Transformative new sports league Overtime Elite (OTE) has selected Atlanta as its home after a year-long search that included eight U.S. cities. OTE, which offers the world’s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes, will begin playing in Atlanta this September.
Planning is underway on the construction of a new 103,000-square-foot facility at Atlantic Station, where OTE’s players will train, study and compete. This project will create up to 400 construction jobs in metro Atlanta – at least 30% of which will be diverse hires. To maximize efficiency and reduce waste, the structure will be built using recycled and reused components, with an energy-efficient HVAC system and green-compliant LED lighting system and outer covering. The facility will be completed in time for the league’s September debut.
OTE also is committed to building an inclusive, diverse and equitable workforce, with a focus on hiring among communities of color and employing people who live within Atlanta’s city limits. It is actively recruiting and hiring more than 100 people in the city for its basketball, educator, residential, food service and support staff.
“If we could construct a city that would be the perfect home for Overtime Elite, it would look just like Atlanta,” said Aaron Ryan, Overtime Elite Commissioner and President. “The city’s storied basketball history, diverse population, vibrant business community and rich culture make Atlanta a special place. OTE is committed to being an active contributor to the community.”
OTE provides a comprehensive accelerator for elite players’ professional careers, preparing them for the next level in a way not possible in an ordinary high school environment. The league offers a year-round development program, combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technologies, top-notch facilities and a rigorous, highly personalized academic program that energizes and enhances each athlete’s journey from proficiency to pro.
With longstanding personal and professional relationships within the Atlanta Hawks organization, OTE has a deep respect for the team’s long history in the city and the role they have played to create positive change in the community. Similarly, OTE has been inspired by Atlanta Dream and the impact its players have had using their voice to increase voter participation in the 2020 election.
“Overtime Elite is a welcome addition to Atlanta’s rich sports tradition, elevating the city as a global center for basketball development and a cultural hub for people of all backgrounds,” said Atlanta Hawks player and Overtime investor Trae Young.