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July 13, 2009
Minor-league soccer team eyes Queens stadium
New York City can gear itself up for another stadium controversy: Officials for FC New York, an expansion team in the minor-league United Soccer League that's set to begin play in 2010 at Hofstra University on Long Island, say they're looking at several sites in Queens for a proposed 9,000-seat soccer-specific stadium. From the Daily News:
"Our goal is to build a home in Queens," said Doug Petersen, president of FC New York. "We think it can happen relatively soon."
The team has discussed a potential site in Jamaica and is meeting with city Parks Department officials to explore other possibilities, Petersen said, noting he couldn't give more details about the location.
The ideal site would be near several train lines with ample parking, he said.
If Petersen can't give details, that doesn't mean we can't play guess-the-stadium-site. Looking near the Jamaica commuter rail station and subway stops, no large parcels immediately leap to mind — there's Rufus King Park, but it's a landmark, so couldn't get the Macombs treatment. They could try to squeeze something in on the York College campus, maybe, but space looks pretty tight there as well.
Of course, "has discussed a potential site in Jamaica" could just mean they said, "Hey, Jamaica's near trains and is relatively cheap — how about around there somewhere?" Or even, "How are we going to get the city newspapers to cover our minor-league soccer team out on Long Island?" "I know! Let's say we want to move to Queens!" That said, stranger things have come true.
It seems to me their best bet would be Willets Point. It's next to mass transit, and the city wants to redevelop that area.
Posted by Dave Brett on July 13, 2009 03:31 PM
The city has wanted a soccer stadium at Willets Point for a long time. The Mets had also expressed interest not to long ago. Myabe this team can work with the Mets and the city on a project.
Posted by nyrmetros on July 13, 2009 07:57 PM
There's a nasty little rumor that the Mets are interested in a soccer stadium in Flushing Meadows/Willets Point for a MLS franchise.
Don't knock Long Island. There are approximately 100,000 kids playing soccer there compared to about a third of that in the city. While NYC has done a great job in building and maintaining soccer fields in recent years, it is still mostly an ethnic game in the city. With the economy the way that it is, it could be an iffy proposition for succe$$.
The Hofstra Stadium is far better than any of the facilities that the Cosmos, Apollo, or United started out in. And the Cosmos played in the stadium before a mid-1990s total renovation. It is near the Hempstead and Mineola stations on the LIRR, accessible by highway (Southern State, Northern State, Meadowbrook. Parking is on the grounds of the stadium and is safe. I would venture to say that if FC New York HAD to stay at Hofstra, it would be one of the top three facilities in the USL-1. In addition, why spend a 10 million on a new facility when you can spend a million and build a first-class locker room and office on the grounds, if Hofstra would let them.
Posted by ASL Jim on July 14, 2009 11:28 AM
By the way, that Mets-MLS rumor was B.M...Before Madoff !!!
Posted by ASL Jim on July 14, 2009 11:30 AM
And it can still be true. It would be a great way to get rid of any reminder of Shea and get a parking ramp in the process.
Posted by Jessy S. on July 14, 2009 06:58 PM
The Flushing Meadows/Willets Point Soccer Stadium would be a gold mine. The #7 train hits the highest soccer loving people in the city. From Flushing to Corona to Jackson Heights to Astoria to Manhattan. GOLD MINE.
Regarding Hofstra, it's a very nice stadium. But to claim it has easy mass transit is stretch at best. Plus I would put my money on soccer loving immigrants over soccer liking suburbanites any day.
Posted by nyrmetros on July 15, 2009 12:38 AM
Yeah, all the talk about Hofstra's great stadium and facilities out in Long Island means absolutely nothing in terms of getting soccer families out there, especially in the City. Dick's Sporting Goods Park and Pizza Hut Park are two good stadiums for MLS but they will always struggle to draw when they are long distances outside the main Metro hub. This is even more prominent in NYC where public transit is a way of life. Crappy soccer stadiums such as BMO Field, non-SSS Qwest Field and non-SSS RFK Stadium all draw very well for a very obvious reasons.
If FCNY wants to succeed, model their franchise after TFC, SSFC and DCU not FCD and CR.
Posted by NYNY on July 15, 2009 02:12 PM
Wasn't there talk several years ago about building a soccer stadium at Aqueduct?
Posted by ArtVandelay on July 16, 2009 01:51 AM
everyone is so negative...i suspect things take time..I am happy we have a pro team in new york. I was brought up in england..so boys remember we created the game, I have only been here a few years.. are new yorkers ever happy? those dim witted folks called the bourough boys are an example of the crap I am talking about.. grow up..move out of your parents basement
Posted by nathan on July 25, 2009 01:30 AM
i am fan new-york cosmos franchise au mls 2010
Posted by NUGUET on December 22, 2009 10:55 AM
i am fan new-york cosmos franchise au mls 2010
Posted by NUGUET on December 22, 2009 10:56 AM