Why isn't Long Island viable?

[rednow.red4ever]

If there's something I don't know about N.Y., my pardons, I've only visited a few times, but I've always wondered why can't a stadium be built on Long Island? The islanders are doing it, and while they've had attendance troubles, they've stayed strong against 2 other local teams in a struggling NHL.

The area also has the a PDL team to serve as a small starting base. I guess I just feel that when I've been there, I had a much easier time getting to Coney Island from Manhattan than Jersey (well, Giants stadium at leasy) public transit speaking. Finally, assuming the stadium would be near Queens, there's a large, local, middle class fan base right there.

OK, please, explain to me why this isn't viable so I can at least stop thinking about it.

[nymetrobulls]

If there's something I don't know about N.Y., my pardons, I've only visited a few times, but I've always wondered why can't a stadium be built on Long Island? The islanders are doing it, and while they've had attendance troubles, they've stayed strong against 2 other local teams in a struggling NHL.

The area also has the a PDL team to serve as a small starting base. I guess I just feel that when I've been there, I had a much easier time getting to Coney Island from Manhattan than Jersey (well, Giants stadium at leasy) public transit speaking. Finally, assuming the stadium would be near Queens, there's a large, local, middle class fan base right there.

OK, please, explain to me why this isn't viable so I can at least stop thinking about it.

Speaking as an Islanders fan, their new arena is not even close to getting started because of asshole nassau county politicians. They might just do minor renovations to their current home Nassau Coliseum instead.

But, back to your question. The reason people are saying LI isn't a viable option is because they are afraid that the team won't be accepted as NY team if they don't play in one of the five boros. After Queens, personally I think LI would be the second best option. With the Long Island Railroad, it is easily accesable from Manhattan. And there is plenty of space to build.

The PDL team you are talking about is the Long Island Rough Riders. They used to be in the USL (and also the A-League, which was what it was called before). They played at Mithchell Field which is right next to Nassau Coliseum, but now have basically no fans in the PDL because they are so bad and they moved to Tully Field which is just a park with a stand. So they don't really have a fan base to pull from anymore. But Long Island at least to me, is a perfectly viable option for a second New York club.

[Kubah]

LI is a good option for a NY2, but if you are talking a NYC FC it would fail. No one can argue that LI has some benefits (mainly space and suburban soccer fans).

My problem with LI are:
1. Not in NYC... the whole gameday experience will be different. Might be fine with some, but I prefer the urban environment.
2. While it does have the LIRR transportation system, fares are more expensive than the subway or buses and if the stadium is not right the SSS you are out of luck.
3. One of the main points for a NYC FC is that potentially it would recieve more coverage... look at Rangers coverage versus Islanders. I don't know if a LI team would even match RBNY in terms of media.
4. NYC has historically been more successful. All LI teams in other sports have either moved to NYC or NJ. The Islanders are the only major team left, but I keep hearing rumors about them following the Nets to Brooklyn.
5. I think it is more likely that LI'ers will come to Queens than Queens residents going to LI. BTW, Shea Stadium/Citi Field has a LIRR stop already, so if a stadium is built around that area LI'ers will have easy access to the SSS.

LI is the safe/OK choice, but I think that if you are going to give NY a second team you have to try to guarantee success. I rather the MLS did it right than going halfway.

[Rooney20]

LI is a good option for a NY2, but if you are talking a NYC FC it would fail. No one can argue that LI has some benefits (mainly space and suburban soccer fans).

My problem with LI are:
1. Not in NYC... the whole gameday experience will be different. Might be fine with some, but I prefer the urban environment.
4. NYC has historically been more successful. All LI teams in other sports have either moved to NYC or NJ. The Islanders are the only major team left, but I keep hearing rumors about them following the Nets to Brooklyn.

So the new team has to be in NYC for the gameday experience to be good? That is the stupidest thing i have heard on BS.

I am an avid Islander fan and have not heard about anything about them going to BK...did you pull that out of your ass?

If the new team were to be in LI...I think it would be more out east.

[nymetrobulls]

So the new team has to be in NYC for the gameday experience to be good? That is the stupidest thing i have heard on BS.

I am an avid Islander fan and have not heard about anything about them going to BK...did you pull that out of your ass?

If the new team were to be in LI...I think it would be more out east.

I am also a huge Isles fan, and the only mention of them going to Brooklyn that I have heard are suggestions by other posters on internet forums. But it has been mentioned, so I guess only he knows if he pulled it out of his ass or not.:p

[Paul Nasta]

The thing is, you want a stadium to be as close to as many people as possible, and as accessible for as many people as possible. LI could potentially work if a stadium was relatively close to Queens/Brooklyn/Manhattan and within walking distance of an LIRR station. I don't think this is possible, however.

I disagree that there is a lot of available land on LI. Maybe out in eastern Suffolk, but not in western Nassau, where a stadium would have to be located so that fans from the five boroughs could get to it within an hour or so. And large parcels of land just are not available near train stations. If you put your stadium in a location which can only be accessed by car, you are cutting off a large portion of your potential fan base.

I wouldn't look to the Islanders as an example of how a team can succeed on LI. They've been desperate for a new facility for years, and haven't been able to get one built. And their attendance is nothing to brag about.

Although about 2.5 million people live in Nassau/Suffolk counties, I don't think an MLS team could survive drawing fans only from those counties. It would have to draw from Queens and Brooklyn as well. And putting a team east of, say, Mineola (about 35 minutes by LIRR from Penn Station) puts it too far
away from Queens/Brooklyn to draw significant numbers of fans from those areas, at least in my opinion.

Off the top of my head, I would look to put an MLS stadium in the Shea Stadium/Citi Field/USTA Tennis Center area, Aqueduct Racetrack, or Belmont Racetrack.

[Chowda]

5. I think it is more likely that LI'ers will come to Queens than Queens residents going to LI.
This fact made my time at Hofstra pleasant and injury free.:)

[southpaw817]

This fact made my time at Hofstra pleasant and injury free.:)

Hey! ;) lol. Hemsptead isnt that sweet either lol. But I agree that the team should be put where it would become an event. It seems the Garber and co. are really pushing for Queens.

[Norsk Troll]

Off the top of my head, I would look to put an MLS stadium in the Shea Stadium/Citi Field/USTA Tennis Center area, Aqueduct Racetrack, or Belmont Racetrack.How about the Queens waterfront, just north of the Queens Midtown tunnel (west of 5th Street, north of 47th Road)?

[Paul Nasta]

How about the Queens waterfront, just north of the Queens Midtown tunnel (west of 5th Street, north of 47th Road)?

I can't say that I know this area too well, other than sometimes driving through Long Island City as I'm going to or from the Queensborough Bridge. But if there were land available that's within walking distance of a subway station, it would be ideal.

[southpaw817]

How about the Queens waterfront, just north of the Queens Midtown tunnel (west of 5th Street, north of 47th Road)?

Thats not a bad idea there is alot of room up there. Aqueduct is a really good idea,and there were rumors a few years back but I think the chances are slim now.

[QueensNick]

How about the Queens waterfront, just north of the Queens Midtown tunnel (west of 5th Street, north of 47th Road)?

This property is to much money right now - being built up with sky scrappers and condos that cost an arm and a leg. THe Hot spots are probably by Shea/Citi - also i think a large fan base is there in walking distance which would be huge. I think thats the spot for a SSS!

[nymetrobulls]

Thats not a bad idea there is alot of room up there. Aqueduct is a really good idea,and there were rumors a few years back but I think the chances are slim now.

I'm pretty sure these rumors were about the Metrostars putting a stadium, but we all know how that turned out. So I don't think anything has changed since then for Aquaduct to be a possibility.

[southpaw817]

I'm pretty sure these rumors were about the Metrostars putting a stadium, but we all know how that turned out. So I don't think anything has changed since then for Aquaduct to be a possibility.

Yea,and I think they are putting slot machines in there now so theres def no chance lol.

[shonuff85]

well, the biggest problem with doing anything on a large scale on long island is accessability.

the roadways were never built to handle the amount of people that live in both nassau and suffolk counties.that's a big reason why everytime Charles Wang (islanders owner/computer associates owner/wanna be donald trump) has a grand scheme to rebuild the nassau coliseum and it's immediate surroundings all the NIMBY's can launch successful campaigns to stop him.

mass transit is also a problem, the buses run less frequently the further away from the queens border you get. (especially in suffolk).the railroad also dosen't run as frequent when your trying to go to the smaller stations. maybe if a new major hub for the LIRR was built near a proposed site, or vice versa, that could be an alternative.

now i know a comeback to that would be something like nyc traffic is horrible, and this is true. but their are better alternative means to get around nyc that long island just dosen't have right now to accomodate would be neccessary for a second mls stadium. bottom line is 9 times out of 10 you don' have to have a car to get around nyc, on long island you HAVE TO have a car or your screwed.

that combined with everything else i said leads me to believe that long island would not be a good place for this future glorious franchise.