Baltimore-based Axxella has acquired the SPIRE Institute sports complex in Geneva. Spire is considered a world-class, mega-facility specializing in athlete training, development and competition within a wide variety of sports.
The combination of indoor and outdoor training and competition facilities makes Spire unique within the track and field arena, and the indoor facilities can host up to six basketball courts or 12 volleyball courts, according to a news release. Spire also boasts two full-sized indoor soccer fields and one outdoor stadium field. The facility is also home to a state-of-the-art Olympic-sized pool.
The leadership team overseeing new projects and programs at Spire will include key members of Axxella, specifically CEO Jonathan Ehrenfeld and COO Michael Hannon. In addition, Ted Meekma of Ted Meekma Consult LLC and Rich Odell of Heads Up Educational Consulting will play strategic roles within program/facility development and staffing/operations.
Brian Hurtuk and Mark Abood of Colliers International, a global leader in real estate investment management, brokered the transaction. The prior owners of the facility invested over $100 million into the property. Axxella seeks to build on this investment by expanding a number of strategic areas including athletics, academics, events, recreation and facilities.
“Our intent is to build upon the work already begun at Spire,” Ehrenfeld said in a statement. “We recognize the importance of this complex to Northeast Ohio. As we build out the programming and facility footprint of Spire to appeal to a broader local, regional, national and international audience, we will do so in ways that will cause the surrounding community to always be proud of the tremendous resource that is Spire."
