New York Cosmos Stadium
The New York Cosmos Stadium was a proposed 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium and multipurpose facility.[1] It was to be located in the New York metropolitan area in Nassau County, just over the city border.[2][3] Plans were submitted to New York's Empire State Development Corporation. Upon completion, it would have been the home stadium of the New York Cosmos.[4]
Location | Elmont, New York |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°42′31.5966″N 73°43′33.747″W |
Operator | New York Cosmos |
Capacity | 25,000 |
Construction | |
Architect | Populous / Spector Group |
Structural engineer | Cameron Engineering |
General contractor | Turner Construction Company / McKissack & McKissack |
Tenants | |
New York Cosmos (NASL) |
Plan
The stadium was intended to be part of a privately financed $400 million[3][5] entertainment complex known as Elmont Town Crossings, designed to be built within Belmont Park. Along with the stadium, the project would have included a Cosmos museum, retail, restaurants, a hotel, a pedestrian bridge over Hempstead Turnpike, better road access along the Hempstead Turnpike and Cross Island Parkway, improvements to the LIRR Belmont Park station, new parking space, a new 4.3-acre park, a youth soccer field, and remodeled soccer fields nearby. Team officials said the project would have created 500 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent, full-time jobs.[6]
A team[7][8] of architects, engineers, and contractors were assembled for the stadium project including Populous, the Spector Group, Cameron Engineering, Turner Construction Company, and McKissack & McKissack.[9]
Uses
The Cosmos had said the stadium would be host to national and international soccer events, other sports (such as Rugby and Lacrosse), music concerts, and local sports teams.[10][11]
While the stadium plan was being evaluated, the New York Cosmos began play at James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University. In 2013, the team opened a new practice facility at the Mitchel Athletic Complex. The new stadium was originally aimed to be completed in 2015 and opened by 2016,[12] but had to be pushed back as more time elapsed without a decision on the plan.[13]
Timeline
In 2012, the New York Empire State Development Corporation issued a request for proposals (RFP) to develop an area of underutilized land at Belmont Park. In January 2013, the New York Cosmos delivered a response with the above plan.[14]
In November 2015, the ESDC asked all bidders to revise and re-submit their proposals. The Cosmos revised their plan to remove one parcel of land.[15] The project was one of four competing proposals still awaiting a determination from the Empire State Development Corporation.[15]
On December 9, 2016, the Empire State Development Corporation officially withdrew the RFP, rejecting all four plans.[16]
After a second round of proposals (in which the Cosmos did not participate), the NHL's New York Islanders were chosen in December 2017 to develop the site with an 18,000 seat arena.[17]
References
- Brown, Julian. "New York Cosmos Propose State of the Art, $400 Million Dollar Stadium Plan". Philly Sports Live. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013.
- Belson, Ken. "Cosmos Unveil Plan for Soccer Stadium Near Belmont Park". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- Bondy, Filip (January 16, 2013). "NY Cosmos plan $400 million, 25,000-seat soccer stadium at Belmont Park racetrack". NY Daily News.
- New York Cosmos. "About New York Cosmos Stadium". New York Cosmos.
- Martinez, Dave. "FIRST LOOK: New Cosmos Stadium Design Plan". Empire of Soccer.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013.
- USA Today (January 16, 2013). "New York Cosmos plan Belmont Park soccer stadium". USA Today.
- stylegrand.com. "KC's Populous architecture a major player at London Olympics – Kansas City Star". stylegrand.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013.
- Ptinceton HealthCare System Foundation. "A Builder with a Heart". Ptinceton HealthCare System Foundation.
- New York Cosmos. "New York Cosmos Stadium Team". New York Cosmos.
- New York Cosmos. "Erik Stover Answers Your Questions on the Belmont Proposal". New York Cosmos.
- New York Cosmos. "New York Cosmos Stadium FAQ". New York Cosmos.
- VickieM. "$400 Million Soccer Stadium Proposed for Long Island". Long Island.com.
- Lewis, Michael. "BACK-UP PLANS: Cosmos looking into other stadium possibilities if Belmont is not approved; they're still optimistic". BigAppleSoccer.com.
- TICC. "Cosmos submit stadium plan for Belmont". Thisiscosmoscountry.
- "REVISED PLANS Report: Cosmos give NY state new proposal for Belmont stadium". Big Apple Soccer. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- Baumbach, Jim; Brodsky, Robert. "Belmont Park redevelopment proposals scrapped by state". Newsday. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- Calder, Rich; Musumeci, Natalie (December 20, 2017). "'The Islanders are back': Belmont Park deal is official". nypost.com. The New York Post. Retrieved December 21, 2017.