NJCU facility partnership with RBNY
The NJCU athletics department and the New York Red Bulls have reached goals in partnership that upgraded the school’s natural grass soccer field to professionally-approved standards, allowing professional soccer teams to use the facility in the future.
The project, which is still ongoing, began its initial stages in June with the regrading, aeration, and reseeding of the training ground at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
The project will eventually include overall maintenance of the facility, which is located next to the Society Hill Waterfront along the banks of Newark Bay.
The Red Bulls and NJCU will work together on scheduling training sessions by both domestic and international professional soccer teams at the newly transformed facility.
“We are excited about this partnership with the New York Red Bulls and one that we hope continues to grow and flourish,” said NJCU head men’s soccer coach Joe Cullen, who helped reach the agreement with the Red Bulls.
“The improvements to the training area in just one month are incredible and will give NJCU one of the finest grass training surfaces in the region,” Cullen added to sources.
With the facility now converted, professional teams have already begun using NJCU’s field for training. In fact, the French Guiana men’s national team trained on the field July 5 in preparation for its 2017 Gold Cup opening match against Canada that was played July 7 at Red Bull Arena.
The Canadian men’s national team also utilized the facility on July 8 following their match the night before.
The facility at NJCU was originally used to host the home games for the university’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. After the 2008 season, though, the games were moved to the stadium at Gerrity Complex when the stadium was rededicated.
