In addition, Mangano’s Accelerate Nassau Now plan calls for increased manufacturing options at the former Grumman property in Bethpage and Belmont Raceway in Elmont. Nassau has received interest from a serious developer to establish a soccer stadium complimented by mixed-use development, which would enhance the current raceway. Mangano also reiterated his support for a casino at Belmont, a measure he said would create thousands of additional local jobs and result in hundreds of millions of dollars invested in local schools, the state, the county and the community. http://libn.com/2011/10/17/mangano-submits-latest-nassau-hub-plan/
At first im thinking FCNY - because at their presser a few years ago there was a political rep from that area saying they would love to have them there. However, this could be yet more hardball by MLS - trying to put the pressure on the city to finalize a deal with whichever investor they have.
Which would go against everything not only the Cosmos but Garber was saying - it is considered Long Island - so the City would not be talking to Garber about this site.
Honestly, Nick, I think everyone's got diarreah of the mouth. You can't put too much stock into what anyone says, because everyone in this process is talking shit. EVERYONE!
Somewhere out there there is someone who is spewing the right information out - its just we dont know who that is. All we can do is wait it out -
If it is absolutely impossible to put a sss in NYC, then I think that this could also be a good solution. Better Long Island than NJ. But however I hope that at the end of the day we will have a soccer stdium in Queens !!!!
If the city was not going to happen - then this is possibly the only spot that makes sense - it does have LIRR access and highway access - but after all this talk not only from the Cosmos but by Garber - if they dont get it in the City - its kind of a fail on their end - no? Bring it to the city. But it is on the LI side - which at the end of the day is not the city - i mean dont get me wrong - im going to support either way because as I always said - I related to LI more than I do to Jersey - but I want this team in the city. It was to be their home ground and I know Jo Ellen Triber was a graduate of Hofstra - but then they moved to Queens (probably because they saw they weren't getting 10K a game.
If there is no other place in NYC to build a stadium Belmont is certainly better than Randall's Island for getting into or out of. I've been to a couple Belmont Stakes ( including the one where Big Brown was going for the triple crown)and have always taken the LIRR. It was quite amazing how fast they managed to get around 100K out. But putting a stadium there would make everyone involved look really bad in that they failed to deliver on their promise of a team in NYC.
The LIRR for Belmont costs 13 bucks roundtrip. You're not going to get thousands of people from the boroughs , paying that kind of money to watch anything .
I was waiting for you to chime in. It seems like a pretty easy trip from woodside, but it's the price!
We get a little crew to go out to Belmont 3-4 times a summer. We would use the LIRR..bring a cooler full of beer and sandwiches. Great day out. But 13 bucks a piece for train was crazy. Now we take 2 cars. Save a ton of money to bet on the ponies
It's not how much you lose, it's the way you lose it! Reminds me of the days when I'd drive to the meadowlands for the metros games. Given the poor performance of the team most games, the highlight of game day was paying the 10 bucks parking fee, paying the 1 buck to get into the racetrack, and give the nice lady at the info booth of the racetrack my coupon and get my 10 buck parking redemption, then walk directly out of the track. All in full metros regalia. Beating DC United was great. Screwing the NJSEA out of $9 was even better!
Man, you guys talk like Belmont Raceway is all the way out in Hamptons. Belmont is a great spot. Train, Planes, and automobiles and lots of Parking. I live 5 minutes from there. It's only 10 minutes from Citi Field. you can take Grand Central, the belt, the LIE, Jamaica ave, Hempstead Tpke, whatever to the Cross Island. Is good for the people in the 5 Boroughs and Long Islanders. It's a win situation.
I think Belmont Raceway is doa. The mass transit situation is poor. No subways. It requires a lirr ticket which is double if you live further out on the island, because you have to go west to Jamaica, and then get another ticket to go east to Belmont. Since Belmont is not a regular line, it will require special trains. As for car travel, there is only one 3-lane highway adjacent. People without cars are going to have a tough time getting there. And that highway is jammed during midweek rush hour. Plus no atmosphere in the surrounding area. Finally, how can the supporters call themselves "Borough Boys" when the pitch is outside the 5 boros?
Pretty much summed up my POV. Not to mention, if you're leaving from the center of Manhattan-Times Square (unofficial center of NYC ), it's actually much faster/easier to get to RBA than Belmont in every possible form of transportation.
Well if the standard of where to put a stadium rests on whether it takes less time to get there from Times Square than it does to RBA, you can pretty much forget Flushing meadows.