reviews, and team-building activities.
• Student Locker Rooms: Modern and dedicated spaces for athletes to prepare for and recover from practices and games.

Features / Highlights

The McGanney Sports Center is distinguished by several high-end features that underscore its role as a premier athletics venue on the California Peninsula. These highlights contribute to the facility's positive reputation and its capacity to host high-quality competitive events.

• 2018 Remodel: The recent renovation ensures the center is equipped with modern, state-of-the-art athletic and administrative facilities.
• Integrated Athletic Department Offices: The center houses the Athletic Department administrative offices, allowing for seamless coordination between coaches, administration, and student-athletes.
• Comprehensive Athletic Program Support: The facility supports the celebrated SHS "Gator" program, which fields varsity and JV teams in nineteen different programs and has a strong record of sending athletes to successful college and professional careers.
• Commitment to Inclusivity: Several of the twenty-one athletic programs affiliated with the center operate on a "no cut" policy, ensuring opportunities for participation for any student who wishes to join.
• Faculty/Staff Locker Rooms: Separate facilities for coaches and staff, ensuring a professional and well-equipped environment for the entire athletic team.
• Essential Amenities: The building is equipped with basic, but essential, amenities including Restrooms and Wi-Fi, supporting both athletes and administrative needs.
• Centralized Athletics Hub: It is one of three major indoor gymnasiums on the campus, but the McGanney Sports Center is specifically highlighted for its role as the integrated hub for athletic performance and medicine.

Contact Information

For general inquiries related to the McGanney Sports Center, often pertaining to scheduling, visiting teams, or the athletic program it supports, California residents can use the following details:

Address: 150 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton, CA 94027, USA

Phone: (650) 322-1866 or +1 650-322-1866

What is Worth Choosing

While the McGanney Sports Center operates within a private educational institution, its design, investment, and comprehensive offerings make it a benchmark facility for athletic excellence in the Bay Area. For local California residents, particularly those with school-aged athletes, understanding the caliber of this facility provides insight into the quality of specialized sports training and competition available in the community.

It is worth noting that this gym is a model of how to create an integrated sports hub. The recent remodel and the centralization of resources—combining a competition court, a strength and conditioning facility (Athletic Performance Center), and a Sports Medicine unit—means that all aspects of an athlete's physical health and development are addressed under one roof. This holistic approach, combined with a program that actively teaches life lessons like leadership and perseverance, makes the McGanney Sports Center a prime example of an institution committed to developing well-rounded athletes. The center provides an environment where one can genuinely enjoy "Fun times watching the Gators!" and appreciate a "Nice gym" that is truly focused on athletic success and individual well-being in the Atherton area.

McGanney Sports Center

150 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton, CA 94027, USA