Stadium Discussion

[Ulrich]

Oh, I agree 100% that they would want everything to do with NYCFC -- I meant they'd want nothing to do with us! Throngs of tailgaters. I've been out of the city for a while, but I remember the parks always being pretty strict with booze and open flames.

Certain parks allow BBQ and even have units set up. Prospect park is one. Brooklyn Bridge Park is another. I believe Van Cortland is a third. Booze is a totally different story, although every outdoor parks concert I’ve been to, whether rock or opera or whatever, there’s been a massive amount of alcohol consumed in plastic cups and there’s no way the parks Dept doesn’t know this. Also, regarding he BBQ, Randall’s Island has the luxury of having the FDNY training facility there, so any fires that get out of hand are covered by the pros.

 

[FredMertz]

Theoretically, the Soccer Prep School would use the fields there - 1000 students need a lot of fields, and while it’s as short of a bus route as is probably possible in NYC to the island, a walking bridge makes more sense.

It's hard to imagine what that soccer academy is referring to. A residential soccer prep school doesn't really make sense if you think about it. NYCFC's academy, for example, has at most 125 boys in it. You wouldn't put an IMG type thing here, because the weather stinks and there wouldn't be enough field space.

I'm betting it's just referring to one of the local soccer mega clubs (Manhattan SC fits the bill) having some sort of connection to the space.

Is there even such a thing as a soccer prep school? I'm scratching my head on that one, to be honest.

 

[FredMertz]

They literally put icons for Food, Bathrooms & Picnic Tables on their map.

You also need a permit for groups larger than 20 there. I think family picnic spaces are a far cry from the drunken pigeon hordes! There's also not a particularly large gathering space up there that is not also a baseball field.

 

[Ulrich]

Not that it really matters, but the landscape architect, MPFP PLLC, is the architect for the development project Randall's is currently doing.

There are way to many coincidences (the landscape arch, Related having platform experience, the faux Aquaduct bid for a state RFP during this RFEI, etc) for this not to be a very advanced possibility. And Related is gonna want to keep their entire construction force employed when Hudson Yards is completed.

 

[adam]

You also need a permit for groups larger than 20 there. I think family picnic spaces are a far cry from the drunken pigeon hordes! There's also not a particularly large gathering space up there that is not also a baseball field.

1. I've only ever fed pigeons breadcrumbs, never alcohol. A drunken hoard of them would be a scary site to see.

2. Not sure if you realize, but I'm pushing 40 and bring young kids to the match. I think the city will begrudge me a few sandwiches and juice boxes. And maybe an adult beverage or 2 in a solo cup. I can also bring an electric grill to plug into the car. All I'm asking for is a footbridge, or Rimil 's stepson in a canoe. And I pray he doesn't look like this crossing Bronx Kill.

 

[Ulrich]

It's hard to imagine what that soccer academy is referring to. A residential soccer prep school doesn't really make sense if you think about it. NYCFC's academy, for example, has at most 125 boys in it. You wouldn't put an IMG type thing here, because the weather stinks and there wouldn't be enough field space.

I'm betting it's just referring to one of the local soccer mega clubs (Manhattan SC fits the bill) having some sort of connection to the space.

Is there even such a thing as a soccer prep school? I'm scratching my head on that one, to be honest.

Where’s your imagination????

A soccer Prep School would be a free magnet school for kids with talent where they can develop that talent and see where it takes them. Throw in classes on Front Office stuff, physio, agents, etc. if the sport doesn’t pan out, they still got a top rate HS education. And, there possibly could be a boarding element to the equation for kids that live too far away on the other side of the city, or ones who’s family’s are having tough times making ends meet.

There are a lot of soccer boarding schools in Europe affiliated with the academies - probably nowhere near this scale of 1000 students, but if CFG wants to make a mark, then do it big.

[all spitballing ideas]

 

[Schwallacus]

1. I've only ever fed pigeons breadcrumbs, never alcohol. A drunken hoard of them would be a scary site to see.

2. Not sure if you realize, but I'm pushing 40 and bring young kids to the match. I think the city will begrudge me a few sandwiches and juice boxes. And maybe an adult beverage or 2 in a solo cup. I can also bring an electric grill to plug into the car. All I'm asking for is a footbridge, or Rimil 's stepson in a canoe. And I pray he doesn't look like this crossing Bronx Kill.

View attachment 8571

I disagree. If I'm crossing any waterway as a passenger in a canoe, I want the captain of that ship to look exactly like that. Play some Viking songs on our trip across Bronx Kill, or Valhalla.

 

[adam]

I disagree. If I'm crossing any waterway as a passenger in a canoe, I want the captain of that ship to look exactly like that. Play some Viking songs on our trip across Bronx Kill, or Valhalla.

Just remember to bring a coin.

 

[Rimil]

I'm not Sabo, but

we all have high aspirations we can't meet sometimes, don't get down on yourself.

 

[FredMertz]

If I could sum up my thoughts, with the benefit of calming down and a day's reflection, I would say this:

If NYCFC is serious about this site, I would hope they realize that this is not a time to think solely about the best deal possible. Being majority owned by the Emirati royal family presents a particular set of challenges that other developers would not face. There's a very easy public rallying cry to be made against significant subsidies (or the APPEARANCE of significant subsidies) being given to a foreign royal family.

We are in a time right now where a former actress with little credibility beyond name recognition has, in just a matter of a few weeks, moved our Governor significantly to the left. Opposing any subsidies (or the appearance of subsidies) is a very easy position for the Governor and Governor-elect Nixon (kidding!) to take.

With all that being said, I'd urge the NYCFC team to not simply seek the best deal. Oil is back at $70 so the Royal Family is "back in business", the value of the franchise will increase significantly with ownership of a stadium, and the value of naming rights to an Etihad NY stadium is large.

So, NYCFC team, make sure your bid is the best bid that works the best for the state and city, even if it's not the best deal you could negotiate. And let's get a stadium in the south bronx!

And I'd be happy to discuss my thoughts with you about this at the next Speaker Series event, if you'd ever grace me with an invite to such things. Sorry to humble brag, but I've invested more then $20k in the team over the past 4 years, so I'm all-in!

 

[dummyrun]

No, I don't think NYCFC had anything to do with the info getting out to the public because that isn't consistent with anything I have seen them do before and it doesn't help achieve the goal of building a stadium as much as keeping the proposal under the radar helps .

Agreed.

I think the original source was someone who knows someone at EDC who is actually putting together the RFP now, not an NYCFC rep who will be putting together proposal that will be submitted in response to the RFP after it comes out.

I'm still not sure I understand this narrative. Who does this someone who knows someone at ESD work for and why do they want the stadium proposal out there? Because the RFP is going to favor NYCFC and ESD wants to prime the public? I just can't imagine ESD caring enough to get all skullduggerish about it.

 

[LionNYC]

I genuinely wonder what Dante de Blasio’s reaction to the Harlem River Yards proposal was? At least it something along the lines of “Dad, don’t ruin this and embarass me among all my NYCFC friends, again.”

 

[sammy3469]

Where’s your imagination????

A soccer Prep School would be a free magnet school for kids with talent where they can develop that talent and see where it takes them. Throw in classes on Front Office stuff, physio, agents, etc. if the sport doesn’t pan out, they still got a top rate HS education. And, there possibly could be a boarding element to the equation for kids that live too far away on the other side of the city, or ones who’s family’s are having tough times making ends meet.

There are a lot of soccer boarding schools in Europe affiliated with the academies - probably nowhere near this scale of 1000 students, but if CFG wants to make a mark, then do it big.

[all spitballing ideas]

Just to clarify, they are talking about an actual University, not a soccer academy (though to be fair, they aren't 100% committal on it):

Through City Football Group, NYCFC has an opportunity to bring a unique institution of higher education, University College of Football Business, to the stadium. The College/ University offers academic studies and degrees in growth fields associated with sports management and sports business and services, including event planning, physical therapy, sports psychology and coaching, and links students to attractive jobs in the expanding sports business industry. Utilizing stadium space for academic classrooms, and providing students with firsthand experience through internships and interaction with team executives, coaches, players, trainers and medical staff, would allow the stadium to be activated throughout. UCFB could affiliate with a Bronx-based academic institution, like Hostos Community College, which has proven workforce experience, with career-relevant learning and job placement.

 

[Kjbert]

If I could sum up my thoughts, with the benefit of calming down and a day's reflection, I would say this:

If NYCFC is serious about this site, I would hope they realize that this is not a time to think solely about the best deal possible. Being majority owned by the Emirati royal family presents a particular set of challenges that other developers would not face. There's a very easy public rallying cry to be made against significant subsidies (or the APPEARANCE of significant subsidies) being given to a foreign royal family.

We are in a time right now where a former actress with little credibility beyond name recognition has, in just a matter of a few weeks, moved our Governor significantly to the left. Opposing any subsidies (or the appearance of subsidies) is a very easy position for the Governor and Governor-elect Nixon (kidding!) to take.

With all that being said, I'd urge the NYCFC team to not simply seek the best deal. Oil is back at $70 so the Royal Family is "back in business", the value of the franchise will increase significantly with ownership of a stadium, and the value of naming rights to an Etihad NY stadium is large.

So, NYCFC team, make sure your bid is the best bid that works the best for the state and city, even if it's not the best deal you could negotiate. And let's get a stadium in the south bronx!

And I'd be happy to discuss my thoughts with you about this at the next Speaker Series event, if you'd ever grace me with an invite to such things. Sorry to humble brag, but I've invested more then $20k in the team over the past 4 years, so I'm all-in!

Your entire premise is that this is a government subsidy. Your premise is probably wrong.

 

[Ulrich]

Just to clarify, they are talking about an actual University, not a soccer academy (though to be fair, they aren't 100% committal on it):

So I was pretty much spot on except it’s for the 18+ crowd rather than the 14-18yo kids?!?

Damn, that’s a cool opportunity.

 

[sammy3469]

Your entire premise is that this is a government subsidy. Your premise is probably wrong.

To make any sort of comparison, we would really need to see the L+M RFEI (interestingly they didn't slide that to Crain's), but the NYCFC proposal does take on a lot of the infrastructure costs (sewer, getting 132nd street up to code, etc.) that the City is picking up in L+Ms Bronx Point project (city is spending 200 million on that one, if you want a real subsidy).

 

[Kjbert]

I don't know - maybe the government should be out of the real estate and las development game. That's just me

 

[Gotham Gator]

I disagree. If I'm crossing any waterway as a passenger in a canoe, I want the captain of that ship to look exactly like that. Play some Viking songs on our trip across Bronx Kill, or Valhalla.

Viking Ferry from Randall's Island to Etihad Stadium confirmed.

 

[Daniel Castro]

Why I corrected you 3 posts ago and we've been going back and forth.

Got it...you corrected me for using an incorrect name by using an incorrect name...makes sense

 

[FredMertz]

Your entire premise is that this is a government subsidy. Your premise is probably wrong.

No matter what the details are behind it, the mere statement that no real estate taxes will be paid by the developers of the land (and the PILOTs have a poor track record of working out as planned) is enough to support the narrative that it's subsidized.