NY Giants 2013 Training Camp Not Coming To Albany

In a decision that will surely receive some criticism from residents and small business owners across the Capital Region, a bombshell was dropped in the midst of all the NFL headlines surrounding the "coaching carousel" and this coming weekend's Wild Card playoff action. The New York Giants announced today that the team will not return to the UAlbany campus for training camp this summer, but rather will stay home at their year-round headquarters, the Timex Performance Center.

According to Michael Eisen, senior writer of the team's website, the Giants informed University at Albany athletic director Lee McElroy and Albany mayor Jerry Jennings of their decision earlier this week. The team first trained in the Capital Region back in 1996 and spent their summers in Albany 16 of the last 17 years. The only year "Big Blue" did not hold training camp in Albany during that time period was in 2011, thanks in large part to the labor negotiations and lockout.

Team President / CEO John Mara and Chairman / Executive VP Steve Tisch released the following joint statement:

The University at Albany and the Capital Region have been great hosts for us during our training camps. UAlbany truly has been the summer home of the Giants. We are grateful to Mayor Jennings and to Dr. McElroy and his staff in the athletic department for making us feel welcome and providing the resources we needed to prepare for the season. We are fortunate to have a facility in the Timex Performance Center that allows us to hold training camp here. We have told Mayor Jennings and Dr. McElroy that we will evaluate our training camp situation on an ongoing basis and certainly would not rule out a return to Albany in the future if it makes sense for both parties.

Dates for this summer's camp down at the Timex Performance Center will be announced later this spring, right around the time that the preseason schedule is finalized.