Homes of athletes are some of the most opulent and famous in the Miami Beach area. It’s hard to forget massive mansions like Shaquille O’Neal’s Star Island former home or Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s ultra-modern, golf-course adjacent home in the La Gorce neighborhood. However, more than just the elite athletes choose the warm climate of Miami Beach for their luxury homes. Between Miami athletes (like LeBron James, back in the days when he played for the Heat) and those who choose to spend their offseasons here, plenty of pro athletes called Miami home. What are the most desired amenities these athletes look for in Miami Beach luxury real estate? Some of the answers may surprise you.
No In-Home Athletic Facilities
Of course, the first thing you may think of a pro athlete needing in their luxury home is training facilities. However, this is often not the case. Especially in the middle of a season, the work-life balance of a professional athlete is very much skewed towards work. That means that many athletes feel a strong desire to return to their luxury home and leave work at the gym. There is one caveat, however; athletes do like their high-end homes to have easy access to the top training facilities, to remove a part of their commute.
Gourmet, Chef’s Kitchens
As people whose livelihood relies on their body, pro athletes tend to be incredibly conscious of what they put into their bodies. Even more than the average Joe, food is the fuel for success for an athlete, and that starts at home. Many athletes hire personal chefs or other professionals to help make sure their body stays in peak condition. Having a chef’s kitchen in your luxury home makes the job of preparing the right food much more comfortable.
In-Home Theaters
As part of the idea of a luxury home as a retreat from the day-to-day hard work of being a professional athlete, another common request in these high-end homes is an incredible in-home theater setup. Many athletic contracts prohibit players from doing dangerous physical activities that could harm their body, and many more athletes choose to refrain from these activities. That makes multimedia and a full movie theater atmosphere in the house a big plus for many pros. It gives them a deluxe and luxurious space in their homes to relax with their families.
Guarded Communities
With the days of social media and TMZ, the effect of cameras and paparazzi being everywhere has had its impact on professional athletes of all levels. Especially for those with families, privacy is essential for athletes shopping the luxury real estate market in Miami Beach. And, for these athletes, a gated community itself doesn’t cut the mustard. Instead, athletes have been leaning towards residential communities with a 24-hour guarded gate. This can help keep the paparazzi out and keep family life private for these athletes.
While these are some of the common requests for the uncommonly luxurious homes selected by athletes, there is no set template. Some athletes have their own unusual requests. One example would be Olympic diver Greg Louganis’ home in Malibu, where he put in a personalized pool and diving platform, complete with the instantly recognizable logo of the Olympic rings. However, the trend in the luxury real estate market for pro athletes in Miami Beach, and around the country, is towards a high-end retreat from the rigors of athletic training and public life. The goal is for athletes to leave their professional life on the field and in the gym and let their hard work pay off in incredible, opulent homes, full of relaxing amenities.