Jets in Ithaca? (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/03/28/jets.training.camp.ap/index.html)
QuoteCoach Ryan is looking to find a more isolated environment for training camp to promote team-building and we are researching potential locations
Sounds about right.
Jets just spent $75M on the NJ training facility with 3 fields of grass and and indoor field of artificial turf and a roof high enough for punting. But now a) they find the players get distracted by being 90 minutes outside NYC and b) they forgot they need bleachers in case they want fans to come watch.
Too bad they didn't go to Ithaca first and offer to buy an inflatable dome for Cornell.
So if it comes down to SUNY Cortland or us (as the article suggests), who has the better facilities?
[quote CornellChris]So if it comes down to SUNY Cortland or us (as the article suggests), who has the better facilities?[/quote]
Isn't Cortland D-III? If they do, that's pretty embarrassing.
The Eagles do two weeks at Lehigh before moving to their expensive practice facility. It's a wonderful media circus, but having it close to Philly allows the fans who wouldn't usually be able (or afford) to get to a game to meet the players.
That said, they're talking about eliminating it altogether and spending all their time at the Novacare Center.
The Bills hold their training camp at St. John Fisher College, which is D-III. Then again, they are the Bills after all..
Jets favor SUNY Cortland (from Syracuse Post-Standard) (http://www.syracuse.com/localcolleges/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1239785946171580.xml&coll=1)
QuoteThe New York Jets have picked SUNY Cortland over three other Upstate New York colleges as their top choice to host the team's training camp and serve as their new summer home.
Sources familiar with the decision said Tuesday that the extra costs of moving the Jets to Cortland - estimated at $600,000 to $800,000 - remain the only factor holding up a deal.
The Jets and SUNY Cortland are in final negotiations to figure out a way to bring those costs down, the sources said.
More at the link. One ray of hope:
QuoteWhile the Jets have made their preference known to Cortland, the team has continued to negotiate with Cornell, one source said.
Also of note, Donnie Webb (http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2009/04/jets_may_be_on_brink_of_moving.html) weighed in with this tidbit:
QuoteSyracuse University director of athletics Daryl Gross said that if the Jets do move to Cortland, he's interested in hosting one of their preseason NFL game on his campus at the Carrier Dome.
Notice that it just says Gross was interested. It doesn't say he's had any discussions with the Jets about it (although I suppose it's possible he has). I honestly don't see how they could move one of this preseason's games, already announced for Giants Stadium, to the Carrier Dome at this late date. I know Jets season ticket holders are forced to pay top dollar for preseason tickets as part of their package. Most don't even want to go to the games, but they are charged the same for those as every other game and forced to pay if they want season tix. I imagine a move to the Carrier Dome would force a pretty significant refund to those people. It would be great for CNY football fans if they could make this happen though.
-Chris
SUNY Cortland president confirms Jets are coming (http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090420/NEWS01/90420035&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL)