William Paterson University has entered into a strategic partnership with Hinchliffe Sports Partners, the operators of Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson and owners of the New Jersey Jackals baseball team and New York Cosmos soccer team.
Through this agreement, William Paterson University will become the official university partner for both professional teams. The partnership aims to strengthen ties between the university, local sports organizations, and the City of Paterson.
“This innovative new collaboration reflects our shared values of opportunity, access, and excellence,” said Richard J. Helldobler, president of William Paterson University. “We are excited for this partnership, and what it means for William Paterson and our students; for Hinchliffe Sports Partners and these two storied professional sports teams; and for the City of Paterson, where our institution began more than 170 years ago. We continue to maintain strong community ties throughout Paterson, and we are excited by the opportunity to forge new ones, like the partnership we celebrate here today.”
Baye Adofo-Wilson, owner of Hinchliffe Sports Partners as well as both teams involved in the agreement, highlighted that both organizations share a commitment to supporting Paterson’s development and preparing future leaders. “We are really excited about this partnership,” Adofo-Wilson said. “It’s important that you have institutions like William Paterson who are engaged in the community and in our cities. How do you help to transform the city, improve it? I think that education should be at the forefront, whether it’s changing people’s lives, or improving their lives, or even just giving them a foundation for learning. (William Paterson) is a spectacular campus in close proximity to the stadium. And I wanted us to grow together and for the players to have a space where they feel safe, where they feel comfortable, and because of their ages, I think it’s important for them to be in an educational environment.”
Paterson Mayor Sayegh described the announcement as significant progress for both William Paterson University and the city itself: “It is an auspicious day. This is another victory for the city and for William Paterson University. And when we talk about Hinchliffe Stadium, it is not only a field of dreams, but it’s a field of opportunities,” said Mayor Sayegh. “We are going to propel Paterson through professional sports and also afford opportunities to individuals for empowerment. So, this is a banner day for the city of Paterson. This is winning for a city that really needs it. Because when you’re trying to position a place like Paterson for progress, it’s not a spectator sport. It’s a team sport. Nobody can afford to sit on the sidelines. We need you on the field, in the game, scoring the goals, and hitting the home runs.”
The agreement includes provisions allowing athletes from both teams to live and practice on campus before playing their home games at Hinchliffe Stadium—further strengthening connections between William Paterson University students and local professional sports.
“Professional sports teams have tremendous potential to bring communities together and make a positive economic impact on local neighborhoods, the entire city, and beyond,” Helldobler said. “Our new WP/HSP partnership will help power progress in the Silk City.”
