Belmont Park decision expected Wednesday, sources say
An aerial view over Belmont Park in Elmont on May 30, 2015. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
A decision about the future of Belmont Park is expected to be announced at a news conference Wednesday at the racetrack, according to two people familiar with the situation. The site will either be the new home for the New York Islanders or the New York City FC soccer team. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to be on hand, the people said.
The anticipated announcement comes on the heels of a public hearing at Elmont High School Dec. 10 in which developers representing the Islanders and NYCFC released some details about their competing proposals.
The Islanders want to build an 18,000-seat, year-round arena that would host 150 events annually as well as 435,000-square feet of space for retail, a hotel with 200 to 250 rooms and a 10,000-square foot “innovation center” that would be developed with resident input.
NYCFC’s proposal calls for a 26,000-seat open-air stadium, 400,000 square feet of space for retail, a 5.2-acre community park and a 2-acre soccer facility.
A third bidder, Syosset-based Blumenfeld Development Group, announced Dec. 4 that it was withdrawing its proposal, citing the state’s “extraordinary requirements” that “appear to create a selection process that has been predetermined.”
Proposals were submitted to Empire State Development before its Sept. 28 deadline. ESD, the state’s primary business development agency, has said it has no timeline for a decision.
A spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Jim Baumbach is an award-winning investigative reporter at Newsday, where he has worked since 1998. He spent two decades in the sports department, where he covered every professional team and league, including events such as the Super Bowl and World Series.
