Belmont Park site for Cosmos soccer stadium,and other development.

[Quesmark]

Another sign of the times,and where they're going,when even one of the premier tracks in the world's space is diminishing,or does it actually make Belmont Park a more appealing destination?


NY Cosmos soccer team
plans Belmont Park stadium
Updated January 16, 2013, 11:29 a.m. ET

Associated Pres

MINEOLA, N.Y. — The New York Cosmos, which was one of the world's best-known soccer franchises of the 1970s and was resurrected last year after nearly three decades of dormancy, proposed Wednesday to construct a 25,000-seat, privately financed stadium at Belmont Park racetrack.

Plans for the $400 million project were submitted last week to New York's Empire State Development Corp., which will decide later this year on how to develop the 400-acre racetrack property in Elmont, just east of New York City.

The Cosmos' proposal, called Elmont Crossings, includes nine new restaurants, retail space, a 175-room hotel and a 4.3-acre public park. Team officials say it would create more than 500 construction jobs and over 3,000 full-time permanent jobs.

If approved, the team expects to break ground in 2014. Retail sites would open in 2015 and the team could begin play in the spring of 2016.

Cosmos officials say they would not schedule events at the soccer stadium on dates that coincide with major races at Belmont.

Excerpts from:
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0dd267813f214471a6309a0bb22f0c7a.html (http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0dd267813f214471a6309a0bb22f0c7a.html)

[tzipi]

Yeah saw this in the paper yesterday and didn't even want to read it. Things always get worse for racing. Belmont is on such huge valuable land. We had our tracks but now big money making casinos, hotels, stadiums, shopping plaza's,etc are wanting to always take over. Hopefully this doesn't go through but I'm sure NY state is seeing big dollar signs.

[tzipi]

By the way looking at Belmont on Google Earth, where are they going to put a big sports stadium, NINE restaurants, big shopping center, 175 room hotel and a 4.3 acre public park without infringing on the track and stables???

[Quesmark]

By the way looking at Belmont on Google Earth, where are they going to put a big sports stadium, NINE restaurants, big shopping center, 175 room hotel and a 4.3 acre public park without infringing on the track and stables???
What does this area look like from above?:

A stadium near Belmont Park would be on lightly used state land that abuts the
Cross Island Parkway.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/sports/soccer/cosmos-unveil-plan-for-soccer-stadium-near-belmont-park.html?_r=0

[tzipi]

What does this area look like from above?:

A stadium near Belmont Park would be on lightly used state land that abuts the
Cross Island Parkway.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/sports/soccer/cosmos-unveil-plan-for-soccer-stadium-near-belmont-park.html?_r=0

Not sure how to print picture off Google Earth. I'm just looking at above shot.

See as long as they stay away from Belmont Park, I'm good :D. Its just that they list so many big things that it's amazing they'll fit it in anywhere around there.

[Tom]

From now on, when a horse crosses the finish line, Tom Durkin will be required to scream, "Scooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore!"

[tzipi]

From now on, when a horse crosses the finish line, Tom Durkin will be required to scream, "Scooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore!"

:D . I forgot about that call from the spanish announcer.

[Quesmark]

Not sure how to print picture off Google Earth. I'm just looking at above shot.

See as long as they stay away from Belmont Park, I'm good :D. Its just that they list so many big things that it's amazing they'll fit it in anywhere around there.

Here's a link to the Google Earth Belmont Park page,there sure isn't much room
to fit any big project in next to the yellow ribbon Cross Islnd Pkwy:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Belmont+Park+Race+Track,+Elmont,+NY&hl=en&ll=40.718249,-73.720193&spn=0.012946,0.030384&sll=40.697488,-73.979681&sspn=0.41439,0.97229&oq=belmont+park&hq=Belmont+Park+Race+Track,&hnear=Elmont,+Nassau,+New+York&t=h&z=15&iwloc=A

[tzipi]

Here's a link to the Google Earth Belmont Park page,there sure isn't much room
to fit any big project in next to the yellow ribbon Cross Islnd Pkwy:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Belmont+Park+Race+Track,+Elmont,+NY&hl=en&ll=40.718249,-73.720193&spn=0.012946,0.030384&sll=40.697488,-73.979681&sspn=0.41439,0.97229&oq=belmont+park&hq=Belmont+Park+Race+Track,&hnear=Elmont,+Nassau,+New+York&t=h&z=15&iwloc=A

Yeah, that's what I was looking at. How they are going to fit a big stadium, hotel, shopping plaza, public park, 9 restaurants, etc in there, is beyond me. I really think they have different plans down the road.

[shouldacoulda]

They should put it where the Nassau Colosseum is and leave Belmont alone. Morons. The largest dirt oval in the world and a beautiful park steeped in history and the vultures can't wait to ruin it. And for soccer? Soccer sucks and that is my professional opinion.

[tzipi]

They should put it where the Nassau Colosseum is and leave Belmont alone. Morons. The largest dirt oval in the world and a beautiful park steeped in history and the vultures can't wait to ruin it. And for soccer? Soccer sucks and that is my professional opinion.

Belmont is on huge valuable property and closer to the soccer demographic on the border in Queens than where the Isles play in Nassau.

[shouldacoulda]

Belmont is on huge valuable property and closer to the soccer demographic on the border in Queens than where the Isles play in Nassau.

I realize that it is valuable property. Let them put it on the grounds of the worlds fair then. They have been trying to promote soccer here forever and it just doesn't take. I think they are wasting their time and money and will destroy a jewel in American horse racing in the process. They were just boasting on the NYRA site that the 2012 handle exceeded expectations and the industry. Is this really necessary is my question.

Soccer games draw an unsavory violent element :lol:

[tzipi]

I realize that it is valuable property. Let them put it on the grounds of the worlds fair then. They have been trying to promote soccer here forever and it just doesn't take. I think they are wasting their time and money and will destroy a jewel in American horse racing in the process. They were just boasting on the NYRA site that the 2012 handle exceeded expectations and the industry. Is this really necessary is my question.

Soccer games draw an unsavory violent element :lol:

Well I'm not sure about an unsavory voilent element. Maybe overseas it is but here it's a fun atmosphere. Also soccer has done well with MLS but I do very much agree with you that our Belmont and our horse racing should not be affected by this soccer/hotel plan. I also agree that one of the the greatest racing jewels should always stay intact here.

[weegee]

Here's some perspective on the proposal:

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/16/4350/ny-cosmos-float-400m-belmont-stadium/

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/17/4367/cosmos-owner-kids-play-soccer-on-long-island-so-we-can-totally-build-a-400m-minor-league-stadium-there/

It's a long, long way from being a reality.

[shouldacoulda]

Here's some perspective on the proposal:

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/16/4350/ny-cosmos-float-400m-belmont-stadium/

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/17/4367/cosmos-owner-kids-play-soccer-on-long-island-so-we-can-totally-build-a-400m-minor-league-stadium-there/

It's a long, long way from being a reality.

According to the first article they want to use "excess" parking lots. I guess the brainiac has never gone there during the Belmont Stakes. Those "excess" parking lots were jam packed every time I was there for it. It will definitely hurt attendance during that event IMO. It's a great time if you've never been.

[Robert Goren]

How far has horse racing fallen that they even talking about replacing the number one race track on the east coast with of all things a soccer stadium?

[OTM Al]

How far has horse racing fallen that they even talking about replacing the number one race track on the east coast with of all things a soccer stadium?

They aren't talking about replacing it. They are talking about building on the adjoining land. You are 2-2 today in the reading department.

[VeryOldMan]

Here's some perspective on the proposal:

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/16/4350/ny-cosmos-float-400m-belmont-stadium/

http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/01/17/4367/cosmos-owner-kids-play-soccer-on-long-island-so-we-can-totally-build-a-400m-minor-league-stadium-there/

It's a long, long way from being a reality.

Came here to post sentiments similar to these articles. This stadium proposal is hare-brained as stated - the Cosmos don't even play in MLS; they play in a lesser league. It's like building a $400 million stadium complex for a AA minor league baseball team. I find it hard to believe there is any realistic business case to support the proposal.

[DJofSD]

Came here to post sentiments similar to these articles. This stadium proposal is hare-brained as stated - the Cosmos don't even play in MLS; they play in a lesser league. It's like building a $400 million stadium complex for a AA minor league baseball team. I find it hard to believe there is any realistic business case to support the proposal.
Exactly.

[OTM Al]

Came here to post sentiments similar to these articles. This stadium proposal is hare-brained as stated - the Cosmos don't even play in MLS; they play in a lesser league. It's like building a $400 million stadium complex for a AA minor league baseball team. I find it hard to believe there is any realistic business case to support the proposal.

I'm sure this one is quite the pipe dream, but the reality is that the State owns the land and that means there is big potential for kickbacks from developers. Something will happen out there if it isn't this, of that we can be sure.