SJSU to Serve as Training Facility for Bay FC

by | Nov 14, 2023 | Athletics, Campus Life, Featured

A rendering of some of the planned Bay FC renovations. The Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise, Bay FC, will be calling San José State University home.

The Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise, Bay FC, will be calling San José State University home, the team announced on November 14. Bay FC will utilize SJSU athletics facilities on South Campus for its training facilities and team headquarters heading into its debut season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024. 

Bay FC is investing more than $2 million to develop this interim facility, completely renovating the former SJSU football team’s visiting locker room to fit the needs of the women’s team. With its proximity to PayPal Park, the team’s 2024 home stadium, the training facility will serve as Bay FC’s primary preparation location for all home games in its inaugural season.

The team will be pursuing a permanent headquarters, but the opportunity to partner with Bay FC on the SJSU campus is an invaluable one, according to Charlie Faas, SJSU’s Vice President for Administration and Finance. 

“Outstanding women’s sports programs and outstanding student-athletes have long been part of our history as an institution, and having Bay FC use our campus as our home base, with so many of the team’s founders being such a critical part of the South Bay’s soccer legacy, makes us deeply proud and excited,” Faas said. “We can’t wait for games to begin.”

SJSU Athletic Director Jeff Konya is also “thrilled” to partner with Bay FC.

“Our student-athletes, and the entire SJSU community, will benefit from having the best of women’s soccer being on campus, and working together on community initiatives,” Konya said. “We pride ourselves on being a first-choice destination and having the NWSL in San José, and on campus, certainly assists in transforming SJSU’s South Campus into a sports and entertainment hub for the region.”