Islanders, NYCFC Release Plans For Stadium Bids

Both the New York Islanders and the NYCFC soccer team have submitted competing plans to build new stadiums for themselves as part of the state's plan to redevelop Belmont Park. The stadium would sit on a large parcel of the land, most of which is vacant right now.

The two groups both plan to build stadiums in the area to house their franchises. But what they plan to do with the rest of the land is where more differences come in.

According to Newsday, the Islanders want to build an 18,000-seat arena that would be used year-round and would host more than 100 events annually. The team also wants to devote 435,000 square feet for retail, a hotel with up to 250 rooms and a 10,000 square foot innovation center that Newsday says would be developed with input from residents.

NYCFC, the New York Post reported, wants to build a 26,000-seat open-air stadium, as well as 400,000 square feet of retail space, a 5.2-acre community park and a two-acre soccer facility.

Rumors were swirling in September that the two teams were submitting proposals for the site. However, this is the first time details of the plans have been made public. The two teams talked about their plans at a forum held at Elmont High School Sunday night.

If the Islanders win the proposal, it would return the team to Long Island from its current home at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. If NYCFC wins, it would give the major-league soccer team its own home field — the team currently plays at Yankee Stadium.

The site at Belmont Park has been under consideration for development of many different projects over the last few years. Among the plans that were rejected by the state late last year was a 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the New York Cosmos. In February, the team announced it was leaving Long Island to play in Brooklyn.

Neighbors of Belmont Park in Elmont wanted a shopping center, supermarket or other community friendly development put on the site.

Which proposal do you think should be built at Belmont? Share your opinion in the comments.

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