Full Breakdown
Gotham FC to Build First Dedicated Training Facility in New Jersey
6/11/2026, 2:42:30 AM
Gotham FC Announces First Dedicated Training Facility
Gotham FC, the 2025 NWSL champions, announced plans to convert the former New York Red Bulls training site in Whippany, N.J., into a 27,000-square-foot, purpose-built complex. The campus will host three grass pitches (one heated), a 3,000-square-foot gym, hydrotherapy and recovery rooms, dining, content and press facilities. A fourth indoor field awaits permit approval. The $35 million project is privately funded and secured by a 15-year lease starting Sept. 1.
From Shared Fields to a Permanent Home
For twenty years Gotham lacked a permanent home, sharing fields with the Red Bulls academy and other youth clubs. Players described past resources as “non-existent,” recalling “ice baths in trash cans” and meals from a trailer. Owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, whose family also owns the New York Giants, called the prior situation a “second-class” reality for women athletes.
Renovations and “Gotham Quad” Spaces
Renovations, led by SHoP Architects and shaped by player input, will repurpose existing structures and add new “Gotham Quad” social spaces. Construction is slated to start in late summer, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2027. The indoor field remains contingent on permit approval, which could extend that portion’s timeline.
Addressing Gender Disparities in Women’s Soccer
The complex addresses gender disparities by delivering a dedicated high-performance environment for women’s soccer. Officials say the facility will help retain and attract top talent, reinforcing recent success: two NWSL titles in five years and the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Official Statements & Responses
President Yael Averbuch West called the project “absolutely huge” for Gotham. Head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said the team is “really excited” and sees the facility as essential to match its competitive level. Owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett framed the development as a statement of equality for women athletes. COO Kari Fleischauer noted the investment will strengthen the club’s long-term vision.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is absolutely huge for us,” — Yael Averbuch West, President, Gotham FC
- “Everyone is really excited. It’s always been honestly one of the things that we were probably behind other clubs, to be honest, in the league,” — Juan Carlos Amoros, Head Coach, Gotham FC
- “It is going to be a huge step up, and it’s a privilege to be able to see it.” — Mandy Freeman, Veteran Player, Gotham FC
What’s Next
Renovations begin this summer, with the first phase slated for 2027. The club is pursuing naming-rights deals and will open the campus as a youth-soccer hub. Gotham plans to move home games to Etihad Park in Queens for 2028, while the new training site secures its long-term New Jersey presence.
