| John Mitty Wednesday, January 16, 2013 |
ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Cosmos announced today that they have submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal to the State of New York to build a world-class 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium. Elmont Town Crossing will involve transforming two sections of Belmont Park into a vibrant entertainment complex, with a “Restaurant Row” of nine new eateries, nearly 250,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel and the development of a brand-new 4.3 acre public park for the residential community.
The proposed development, which will be privately-funded, was formally delivered to the Empire State Development Corporation on January 11th and is expected to cost more than $400 million. It would create more than 500 construction jobs and over 3,000 full-time permanent jobs. Construction alone would generate more than $500 million, concentrated in Nassau County, plus more than $200 million in revenue annually upon completion.
The Cosmos are fully committed to giving back to the community and local residents. In addition to the stadium and the public park, a smaller soccer field will also be built on the premises and the proposal also includes a commitment to beautify the surrounding landscape. The site will be open to local soccer teams to practice and play on, with the Cosmos also pledging $2.5 million for the redesign and development of community soccer fields.
“We plan to develop an iconic project for the region and build a state-of-the-art stadium that will make Nassau County and the entire region proud,” said Seamus O’Brien, Chairman and CEO of the New York Cosmos. “Belmont is an ideal location and a win-win for everyone involved. Nassau County and Elmont will realize much needed economic growth, and local residents will have a year-round premier destination they can call their own.”
"I'm happy to see the New York Cosmos bringing resources together, to create a permanent place for our generations of fans to call home. And I am pleased with any project that gives back to the community," said legendary Brazilian forward Pelé, who played for The Cosmos from 1975-1977.
Elmont Crossings will feature new transportation improvements, including improved access, enhanced parking options and better circulation for vehicles and pedestrians. These improvements will complement existing connections to the Cross Island Parkway and public transportation links such as the Long Island Rail Road, MTA bus and Nassau Intercounty Express (NICE) bus.
If approved, shovels will break ground in 2014, and the stadium is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, with the field being installed and stadium opening in spring 2016. Retail establishments are expected to open in the autumn of 2015.
The construction of the stadium will expose Long Island to soccer games from around the world at an affordable price. The stadium is a potential venue for events such as World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s national teams, exhibition games with world-class foreign teams, U.S. Open Cup matches and NCAA games. Stadium events will not be held on the same day as major racing days, such as the Belmont Stakes. Furthermore, the on-premises hotel for fans of both soccer and horseracing will help provide a further boost to the local economy in Elmont.
The project brings in an array of experts in development, construction and architecture: Populous, the world’s leading design firm, which designed the new Yankee Stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Sun Life Stadium in Miami and the plan for the 2012 Olympics in London; Spector Group, which is leading the master plan for the Bronx Mental Health Redevelopment Projects and was a part of planning for The Alfonse D’Amato Federal Courthouse in Central Islip and the RXR Reality office complex in Uniondale; and Cameron Engineering, which was a part of such projects as the Molloy College Master Plan, the South Nassau Communities Hospital parking improvement initiative and the St. Joseph’s College Athletic Complex.
The construction will be led by Turner Construction, which provided services for the new Yankee Stadium and the Barclays Center and McKissack and McKissack, which provided construction for Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Washington Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
“This project, bringing a stadium, retail, restaurants and a park for the local community is just the shot in the arm our local economy needs,” said Kevin Law, Long Island Association President and CEO. “Long Island has been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn. Elmont Town Crossings will enable us to take a step forward.”
Elmont Memorial High School Principal John Capozzi said, “We are 100 percent behind the Cosmos. No other organization has come to Elmont with a proposal like this. Our community thrives on soccer. Bringing professional soccer and a field for our kids to play on to Elmont would mean the world to us.”
Sandra Smith, Chair of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development, said, “The NY Cosmos plan is a big win for Belmont and Elmont. Their proposal revitalizes our community, creates jobs and expands the tax base. I can only think of one word to describe a plan that brings soccer, shopping, a community park and hotel to Elmont: GOAL!"
The New York Cosmos are committed to taking their dream of a professional, world class soccer stadium and bringing it to the people who need it most. This development will provide a necessary economic boost to Elmont and Nassau County, and put Belmont Park back on stable financial footing.
It is currently being reviewed by the Empire State Development Corporation. Renderings are attached. More information and additional renderings can be found at www.newcosmosstadium.com.
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About the Cosmos. The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending fourteen seasons in the earlier NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer history to North America including Pelé, Chinaglia and Beckenbauer. The Cosmos last won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1982.
It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, have played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following.
The Cosmos Organization has been recently re-energized with the introduction of new ownership led by industry veteran Seamus O’Brien.
jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com Appears In: Press Releases
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