By Chris Vaccaro

The New York Jets have shared the grounds of Hofstra University since 1974, but will depart in 2008, leaving an empty practice bubble and office buildings.

Citing travel time and proximity as their main reasons for leaving Hempstead, the Jets will move their practice facilities closer to their stadium at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

“We love Hofstra,” Jets spokeswoman Marissa Shorenstein said. “They’ve been wonderful for many years, but it’s difficult not to justify the move because we’ll be within reasonable distance to our home.”

Shorenstein said it would often take three hours to get from Hempstead to the Meadowlands traveling by bus before games, which is more time than plane trips from some road games.

The Jets signed a 99-year stadium lease at the Meadowlands, so it makes sense for the team to uproot closer to home, Shorenstein said.

The facilities on the North side of campus on Hempstead Turnpike take up 9.3 acres, and include an indoor practice bubble, training and meeting rooms and offices for Jets’ officials.

The Jets will move to the former Exxon corporate headquarters in Florham Park, N.J. about 30 minutes from the Meadowlands.

Shorenstein said there were no plans on where the team will hold training camp, not ruling Hofstra out.

If officials in New York City would have succeeded in building a new stadium in Manhattan, Shorenstein said Hofstra would have remained home for the Jets.

Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes said he is unsure of what will happen to the facilities once the Jets fully leave.

“There is really no definitive time line when that will happen,” Hayes said. “Our relationship with the Jets has been a great one, but we have not been involved in any conversations with that situation.”

In September the Jets and New York Giants agreed to build a $1 billion stadium scheduled to open in 2010, replacing Giants Stadium, where the Jets have shared the sidelines for 21 seasons.