NYCFC may finally get a permanent roof

Article posted by Coliseum, July 29^th, 2022

Image: NY City FC

The Mayor of New York City (US), Eric Adam, is expected to announce that he is onboard with plans for a 25,000-seat soccer stadium to be built near Citi Field that will be home to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team New York City Football Club (NYCFC), sources close to the situation said.

‘New York Post’ quoted a source as stating, “A deal is close, but negotiations are ongoing.”

The New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is an American professional soccer club based in New York City (US) that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of American soccer, as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference. The New York City FC is the reigning MLS Cup champion, having won it in 2021.

The 54,251-capacity Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) New York Yankees and Major League Soccer’s (MLS’s) New York City FC.

The 41,922-capacity Citi Field is a baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York City, United States. It opened in 2009 and is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. The stadium was built as a replacement for the adjacent 45,000-capacity Shea Stadium, which opened in 1964. Citi Field has been designed by the celebrated design firm Populous.

‘New York Post’ further quoted sources as stating that even with the Mayor’s blessing the stadium would still need to be approved through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) which is not a given.

Still, a new stadium for the reigning MLS Cup Champions could be built by 2025, a source said.

The NYCFC has been nomadic playing home games this season at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. So, the prospect of a permanent home would be welcome news to their loyal fan base.

It likely also would be built in time for the 2026 World Cup which is being held in New York City and New Jersey.

Media reports a few months ago said a new stadium would most likely be built in the Bronx, but that is no longer the case, sources said.

It is not clear yet who would pay for the stadium, but sources said it would be privately-funded. And it would be built on land leased by former Mets owners Sterling Equities and Related Companies, sources said.

This is part of the 61-acre Special Willets Point District, bordered by 126^th Street, Roosevelt Avenue, Northern Boulevard and the Van Wyck Expressway.

Presently, Citi Field and the 23,771-capacity Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium are in the Flushing-Meadows Park area. Soon, a soccer stadium and possibly, if Steve Cohen (New York Mets owner) gets his way, a full-scale casino could be added.

There have also been commitments to affordable housing and a public school in Willets Point which will likely be raised in the ULURP process.

An Adams spokesman said, “There is no agreement at this time. We continue to engage in ongoing conversations around the Mayor’s goals of building a world-class stadium in New York City that will finally give NYCFC a permanent home, bring in millions of dollars in revenue to boost the local economy and grow affordable housing options for New Yorkers.”

An NYCFC spokesman said, “The club is enthusiastic about the potential of a few locations for our soccer-specific stadium and remains as committed as ever to working with our fans, the local community groups and elected officials to deliver this transformative project. We are grateful for the Mayor’s support in understanding that the reigning MLS Champions need a permanent home.”

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