FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 6, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
Queensboro FC to call York College home
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Queensboro FC (QBFC), an expansion
club of the United Soccer League,
announced that York College will serve
as the site of its home games at a press
conference at York College in Jamaica on
April 27.
Th e 7,500-seat modular soccer stadium
will be built on the fi eld behind the
Health & Physical Education complex. It
will be the fi rst and only professional soccer
specifi c stadium in New York City.
Th e kickoff date on the turf pitch is set for
March 2022.
In addition to hosting QBFC practices
and competition play, the stadium
will also serve as the venue for York
College’s commencement, CUNY Athletic
Conference tournament games, and
other free or ticketed events.
Jonathan Krane, principal
owner of Queensboro
FC, thanked CUNY
Chancellor Félix V.
Matos Rodríguez,
York College
President Dr.
Berenecea Johnson
Eanes, Congressman
Gregory Meeks,
Queens Borough
President Donovan
Richards, and Council
members I. Daneek
Miller, Adrienne Adams
and Francisco Moya for
supporting the vision of
bringing a professional soccer
team to Queens.
“Today is special because today is the
culmination of several years of hard work
and commitment in support of the vision
to build a home stadium in Queens for its
own soccer team and for the community.
A vision to bring people together in this
great borough. Queensboro FC promised
to deliver this vision to the community
and our fans, and today we’re here
because it’s offi cial,” Krane said.
Rodríguez was delighted to be part
of the experience and that the stadium
was the kind of project dear to his heart
because of what it brings to the community.
“It is going to add vitality to this community.
It is going to bring sports, entertainment,
wellness. It is going to bring
economic development; it’s going to bring
job opportunities. It’s going to bring synergy
with the great student body and faculty
that we have here at your college,”
said Rodríguez, who added that he paid
his way through college as a soccer referee
said before off ering his services.
“I’m used to be the guy that everybody
hates. I have a lot of experience. I still have
my whistles and my yellow and my red
card. So if you’re ever short in a match, I
can pitch in,” he joked.
Eanes said that faculty and students
alike are thrilled to welcome QBFC.
“As I tell my students, it’s time to get it
started and keep it going. So I know this
is just the beginning. And I know that you
Elected offi cials pose for a photo with Queensboro FC owner Jonathan Crane and players.
all know how
much the students
of York mean to this
community, and how
much we are dedicated
to growing and going
along. Please, please,
please know that you all
are at home,” Eanes said.
Meeks, who called soccer by its proper
name, “football,” said he is excited for
the opportunity to watch it right here in
Jamaica, Queens, New York.
“And what we are so proud of with
this football team coming here is that it
will exemplify what we need in America
today, all of us coming together with people
from diff erent nationalities, diff erent
parts of the world,” Meeks said before
reminding the players that Queens wants
nothing less than the championship.
Richards began his speech by challenging
Congressman Meeks to a football
match once the stadium is built.
He went on to praise CUNY as an institution
that has been the gateway of success
for many of its students because
of its aff ordable and quality education,
propelling almost six times more lowincome
students into the middle class
and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges
combined.
“Th is stadium will create good-paying
jobs and will generate economic growth in
Jamaica and all of Queens. And this is not
a short-term benefi t; this is a multi-generational
benefi t. Th ere have been people
who said we need to go back to normal.
Well, I don’t want to go back to normal.
We want a new normal for communities
Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
like this to make the point and today is an
example,” Richards emphasized.
QBFC academy player, Juan Cruz, 18,
immigrated from Columbia fi ve years ago
andsaid football is a passion and a sport
that unifi es people.
“Football is right in your heart. It is a
passion you feel, and having a great stadium
like this in our own backyard is really
a great honor,” said Cruz, who aspires to
be a professional player.
For Councilman Francisco Moya, who
played an instrumental part in bringing
the stadium to Jamaica, it is a dream come
true. Moya, a longtime and avid football
fan, plans his life around every single
game of his favorite team, FC Barcelona,
and admitted that he became emotional
when watching the stadium’s introductory
video.
“Th e common denominator that brings
us all together is the love and the passion
for football, and you’re seeing that here
today, and it couldn’t be in a better place
than York College,” Moya said.
Moya also wants to make sure that
QBFC is a neighborhood team, drawing
from the talent pool that exists in Queens,
which is home to over 150 nationalities
and where 350 diff erent languages are
spoken.
“Th ere is not one inch of grass in
Flushing Meadows Corona Park that isn’t
being played with football,” said Moya.
“I think what makes the quality teams is
their homegrown talent. And we have that
here. We are going to fi nd that one player
who is going to shine.”
“Th e fact that they’re partnering up
with the university is just an incredible
moment for us here in the borough. And
for true football fans, this is a great day,”
Moya added.
Pink soccer balls with the
Queensboro FC logo on display.
Rendering ourtesy of Queensboro FC
A rendering of the new Queensboro FC arena at York College.
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