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Date: 4/19/2022
SPRINGFIELD – As a sports complex that sets higher expectations inside and outside the gymnasium, Higher Expectations on 49 Cadwell Dr. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 2.
The family-funded, family-managed sports complex, ran by two-sport collegiate athlete and entrepreneur Jordan Almore, promises a new approach to sports and recreation. With a cast of trainers that each played college sports, Higher Expectations aspires to help youths succeed in their athletic and educational endeavors, according to their press release.
The gymnasium features intensive training for sports like basketball, football and soccer while also offering rental spaces for the community. Higher Expectations also includes a nutritious concession stand, office space for other aspiring entrepreneurs and a relaxation area for athletes to focus on their educational maters.
Opening the space served as a dream throughout Almore’s life. He developed the business idea during free time caused by the pandemic, according to his mother Heidi.
Almore welcomed Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez, Jacob Oliveira and Bud Williams, Boys and Girls Club Board member Tony Pettaway and a crowd of friends and family for the ribbon-cutting event. Sarno utilized his address to applaud Almore and his team for their investment in the city and its youth population.
“I can’t thank you enough, not only for your belief and investment in the City of Springfield, but more importantly your belief and investment in our young people…Jordan is setting higher expectations, not only on the court, but off the court. When you’re excelling at both, only good things will come your way,” said Sarno.
Gonzalez viewed Almore’s business endeavor as an extension of Springfield’s “one big family” atmosphere. With Almore training several athletes in the city, including Gonzalez’s son, the state representative shared his support for Higher Expectations as an example of economic development within the city. Oliveira and Williams also expressed their pride in Almore for following his dream as an entrepreneur.
“This is a dream. This is something for the community. We need more of these initiatives,” said Williams.
As a long-time mentor of Almore, Pettaway said he felt “overwhelmed with pride” seeing Almore open his own business. He shared his hopes for the community to accept Higher Expectations as their own.
“This is ours. We will protect it. We will promote it. We will get in here and buy something,” said Pettaway as the crowd chanted in unison.
Almore concluded the ribbon-cutting ceremony by thanking everyone for their support and explaining the business’ goal. “We are going to give everyone higher expectations when they walk in. Once you come through those doors, you are a part of the Higher Expectations family,” said Almore.
Readers can learn more about Higher Expectations at https://www.facebook.com/TrainWithHE/.