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MLS Ticker: NYCFC to train at SUNY Purchase; Sporting KC extend sponsorship deal; and more

DavidVillaTrainNYCFC3 (NYCFC)

By DAN KARELL

New York City FC have finally found a site for the team’s weekly practices, at least for the time being.

With the team considering multiple locations in the New York metro-area, NYCFC finally inked a deal with SUNY Purchase, in suburban Westchester County, about 45 minutes north of midtown Manhattan. According to Empire of Soccer, the agreement between the club and university is for two and a half years, with the team building a single soccer field as well as locker rooms, meeting rooms, and all purpose rooms.

Construction has already begun at the site, which is located just a stone’s throw away from Manhattanville College. NYCFC had reached a deal with the private university to build new soccer fields on their complex and upgrade some of the athletics facilities, but the agreement was scuppered due to opposition from the Purchase Environmental Protective Association, a local group that threatened to file a lawsuit if the agreement was approved.

Luckily for NYCFC, the report states, there was no PEPA opposition to the SUNY Purchase deal.

Once the lease is completed, the fields and facilities will be donated back to SUNY Purchase. In that time it’s expected that NYC FC will build their own training facility.

Here are some more stories to catch you up from around MLS:

SPORTING KC EXTEND SHIRT SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH IVY FUNDS

Ivy Funds will be adorned on Sporting Kansas City’s jerseys for through 2022.

Sporting KC announced on Monday that they’ve signed a five-year contract extension with the mutual-fund company to remain as the club’s title sponsor and the key sponsor of the Ivy Funds Executive Level at Sporting Park. The deal keeps Ivy Funds on not only the first team’s uniforms but also the youth academy’s jerseys as well.

“With the initial jersey sponsor we wanted to find a local partner,” Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman said in a statement. “Over the course of the last two years we have realized that we had found the absolute perfect partner. It is a huge honor for us to continue our great relationship with Ivy Funds and we truly appreciate the support from everyone in their organization.”

Sporting KC are current in the second year of their original deal with Ivy Funds, who became the team’s first uniform sponsor.

ATLANTA MLS FRANCHISE NAME CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

MLS Atlanta’s front office is beginning to take shape.

AMB Sports and Entertainment, which runs the Atlanta Falcons, new Falcons Stadium, and Atlanta MLS franchise, announced that Rob Geoffrey has been promoted to become the new Chief Financial Officer of MLS Atlanta and Vice President – Finance of AMB Sports and Entertainment.

“During his time with us, Rob has been a strong contributor to the Falcons and our other businesses,” AMB Sports & Entertainment Executive Vice President Greg Beadles said in a statement.  “He also has demonstrated his leadership capabilities with our new stadium and in planning for our Major League Soccer team.  Rob is a fine representative of our businesses internally and externally.”

Geoffrey has no prior soccer front office experience, though he worked for the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Force, in previous financial sport management roles.

ORLANDO CITY PAIR CALLED UP TO PORTUGAL U-20 SQUAD

Orlando City’s two signings from Benfica are returning to Portugal this week – to suit up with the Portugal Under-20 National Team.

OCSC announced on Monday that defender Rafael Ramos and midfielder Estrela have joined the Portugal U-20 team for a training camp in Figueira de Foz, Portugal. The Portuguese pair are expected to return to Orlando on Aug. 13. It’s the first national team call-up for both players.

Ramos and Estrela are two of seven players that Orlando City decided to keep as they transition to their inaugural MLS season in 2015.

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What do you think of these reports? What do you think of NYCFC settling in Westchester County? Glad to see Sporting KC extend their sponsorship deal?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I know some of the NY based Red Bull players thought the facility in Hanover was to far, while the ones living in Jersey liked the location. I’m sure some of the NYFC players won’t be happy with the location of the the practice facility.

    Reply
  2. The thing with nycfc is that, red bull just made their stadium location more difficult.
    If red bull sale their team and stadium to cosmos or an owner that rebrands like skc, then nycfc would do better in queens.
    I also think red bull might be doing reverse psychology on nycfc, just to make their life miserable 🙂 with their stadium planning.
    So imagine cosmos taking over red bull arena and fans, then where should nycfc do their stadium or what if cosmos get their stadium in belmont and red bull becomes some other team like empire.
    I just think something is brewing and nycfc ain’t gonna like it, but mls fans will 🙂
    and hopefully skc gets stadium naming rights next year and atlanta gets the name right. (atlanta coca-cola jk 🙂

    Reply

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