MIAMI (Jan. 13, 2016) - Miami FC has announced today the team has partnered with St. Thomas University (STU). STU will be the official training grounds of Miami FC, providing the club with its practice and training facilities. As part of the partnership, the soccer club will donate a state-of-the art lighting system valued at $415,000 for the university's soccer fields and provide valuable internship opportunities with the club. 
 
"I would like to give a big thank you to St. Thomas University for opening its doors and allowing us to call their fields our home training base," Riccardo Silva, Miami FC co-owner said. "I'm glad we could make this partnership happen. This is a great facility to grow the team that we have envisioned for the City of Miami."
 
St. Thomas University President, Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale believes that this relationship is a great step in the right direction for both the university and the soccer club. Msgr. Casale comments that the university is happy to contribute to the development of soccer in South Florida.  
 
"We are very excited to be the new training home of Miami FC, and we're excited to see what the future holds," said Msgr. Casale. "This partnership is a great win for our soccer community, sports enthusiasts, and St. Thomas University."
 
As the official start of preseason training kicks off for the Miami FC, the technical staff and players are looking forward to hitting the pitch as they gear up for the upcoming North American Soccer League (NASL) season. Alessandro Nesta, Miami FC head coach, will be inviting back those players that made it through open and invitational tryouts last year as trialists. Those trialists will be attempting to land a spot on the final roster and will also train alongside the 11 signed players that have been announced thus far.
 
"These training sessions are going to be the ones that count the most," Nesta said. "The first few practice sessions are going to set the pace and tone for what we are ultimately looking to reach this season. I have full faith that we as team will work together and create something great."
 
For more information about Miami FC or to purchase tickets, please visit www.miamifc.com.
 
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ABOUT ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY:
The only Catholic Archdiocesan-sponsored University in Florida, St. Thomas University (www.stu.edu) places an institutional emphasis on social justice and ethical behavior, and provides its globally diverse student body with low student/teacher ratios. The private, non-profit university offers more than 45 undergraduate,  graduate, and post-graduate degrees at its 144-acre campus in Miami Gardens, Fla., and through distance learning, including one of the oldest (and highly ranked) undergraduate programs in Sports Administration in the country. From 1970 to 1992, St. Thomas University was the training and practice home of the Miami Dolphins. 
 
 
ABOUT MIAMI FC:
MIAMI FC, Miami's sole professional soccer club, will begin to play in the North American Soccer League's 2016 Spring Season. The club will also compete in the U.S. Open Cup, host international tournaments and friendly matches. MIAMI FC will play its home games at Ocean Bank Field on the campus of Florida International University in Miami. The club is co-owned by the international media entrepreneur Riccardo Silva and the former Italy and A.C. Milan star Paolo Maldini.
 
For more information, please visit www.miamifc.com.
 
ABOUT THE NASL
The North American Soccer League is a professional soccer league established in the United States and Canada. The NASL member teams are: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy Eleven, Jacksonville Armada FC, Minnesota United FC, New York Cosmos, Ottawa Fury FC, San Antonio Scorpions FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies. Miami FC and Puerto Rico FC will begin play in 2016. For more information about the NASL, visit www.NASL.com. Follow the NASL on Twitter and Instagram at @NASLOfficial and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NASLFanPage.