NYCFC new home to augur economic boom

Article posted by Coliseum, May 16^th, 2023

Image: New York City FC

The New Home for New York City Football Club

About the Proposed Project

The Major League Soccer (MLS) team New York City Football Club (NYCFC) (US) is all set to get a new home. The new stadium renderings have been unearthed.

‘New York City FC’ stated that this public-private partnership with the City of New York will not only include New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, but it will also feature:

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Two thousand five hundred (2,500) units of 100 percent affordable housing;
A new 650-seat public elementary school;
A hotel and retail shops; and
Forty thousand (40,000) square feet of public open space.

The New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is an American professional soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eastern Conference of the league. It was announced as the league’s 20^th franchise on May 21^st, 2013, and is the first and only MLS Club located within the five boroughs of New York City. The NYCFC kicked off its inaugural MLS season in March 2015 and is majority-owned by the City Football Group (CFG). Since its inaugural season, the club has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the last seven consecutive seasons. In 2021, the NYCFC won the MLS Cup in the club’s first-ever appearance, becoming the first professional sports franchise based in New York to win a championship in a decade.

Image: New York City FC

The 46,537-capacity Yankee Stadium is a baseball and soccer stadium located in Bronx, New York City (US). It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the New York City FC of Major League Soccer (MLS).

The Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men’s professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport’s highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams – 26 in the United States and 3 in Canada – since the 2023 season. The league is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, US.

The MLS Cup Playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of Major League Soccer (MLS). The MLS Cup, the league’s championship game, is the final match of the tournament.

Manchester (UK)-based the City Football Group Limited is a holding company that administers association football clubs. The group is owned by three organizations of which 81 percent is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, 18 percent by the American firm Silver Lake and 1 percent by Chinese firms China Media Capital and CITIC Capital.

The Plan

‘New York City FC’ further stated that the Willets Point will feature 2,500 units of 100 percent affordable housing that will anchor the new neighborhood. Residential buildings will include workforce housing and affordable homes for individuals, families and low-income seniors. These much-needed affordable and environmentally sustainable residences will help address the City’s shortage of affordable housing by connecting New Yorkers with high-quality, 100 percent affordable homes.

The Willets Point, also known locally as the Iron Triangle, is an industrial neighborhood within Corona, in the New York City borough of Queens. Located East of the 41,800-capacity Citi Field near the Flushing River, it is known for its automobile shops and junkyards, and had a population of 10 people in 2011.

New York City Football Club Stadium

The 2021 MLS Champions, New York City Football Club, plan to construct with union labor the City’s first privately financed 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium leading up to the highly-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup™ that will be hosted in North America, including New York. In addition to providing a home for NYCFC to launch their 2027 MLS season and solidifying New York as a major global soccer capital, the stadium will contribute to the neighborhood’s long-term economic growth and bringing increased economic investment to the City.

Building a Community

Located in the heart of Queens, the Willets Point will reflect and serve its many diverse communities. A plan to introduce 100 percent affordable new residences, a world-class soccer stadium with a neighboring 250-room hotel and retail shops, a 650-seat public elementary school and ample open space for public use, Willets Point will bring together locals and fans in “the world’s borough”.

Community Engagement

Job Creation

The team behind Willets Point has committed to a goal of involving Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) in the neighborhood’s development and construction process. Additionally, participation in the HireNYC program will help develop and connect the local City residents to jobs at Willets Point, ensuring that the local workers will be prioritized and can benefit from this unique opportunity.

Community Programing

With the addition of extensive public, open space and community facilities, the Willets Point will serve as a neighborhood hub for outdoor and recreational activities. Partner New York City Football Club will help turn Willets Point into a soccer destination by sporting and developing the talents of local youth with expanded free soccer programing in Willets Point and the surrounding areas. The NYCFC will also collaborate with the local partners to provide year-round activations, including community events and programing in and around the soccer stadium.

A Cleaner and Greener Future

For generations, the Willets Point was in need of remediation to remove environmental contaminants that deeply affected the neighborhood’s wellbeing and future. With the support of New York City, it has accomplished this crucial first step of safe and swift cleanup for a greener Queens. Now, it’s time to plan and execute the next phase of transformation for Willets Point. As part of its environmental commitment, the Willets Point will achieve the highest standards of sustainability for all of the neighborhood’s components. From incorporating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards into residences and the hotel to attaining Net Zero output and a sustainable procurement policy for the soccer stadium, the Willets Point will champion Green initiatives to minimize its environmental footprint and set the standard for sustainable development.

The Team

Queens Development Group

New York (US)-based Related is one of the largest developers of affordable and workforce housing in the United States. Named on Fast Company Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World, Related is a champion of environmentally conscious real estate and continuously advances the design, construction and operation of its properties to reduce their environmental footprint.

Sterling Equities

New York (US)-based Sterling Equities is a diversified, family-run group of companies guided by the values of partnership and civic responsibility. Its portfolio is focused on holdings in real estate, sports and media. Highlights include the Major League Baseball (MLB) team New York Mets, Sportsnet New York (American regional sports network), real estate investment portfolios, related real estate services, businesses, and private equity.

NYCEDC

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that creates shared prosperity across New York City by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs.

As the economic development organization within the NYC Mayoral administration, its projects and initiatives are about serving New Yorkers:

Investing in the public infrastructure and neighborhood development projects to address longstanding community needs;
Creating workforce development opportunities to help New Yorkers succeed in 21^st century industries;
Advancing the equitable development and evolution of industries that are vital to the current and future NYC economy; and
Building a more sustainable City to meet the challenges of climate change.

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