Sports facility scores a big win

IMG Academies in Bradenton, a massive all-purpose sports training facility, landed a big prize in its quest to grow its national cachet: an NFL team, the Carolina Panthers.

At least IMG will host the football team for a few days leading up to its season-opening game Sept. 9 in Tampa against the Buccaneers. The Panthers need a training spot because the Democratic National Convention will be held Sept. 3-6 in their home city, Charlotte. President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech Sept. 6 at the Panthers' home field, Bank of America Stadium.

“We researched places on the West Coast, Midwest and East Coast in anticipation of the 2012 schedule release,” Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney says in a release. “After the opener at Tampa Bay was announced, we scouted a few places in the Tampa area, and IMG made the most sense. The facility offers the privacy and infrastructure that we need to prepare for the season opener.”

A few Panthers are already familiar with IMG. Quarterback Cam Newton has trained there since last spring, in preparation for the NFL Draft. Plus, the team's first-round draft pick, linebacker Luke Kuechly, trained at IMG earlier this year.

IMG, which covers more than 400 acres in west Bradenton, features training facilities for football, basketball, baseball and several other sports. More than 12,000 athletes from 80 countries worldwide train at IMG each year.