Believe it when you see it: New York Cosmos propose $400 milllion stadium
Jan 16, 2013, 1:05 PM EDT
The renderings (below) look pretty cool, but this is a team that’s still yet to play a competitive game since its relaunch, and having brought in the likes of Eric Cantona and Cobi Jones for name value (as well as played an exhibition in a Paul Scholes testimonial), it’s fair to say that the New York Cosmos tend to go for sizzle and then worry about substance.
And this art is sizzling. There’s a field with a huge serpentine corridor extending down, making the whole facility look like a galaxy of its own. While it wouldn’t be in the “heart” of New York (like the Queens facility Major League Soccer’s looking to build), the Long Island location at Belmont Park’s race track could still be highly accessible. At least, it should be far easier to get to than the transit-challenged Red Bull Arena (AUTHOR’S NOTE: Or perhaps my memory failed me, see comments).
Soccer fans, here’s your hypothetical team’s hypothetical stadium:
It looks amazing, but I really can’t stress this enough: This facility may only exist in Imaginationland, and unless you and three of your friends know a cartoon with a hot air balloon, you’re not getting there. New York’s Empire State Development Corporation still has to approve it, it will cost a proposed $400 million …
And the people who are building it don’t have an actual team. Yes, I know the Cosmos are supposed to play in the new NASL later this year. And I know history, biggest brand in U.S. soccer history – blah, blah, blah. This is still not a team. It’s only a brand. And we’re talking about $400 million stadiums.
So if you’re a municipal development entity and you’re trying to figure out how best to use your most valuable resource (land), would the hypothetical nature of your tenant be a problem? Let alone the fact that they’ll play in the second division, may compete in the market with two first division teams, and (given MLS may have two New York-based teams) have no viable route to the first division? These seem like issues, no?
But the art work’s cool. They want to open it in 2016.
Here’s another shot:
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The updated ordering in ProSoccerTalk’s ranking of Major League Soccer teams following 12 rounds of play:
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Officials from MLS, Yankees, Manchester City and NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg to speak tomorrow on expansion news
May 21, 2013, 3:15 PM EDT
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How very convenient that Manchester City just happens to be in the States for a brief two-game tour.
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A few implications of the ‘sister-club’ relationship between City and NYC FC
May 21, 2013, 2:05 PM EDT
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By forming NYC FC, City and the Yankees have created a ‘sister-club’ relationship – an innovative bond between a Premiership and MLS club.
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Notes from today’s big announcement on MLS, NYCFC the Yankees and the rest
May 21, 2013, 1:23 PM EDT
Early thoughts on the facility and the ripples of today’s big announcement on the 20th MLS franchise:
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Cavani for Dzeko swap could be massive for Manchester City
May 21, 2013, 11:45 AM EDT
By swapping Dzeko for Cavani, City can hamstring Manchester United and Chelsea, as both are rumored to be seeking a world-class striker.
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It’s official: Manchester City and the Yankees will own and operate Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team.
May 21, 2013, 11:16 AM EDT
The league’s 20th franchise will begin play in 2015:
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During his Premiership tenure Toure has proven himself a leader, captaining both the Gunners and the Citizens, as well as Cote d’Ivoire.
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Gareth Bale set to re-sign with Tottenham – But is it a good deal for the Welshman?
May 21, 2013, 8:37 AM EDT
Has Daniel Levy already forgotten about what happened when he tried to pin Luka Modric down with this ‘no sale’ line of bull?
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PSG, Ancelotti, and Real Madrid: Four basic facts of Carlo’s Spanish future
May 20, 2013, 11:58 PM EDT
Expect this one to get worked out.
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As far as transfer rumors go, Gonzalo Higuaín to Arsenal actually makes some sense
May 20, 2013, 11:23 PM EDT
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If Real Madrid’s going to shake things up, Higuaín could do worse than land at The Emirates.
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Reuters
Four players were on the original list. None of them may end up at Stamford Bridge.
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Silvio Berlusconi says he hasn’t fired Maximiliano Allegri. Yet.
May 20, 2013, 5:45 PM EDT
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For a moment, it looked like Milan had fired their coaching staff … via an open letter from a television show.








