New York Construction Report staff writer
Gotham FC has unveiled plans to establish the first dedicated training facility in the club’s history, a major investment aimed at supporting elite performance, player development and the continued growth of women’s professional soccer in the New Jersey-New York region.
The National Women’s Soccer League club announced Wednesday that it will transform the former New York Red Bulls training facility in Whippany into a state-of-the-art training campus designed specifically for Gotham FC players and staff. Renovations are scheduled to begin later this summer, with full completion expected by the summer of 2027.
The project will create a 27,000-square-foot training environment focused on performance, recovery and athlete well-being. The redesign is being led by New York-based SHoP Architects, the internationally recognized firm behind projects including Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Tower, corporate headquarters for Uber and YouTube, and multiple U.S. embassies.
“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.”
Blodgett said the investment reflects the club’s belief that world-class athletes deserve world-class facilities and will provide a foundation for future generations of players.
The facility will feature three grass playing fields, including one heated field, along with a 3,000-square-foot gym, hydrotherapy room, dedicated recovery spaces, player lounge and dining area where meals will be prepared by a performance chef. Two of the grass fields are FIFA-certified and will be reserved exclusively for first-team use.
Club officials also plan to add a full-size indoor turf field, allowing for year-round training regardless of weather conditions.
Additional amenities will include a content production studio, press room, family spaces for players and staff, and a central gathering area known as the Gotham Quad. The outdoor community-focused space will connect renovated buildings throughout the campus and serve as a hub for team activities and events.
“We are building an environment that allows our athletes to perform, recover and develop at the highest level every day,” said Yael Averbuch West, Gotham FC’s president of soccer operations. “This facility represents a major step in aligning our infrastructure with our sporting ambitions and ensures we continue to set elite standards.”
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill praised the project, saying it reinforces the state’s role as a leader in sports innovation and community development.
“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,” Sherrill said. “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.”
Beyond serving as the home base for Gotham FC’s professional operations, the facility will support youth soccer programming throughout the club’s footprint, creating opportunities for community engagement and player development.
According to club officials, the project was designed with extensive input from players, coaches and performance staff to ensure that every aspect of the campus reflects the day-to-day needs of elite athletes.
SHoP Architects Principal Dana Getman said the design seeks to balance high-performance athletic spaces with community-building features.
“Our goal is to create a practice facility that reflects Gotham FC’s identity and ambition through a design that is elite yet grounded,” Getman said. “It’s a facility designed to support world-class athletes on the pitch while fostering deep team chemistry and community connection.”
The announcement continues what has been a significant year of investment for Gotham FC following the club’s second NWSL championship in three seasons. Club officials said an open process is underway for naming rights and other commercial partnerships associated with the facility.
Additional renderings and details about community programming are expected to be released as construction and renovation work progresses.
