Bronx close to scoring $400M soccer stadium for NYCFC

MLS 1.0 (i.e. MetroStars) never really tried to get into NYC -- they accepted their fate (for then/now) as a NJ(-based) franchise.

MLS indeed has been "at it" for 20 years in terms of trying to really crack/exploit the NYC market -- but they've just now in the past year found some ownership group who apparently (or hopefully) can get a venue built in a borough.

NYCFC (specifically Sheikh Mansour and his ManCity and Yankee ownership group) have really only been "at this" for about a year -- in terms of working to get "their" stadium built after Garber/MLS spent a good number of years (but not 20) specifically trying to get a stadium anywhere in NYC, with Queens/Flushing-Meadows being the only real and failed attempt, imo.

If NYCFC can get into their own stadium in the Bronx by 2018 it will be quite an accomplishment. But we should be measuring/comparing their timeline as a (new) ownership group as we would with OnGoal (and not Hunt), in terms of their stadium timeline and reality.

 

Exactly what I thought. It looks identical. Twin porn??

 

Not talking about the MetroStars at first. Remember, AEG had two $5 million dollar expansion options when the league launched. One was in Chicago (exercised in 1997) and the second was for the second NYC team. AEG was working on a stadium in NYC since 95 or 96 for an expansion team. Eventually the option expired and, unrelated, AEG acquired the Metros.

But between the league, its investors, and its teams, they've been working on getting a stadium in NYC for 20 years.

 

I have been trying to tell him this for pages.

Some how it is different this time and they "apparently" can get a stadium because they have wheelbarrows of cash unlike all the previous people that have attempted. You see how much progress they have made don't you?

 

Well now maybe they've finally found an ownership group for a NY(C)2 franchise that will get the stadium done (by being pretty much solely focused on that local task -- and not having to do all of those other operational things that AEG and MLS HQ have had to do for the league across its first 2 decades).

 

Yes it is different now. The circumstances for MLS in market #1 have certainly evolved to be what they are, relative to any previous point in the league's history.

ManCity's and the Yankees' owners are operating a second MLS franchise in the market (and playing in the Bronx in 2015) as NYCFC.

 

Yeah it isn't like NYCFC's owners are running other much much larger teams thousands of miles away or focusing on the biggest baseball team in the world. It is a good thing they got owners that have 100% focus on this MLS team.

 

More focused, yes arguably, than AEG ever was on NY1 or than what MLS HQ was on a stadium for the NY2 franchise to be awarded.

Did you have some other (or better) ownership group in mind for NY2?

 

Says who... you? Please back this up.

I post opinions too, but I usually try to preface that they are speculation. which is what this is. it is based on no facts.

 

Says them. They are focused on the stadium project.

It is based on the fact that AEG and MLS were doing a whole lot of other stuff, and other ongoing projects numerous in number, that had higher priority for them (within MLS) across most of the last 20 years relative to getting an NYC venue (either for NY1 or for NY2).

This new ownership group is significantly different from any group that may have previously been involved with the NYC market for/with MLS yet couldn't get a venue done in Queens and/or was able to build a sweet stadium but out in Harrison.

I'll sit back and see what they (the new ownership group of NYCFC) can do (on the new stadium project) in 2014-2018 that MLS wasn't able to do prior to awarding/selling the NY2 operating rights.

Just like Hunt wasn't going to get a soccer stadium done in KC, but the new owners were clearly motivated and capable of doing just that, and relatively quickly.

 

I am trying not to get in a pissing contest with you (you are making it hard). But all these "facts" you are posting are just perception. To say the current NYCFC ownership is more focused when they have much much bigger fish to fry is laughable. It may be your perception they are more focused but there is nothing to back this up. I actually argue that because they own much bigger franchises and businesses they could be less focused than MLS or people who have previously attempted. Also one of the big reasons it appears they got in involved with MLS is marketing their larger properties. This doesn't project focus to me.

I am glad you have this optimistic outlook, but I don't feel that it is going to make any difference. It is difficult for anyone to accomplish what they are trying to do. The last 20 years has shown us this. I really hope they get it done.

 

Good, because you're wrong. And I just drank a 40.

The point is that AEG and MLS HQ also had bigger (and many other) fish to fry within MLS.

This is going to be the one MLS team/project that the NYCFC owners will have in the league and for the betterment of their portion of the league business, specifically. (Yes, their primary businesses will still be ManCity and the Yankees separately.) But in terms of what they primarily have to get done in MLS is to get a stadium built in the city.

AEG or MLS (or Red Bull or whomever) never "had to" (at this same level) work to get the project done in a borough.

In terms of MLS, for the NYCFC owners the stadium project is their number one priority and basically their only "off-field" focus for the next months/years.

Me too.

(Then also try to be a little more optimistic about their prospects and efforts.)

 

My level of optimism has zero affect on the outcome. I have tried to explain this before. It isn't like my positive thoughts travel on rainbows up to NYC and radiate into the Mayors brain and cause him to make a deal.

 

Of course.

But if you "really hope they get it done" it is non-beneficial to yourself (and/or the readers here), imo, to be so negative about it.

ymmv, clearly.

 

I am a realist and basing it on the history of MLS and NYC. I don't just think something will happen solely because I want it to. I guess I wasn't given everything I wanted growing up or something.

 

A realist, imo, would also look at the new ownership group and realize that history (of MLS and NYC) is in the process of changing.

 

I have seen no evidence of this. There has been no news to show us this is the fact.

 

You think NY2 getting launched as NYCFC and being scheduled to play in YS in 2015 and the ownership group (to include the Yankees) buying in to the league is not news and/or factual items that are evidence to support the reality that history is changing/improving for MLS in NYC?

History is changing. (If that change will lead to a stadium for the MLS team in the city is certainly to be determined, but you must admit conditions and the involved parties are changing.)

 

the sheik could throw money at all sorts of people. or, he could get fed up with having so many idiots waste his time and walk out on the whole thing.

mls trying for twenty years to do a sss wouldn't seem to me like a reason for optimism over the next three.

the fact that they announced ys specifically with a three year horizon is somewhat peculiar. they didn't say 'because in year four we're moving to our new sss in such and such a nyc spot.' but then why put a three year tag on it? why not do the simple thing and announce ys as 'temporary venue,' period? maybe somebody (the yankees?) wants it made clear that three years is all there is in it. which implies, logically, that at that time there will have to be some decisions made. cue the suspense music...

 

I see the fact that we are a year in with no news and a 3 year agreement to play in YS as not promising for a stadium...yes. You can interpret that through whatever magical fairy filter you want to. I don't see it as anything changing. How in the world would I? We have no solid news and know that a stadium isn't going to get built overnight. To see this positively you have to just speculate at nothing solid.

 

Until we are given actual NEWS I cannot interpret the 3 year agreement as a sign of a stadium we have heard nothing about being completed. I can only interpret it as the Yankees not wanting a soccer team in their stadium for more than 3 years. This is also backed up by how long it took them to come to this agreement and that just weeks ago there were reports that NYCFC was looking elsewhere for temp locations.

 

The news (this week) is that the mayor's administration is in discussions concerning a soccer stadium in the Bronx.

The conditions are being set to get the project done, and the NYCFC ownership group likely (or even just potentially) has the resources and initiative to get their stadium built.

 

Oh man. I have some sea-side land for sale in Kansas. Are you interested?

Discussions...yeah that is news alright. They have been in discussions for a very long time.

I promise I am done now. (insert applause sound)

 

I'd rather buy tickets to an MLS venue in the Bronx. I'm willing to wait until 2018 or 2019 or so.

This link certainly thinks it is/was recent news worth reporting --

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/artic...e-blasio-begins-dialogue-bronx-soccer-stadium

 

Yup.

It will be interesting to see what he decides to do.

The opportunity to build a new venue in NYC for a new soccer club seems like something he might not be too eager to walk out on. (But what do I know?)