NJ's Sky Blue FC will now practice at Red Bulls' training facility in East Hanover

Sky Blue FC's partnership with the New York Red Bulls is growing even stronger.

The New Jersey-based professional women's soccer team, which plays in the National Women's Soccer League and is partly owned by Gov. Phil Murphy, will be sharing the Red Bulls' practice facility in East Hanover for the 2020 season, the team announced Tuesday.

“Ownership continues to explore ways to transform Sky Blue into the gold standard for the NWSL,” first lady Tammy Murphy, who last year took an active role in running the team, said in a statement. “This new practice field agreement provides our players the professional amenities and atmosphere they deserve, and I cannot thank our partners at Red Bull enough for their cooperation and support.”

Through the partnership, Sky Blue will have access to grass and turf fields and the Red Bulls' Academy Building, which has an athletic training room, a fitness center, team meeting spaces and locker rooms that will be dedicated to Sky Blue, the team said.

“We’re grateful for the working relationship we have with the Red Bulls organization,” Alyse LaHue, Sky Blue's general manager, said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide our players with the best possible resources to reach their potential and this training location and environment helps accomplish that.”

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It's a significant boost for Sky Blue, which came under fire in 2018 after reports of mismanagement, poor living conditions for players, and inadequate training facilities.

Sky Blue has since turned itself around, and is entering the 2020 season with a momentum that is paving the way for the franchise to be one of the biggest Cinderella stories in the NWSL this year.

The team plans to kick off its 2020 season at Red Bull Arena, after ditching its former home at Rutgers University's Yurcak Field in Piscataway for one of the premier facilities in Major League Soccer.

Melanie Anzidei is the retail reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news about store openings and closings in North Jersey’s biggest malls, shopping centers and downtowns, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: anzidei@northjersey.com Twitter: @melanieanzidei