Letter: Soccer revenue estimate overblown
Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos discusses, in Mineola, the release of the county'?s unaudited year end financial report for 2012. (June 12, 2013) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Newsday's editorial about the limited attendance and resulting regional economic impact of the New York Cosmos and North American Soccer League on Long Island was on target ["Soccer estimates show Maragos' fancy footwork," July 30].
Thus the question that raises is whether the inferred economic impact of NASL soccer at a Cosmos-proposed $400 million, privately funded 25,000-seat stadium at Belmont Park is the best and highest economic development use of the property, and whether the stadium is worth the detrimental community impact feared by Elmont leaders.
While it is true that many Long Islanders play soccer in the region's parks, considering the competition for Long Island's sports and entertainment dollar, playing soccer doesn't necessarily translate into people willing to pay admission to watch professional soccer.
As for economic impact, using NASL's 2012 attendance averages, the direct economic impact of the Cosmos' 14 future home games would be a mere $2.4 million. This is hardly an economic endorsement for a $400 million, 25,000-seat Belmont Park soccer stadium.
When the past attendance record of NASL soccer is presented alongside the dismal projected economic impact of Cosmos soccer, it may be time to consider alternative development ideas for Belmont Park.
Martin R. Cantor, Melville
Editor's note: The writer is the director of the Long Island Center for Socio-Economic Policy and a former Suffolk County Economic Development Commissioner.
