With little happening on a proposed $250-million stadium development at Elmont Crossing, the New York Cosmos (NASL) took their argument to the public at a Floral Park open house.
We can now measure in years the time between now and the submission by the Cosmos of a stadium plan in response to an RFP issued by the Empire State Development Corp. In April 2014 we wrote about the stadium proposal, with indications that some sort of decision be forthcoming. The plan, a $400-million privately financed Cosmos proposal for the Elmont Park site under control of the Empire State Development Corp., includes retail, restaurants, a 175-room hotel and park land, all next to a 25,000-seat stadium on a 36-acre site last used as a parking lot.
Since then: nothing. And big boatloads of nothing, as Empire State Development Corp. has gone quiet on any development at the site.
That didn’t stop Cosmos owners and officials from holding a town hall, touting the advantages of the development near the fabled Belmont Park racetrack:
“We do stay positive and optimistic, and hopefully a decision will come soon,” said Eric Stover, the Cosmos’ chief operating officer.
Of main concern to the folks showing up to the open house: traffic (the Cosmos are pitching 6,000 parking spots as part of the plan) and whether a soccer stadium is a good investment. The Cosmos aren’t a great draw now, playing at Hofstra’s James M. Shuart Stadium, but team officials say they expect to fill a 25,000-seat stadium once operations are established. With a location between Queens and Nassau County, the facility could be a huge hit — but first Empire State Development Corp. needs to decide between competing bids for the site.
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