The New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Socceroof at New Roc City in New Rochelle on May 17.
New Rochelle is the sixth location overall and the fourth in New York State for Socceroof, a premier indoor soccer facility group.
“We’re thrilled that Socceroof chose New Rochelle for their newest location,” says Catherine White, the executive director for the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce. “We had a fantastic grand opening, and we were so pleased to work with the owners and managers of Socceroof. They’re looking to be very involved in the community, and we applaud that.”
Socceroof in New Roc City
Why New Rochelle? Socceroof is very eager to continue developing in the New York City area and beyond, and New Rochelle was the perfect spot for the newest Socceroof location.
“The amount of dedicated soccer space is still very low compared to the demand. New Rochelle is very well located – being just above the Bronx – with great train and bus services. It’s also a reasonable distance from the northern parts of Westchester County and even Connecticut,” says Thibaud Malange, the general manager of Socceroof’s New Rochelle location.
Thibaud also shared that there are a plethora of clubs in the New Rochelle area and beyond that are in need of field space during the winter season when outdoor play is not always possible.
What to expect
The New Rochelle location boasts a 55,000-square-foot sports facility located inside of New Roc Mall and is “set to become the go-to destination for soccer enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels in the area, offering top-notch amenities and a vibrant community atmosphere.”
The new location features six soccer fields with advanced turf, professional lighting, and climate control, with the possibility of combining two or three fields together. The New Rochelle location is also the first Socceroof facility to have hard surface courts for Futsal, basketball, and pickleball. The facility boasts two baseball batting cages as well.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to bring this project to life, and we couldn’t be more excited to be here,” shares Jonathan Lupinelli, COO of Socceroof. “The New Rochelle facility is set, ensuring that every player, whether recreational or competitive, has an exceptional experience. We stand for diversity and can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on the community.”
The facility also features two party rooms that can be used for all kinds of parties and events, as well as a lounge area, a full bar and cafe with drinks and food menus, and all major games and events broadcasted on the televisions.
Socceroof offers a wide variety of services for everyone. The fields are available to rent, and the business organizes pickups, sessions, tournaments, and leagues. For the younger athletes, it has soccer classes and camps and also frequently works with local schools and organizations to provide field trips, team building events, and more.
Those who want to test out the facility can make use of the Open Play program, which, for $5-$10 per person, allows anyone to come in, play, and make use any of the available fields.
Bringing soccer to the community
“Because soccer is the world’s sport, it brings people together, and everyone is equal on the field. These are the values we want to provide to the community,” Malange notes. “Anyone is welcome at Socceroof – whether it is to play, watch a game, have a drink, accompany a friend or family member, or just to say hi!”
Socceroof has brought together sports lovers of all ages. So far, the team has seen kids coming after school to play soccer or basketball with their friends, an older crowd coming in the morning to play pickleball, and individual players who have joined other players in pickup sessions. Local clubs and league organizations have also hosted their practices and games in the facility.
White also believes that bringing Socceroof to New Rochelle will revitalize the community in multiple ways. For one, it reactivates the huge space in New Roc City that was formerly FunFuzion, which went out of business during the pandemic.
Socceroof also serves as another space for winter sports for kids, families, and sports teams alike. Many teams travel to other cities in Westchester to play sports indoors, so having Socceroof right in New Rochelle means teams and families won’t have to travel as far.
“We’re always looking to keep New Rochelle activities here in New Rochelle. That’s my mantra,” White shares. “It brings life back to New Roc City, invigorating a part of the city that’s been desperate for family-friendly entertainment and activities.”
Socceroof New Rochelle is open for bookings and offers a variety of programs. For more information or to make a reservation, visit the website or contact newroc@socceroof.com. Keep up with Socceroof on Instagram @socceroof.
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