In the same week the team announced it will play its first season at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City FC confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday that they have locked down their practice facility outside of New York City.
The planning board of Harrison, located in New York's Westchester County, gave the thumbs up on Tuesday night to upgrades of a gym and soccer fields at Manhattanville College. The campus is actually located in Purchase, a hamlet in the town of Harrison.
"We are excited about the prospect of partnering with the community in Harrison and Manhattanville College," NYCFC chief business officer Tim Pernetti said in a club statement. "From the beginning of this process, we have been solely focused on creating a relationship that is beneficial for the community, Manhattanville College and NYCFC."
NYCFC told MLSsoccer.com that the facility will be ready by Jan. 15, 2015, just in time for the 2015 preseason. The team will make its MLS debut next year along with fellow expansion club Orlando City.
The plan is for the club to be at Manhattanville College for five to seven seasons — the agreement contemplates option years after the fifth year — after which time the club will donate the facility back to the school.
