NYCFC soccer team rumored to be close to stadium deal
BY JASON COHEN
A soccer stadium that has
been rumored to be coming
to the Bronx for the last seven
years may fi nally be heading
here.
On Friday, February 7,
the New York Times dropped
a bombshell that NYCFC is
nearing a deal to come to
terms on a stadium deal in the
south Bronx.
According to the report,
“The team’s owners, in conjunction
with a group of local
developers, are nearing
an agreement with New York
City that would allow the
team to construct a privately
fi nanced, 25,000-seat stadium
in the south Bronx as part of
a development project costing
more than $1 billion.
The new stadium, the anchor
of a plan that will replace
excess NY Yankees parking
lots and an elevator parts factory
with affordable housing
units, a new school, a hotel
and retail stores, a short walk
down River Avenue from the
team’s current home at Yankee
Stadium.
However, a spokesmen for
the NYCFC, NYC Economic
Development Corporation and
the developer, Madd Equities
cautioned that there is no deal
yet and all parties are cooperating
to start a process to
achieve city public approval.
“It’s long past time to make
the underutilized parking
lots around Yankee Stadium
into something more,” said
an EDC spokesman. “The
city has been approached by
a team of affordable housing
developers, the Yankees and
the NYC Football club. We
are hopeful for a future where
these lots can better serve the
community. The fi rst step towards
achieving that is engaging
the community on
their needs and vision for this
area.”
“NYCFC is actively involved
with MADDD Equities,
the New York Yankees, NYC
Economic Development Corporation,
the Bronx Parking
Authority, Bronx community
groups and local leaders to
bring an exciting and positive
project proposal to the south
Bronx and its community, one
element of which would be
New York City’s fi rst soccerspecifi
c stadium and home for
NYCFC,” the NYCFC spokesman
said.
The map of where the proposed NYCFC stadium could go. Photo Courtesy Maddd Equities
call the Bronx our home for
the last fi ve years playing at
Yankee Stadium, and we will
keep our neighbors and our
dedicated fans informed as we
participate with MADDD and
others in any related consultations
process.”
manager for Community
Board 4 declined to comment
on the rumored stadium. However,
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,8 FEBRUARY 14-20, 2020 BTR
“We have been honored to
and the public approval
Paul Philips, the district
Cary Goodman, director
of the 161st Street Business
Improvement District, feels it
would be good for the community.
In September 2019, a survey
conducted by the BID revealed
that 65 percent of the neighborhood
supported a stadium
if it included a female team,
community programing, had
a dome for year-round use and
made the community a shareholding
partner.
On Saturday, February 8,
the BID held a press conference
about the rumored stadium.
“The community supports
a stadium that will be environmentally
responsible, accessible
to local schools, gender equitable
and most importantly,
gives everyone a stake in its
revenues,” Goodman said.
“Our equity is the neighborhood’s
90-year history of hospitality,
and we want to make
sure our businesses, property
owners, residents and employees
benefi t.”
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