Nothing interferes with training – not even the Looney Tunes!
During the making of the high-stakes basketball match for 1996’s Space Jam (now available on Peacock), NBA legend Michael Jordan had to stay in top form for the upcoming season with the Chicago Bulls. To accommodate his needs, Warner Bros. built a complete compound, known as the “Jordan Dome,” in a parking lot at the studio’s Burbank, California headquarters.
Michael Jordan Required a Custom Basketball Compound for Space Jam
“I requested specialized Cybex equipment specifically for basketball. We also asked for an NBA basketball floor with professional hoops and backboards,” shared Jordan’s personal trainer Tim Grover in the official making-of book, Space Jammin’, written by Charles Carney and Gian Misiroglu. “We needed a relaxation area for Mike, a sound system, a telephone, a fan for business, a bathroom, and shower facilities for everyone. I simply replicated the training setup we use in Chicago. … I created a space where Michael and his teammates and other players could come to unwind and relax.”
Grover compiled a comprehensive list of amenities, expecting some pushback on the budget, but to his surprise, “everything I had asked for was included. Everything,” he confirmed. “It was amazing.”
The Jordan Dome was a top-notch facility with a basketball court borrowed from California State University, Long Beach, round-the-clock security, and an industrial air conditioning system that could maintain optimal temperatures for large quantities of meat if required. It soon became an exclusive hangout for athletes, celebrities, and studio personnel. Notable visitors included Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Antonio Banderas, Steven Segal, as well as the entire casts of ER and Friends.
In addition, the Dome served as a rare gathering place for professional basketball players during the NBA strike of 1995. “All the summer leagues and practice facilities were shut down,” Grover explained. “If you wanted to play top-notch basketball in the summer, this was the place to be.”
“In a way, it was a selfish decision,” remarked Dan Goldberg, who co-produced the film with the late Ivan Reitman. “We had to create the Jordan Dome. We wanted him nearby, so we could have quick access and avoid wasting time. He couldn’t alter his schedule. He truly needed to play basketball and rehearse.”
Space Jam is currently available for streaming on Peacock.