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The basics:

• Gotham FC to develop 27,000-square-foot training site in Whippany
• Club will renovate former Red Bulls facility; scheduled to open in summer 2027
• Plans include FIFA-certified pitches, recovery areas, performance center
• Project designed to support elite athletes, youth soccer programs

Fresh off its second National Women’s Soccer League championship in three seasons, Gotham FC is making one of the largest infrastructure investments in its history.

The club announced plans June 10 for a dedicated training facility in Whippany. The space will serve as a permanent home for the organization’s soccer operations. It also furthers the team’s investment right here in New Jersey.

The club will transform the former Red Bull New York training facility in Morris County into a 27,000-square-foot performance center designed around player development, recovery and community engagement.

Renovations are slated to begin later this summer, with completion targeted for summer 2027.

Gotham FC’s move to the former Red Bulls training site comes as the MLS club transitions operations to its newly opened RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township.

‘A true home’

“We are building Gotham FC with the ambition to become one of the defining clubs in women’s soccer and a global brand in sport,” said Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, governor of Gotham FC. “Creating our first dedicated training facility is a major milestone in that journey because it gives our players and staff something every great club needs: a true home.”

She added: “This investment reflects our belief that world-class athletes deserve world-class environments.”

Designed in collaboration with New York-based SHoP Architects, the facility will feature:

• Three grass playing fields, including one heated field
• Two FIFA-certified pitches dedicated to first-team use
• Planned full-size indoor turf field for year-round training
• 3,000-square-foot gym
• Hydrotherapy and recovery areas
• Dedicated player lounges and family spaces
• Dining area with meals prepared by a performance chef
• Content studio and press room
• The “Gotham Quad,” a central gathering space connecting the campus

Team input

The club said the facility was designed with input from players, coaches and performance staff. The plans aim to meet the day-to-day needs of elite athletes while also serving as a community hub for youth soccer programs.

“We are building an environment that allows our athletes to perform, recover and develop at the highest level every day,” said Yael Averbuch West, president of soccer operations for Gotham FC. “This facility represents a major step in aligning our infrastructure with our sporting ambitions and ensures we continue to set elite standards.”

“Our goal is to create a practice facility that reflects Gotham FC’s identity and ambition through a design that is elite yet grounded,” said Dana Getman, a principle at SHoP.

New digs

In the June 15 issue of NJBIZ, we take a look inside the new world-class RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center — which also serves as Team Brazil’s World Cup base camp. See it here.

Soccer central

Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the investment strengthens New Jersey’s growing role in the sport.

The announcement comes just as the World Cup is kicking off. The Garden State plays leading role in the tournament, hosting eight matches — including the Final.

“We’re excited to see Gotham FC deepen its commitment to New Jersey through its investment in a state-of-the-art training facility in Whippany,” said Sherrill. “This facility will not only serve as a world-class home for elite athletes and advance sports performance science, and medicine, but also as a community hub that creates new opportunities for young athletes and their families.

“By bringing an elite training facility directly into our communities, Gotham FC will inspire the next generation of young women and men to dream bigger, push further, and redefine what’s possible.”

Elevating player experience

Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós called the project “a major step toward our shared ambition of making the club a benchmark in the soccer world.”

“I’m thrilled about the new training ground,” he said. “I want to thank ownership and management for making this vision a reality.

“This will elevate the experience for players, staff, and the entire community, and I can’t wait to get started.”

The training center announcement marks the latest in a series of notable announcements by Gotham FC. Earlier this month, the club revealed a collaboration with Sports Illustrated Tickets, naming it as official fan experience and ticketing partner.

Blodgett added, “We are building a place designed around performance, recovery, development and connection, while creating a foundation that will support generations of players to come. As the women’s game continues to accelerate around the world, we want Gotham FC to help set the standard for what is possible and build something that endures.”