SUNY Cortland confirms New York Jets will hold 2014 training camp there

CORTLAND — The New York Jets will return to the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Cortland for training camp this summer, the school announced today in a news release posted on its website.

The NFL team’s return is part of a renewal of its partnership agreement with SUNY Cortland, the school said.

The New York Daily News on March 24 had first reported that the Jets had plans to return to Cortland this summer.

The football team will report to campus in July for its fifth year in Cortland under head coach Rex Ryan and its second under general manager John Idzik.

“I love the fact that we are going back to Cortland,” Ryan said in the SUNY Cortland news release. “Everyone knows how I feel about going away. I think it is a big part of building our team camaraderie.  The community, the school and the people of Cortland have been outstanding and we are all excited to be going back this summer.”

SUNY Cortland is “pleased and excited” to have the Jets returning this summer, Erik Bitterbaum, president of SUNY Cortland, said in the release.

 “As it has in the past, this summer’s training camp will bring millions of tourist dollars into the Cortland economy, showcase the college’s professional-caliber facilities on an international stage and provide SUNY Cortland students with the educational experience of a lifetime,” Bitterbaum said.

In 2013, 21,000 visitors from 34 states and five countries spent more than $1.6 million locally, creating an economic impact of nearly $3.7 million, according to a study that SUNY Cortland faculty members conducted.

Together, the four New York Jets training camps hosted at SUNY Cortland between 2009 and 2013 (the team did not hold its camp there in 2011 due to the NFL lockout) have generated $19.24 million in economic impact for Cortland County, the school said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com