Jets New Headquarters Is...

Jets moving training facilities to Florham Park (ONLY A 7 MINUTE DRIVE FOR ME !!!)

The New York Jets will build their new headquarters and training facility on 20 acres at the former Exxon plant in Florham Park, Mayor Frank Tinari confirmed this afternoon.

"On behalf of the citizens of our fine borough I am gratified and excited that Florham Park will become the future home of the New Jets Training Facility,'' Tinari said. "After an exhaustive search process, our community was selected by the Jets and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. They will not be disappointed by their decision."

George Zoffinger, chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, said team officials had told him Florham Park was their first choice for a training site.

Tinari said a press conference is scheduled with Gov. Jon Corzine and other state officials as soon as tomorrow to discuss plans for the new $1 billion open-air stadium the Jets and Giants will build in the Meadowlands. A formal annoucement about the Florham Park deal is expected at that time, he said.

The state promised to acquire land for a Jets practice facility as part of a deal between the Jets, Giants and the sports authority to build the new stadium.

The Jets looked at dozens of sites and recently narrowed their choices to property in Wood-Ridge, Jersey City, Short Hills and Cedar Grove as well as the 485-acre former Exxon site Florham Park site.

Team officials have said their top priorities were getting a facility that would be close to the Meadowlands and Newark, and be near a variety of housing for their staff - from $1,500 per month rental apartments to $5 million mansions.

The state expects to pay $10 million to $20 million to acquire the site, but has justified the expense because the state will now be able to collect income taxes from all Jets players and employees, which will add a projected $15 million a year to the state’s coffers.

The Jets now train and maintain facilities at Hofstra University on Long Island.