After years of delays, lawsuits, and local backlash, the Obama Presidential Center has officially opened its first facility — and, fittingly, it’s a basketball court.
The new structure, dubbed Home Court, is a 60,000-square-foot activity center on Chicago’s South Side, complete with an NBA-regulation court, seating areas, and event spaces. The design — sharp, angular, and modern — echoes the aesthetic of the broader $850 million campus, which has already been called everything from “visionary” to “a bunker in a park.”
Designed by Black-owned architecture firm Moody Nolan, the building is meant to serve as a hub for health, wellness, and community engagement. According to its official description, it will host everything from youth sports programs to community meetings. A giant “O” is emblazoned at center court, flanked by the familiar campaign slogans “Hope” and “Yes We Can.” Even the building’s metal façade mimics a basketball net.
Outside, the center boasts a walking trail, playground, and a small hill designed for sledding. Solar panels line the roof, and a snow-melting system keeps the sidewalks clear — a fitting nod to Chicago winters and the former president’s sustainability platform.
Events are already underway. On December 8, Obama allies and political figures — including Illinois State Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and longtime advisor Valerie Jarrett — gathered to celebrate the center’s debut. Jarrett called the building a space that honors “every chapter of President Obama’s story.”
But outside the curated photos and press releases, reactions have been far more divided.
For critics, Home Court is symbolic of a larger disconnect between the Obama legacy and the communities it’s supposed to serve. Many locals have complained that the project — situated in Jackson Park, a historically Black neighborhood — is accelerating gentrification, pushing up property values, and pricing longtime residents out. Despite promises of community benefit, some see the glossy new facilities as more about brand building than public good.
“How many buildings does Obama need?” one frustrated social media commenter asked.
Another echoed a common sentiment: “He’s just done soooo much for Chicago. Wow!! (Sarcasm intended).”
Others poked fun at the repetition, noting Obama had already installed a basketball court at the White House. “Did he put a basketball court in both buildings?” one joked.
There’s also confusion over whether Home Court is truly public. Despite its stated mission of accessibility and engagement, some fear it will become more of a political showpiece than a community resource. Others have raised concerns that the locker rooms might be exploited by homeless individuals seeking shelter, especially given Chicago’s ongoing housing challenges.
The basketball facility is only the beginning. The full Obama Presidential Center — slated to open in June 2026, five years later than originally promised — will include a public library, a forum, a garden pavilion, and the long-awaited museum that will house digital archives from Obama’s presidency.
Once heralded as a transformative investment in the South Side, the project has been repeatedly slowed by lawsuits, environmental concerns, and community protests. Critics have argued that a project of this scale — backed by a global brand and enormous private funding — should have delivered more protections and direct benefits to the working-class neighborhoods it affects.
