Mangano Welcomes Cosmos To Nassau's Mitchel Field
Soccer Club to Invest $400,000 in Public Facility Improvements
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was joined today by Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature Norma Gonsalves and Nassau County Legislators Fran Becker, Dennis Dunne, Rose Walker and Michael Venditto as he welcomed the New York Cosmos to Mitchel Field. Joined by New York Cosmos Chairman Seamus O'Brien and Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover, Mangano announced that the Cosmos soccer club, pending approval of the County Legislature, will invest $400,000 in rehabilitating a dilapidated, dry dirt field at Mitchel Field and transform it into the team's new practice facility.
"My administration is proud to announce its third public-private partnership for our park system that invests private sector dollars in public facilities for our residents," said County Executive Mangano. "From the construction of new state-of-art ice rinks in Eisenhower Park to this new practice facility for the Cosmos, Nassau County is becoming a sports-entertainment destination that attracts tourism dollars to our region."
The Cosmos, revived last year and the most storied soccer club in U.S. history, won a Request-for-Proposals issued by the County last month to develop the field. The 10-year lease, which requires approval of the County Legislature, requires the Cosmos to make renovations to the facility and pay Nassau County rent on the land used at Mitchel Field.
"We believe this proposal is going to benefit the Long Island community tremendously. We plan to make Mitchel Field an active destination by restoring it to prime condition, holding our practices there and opening access for public use," said O'Brien.
Mitchel Field renovations are estimated to take two months to complete. The plan allows the Cosmos to use the renovated field for team training sessions during the soccer season, with the public allowed to use the facility at all other times.
About the New York Cosmos:
The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the earlier NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer history to North America including Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto.
It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, have played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following.
On July 12, 2012, it was announced that the New York Cosmos will return to the NASL, beginning play at James M. Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University in the 2013 NASL Fall Championship. Season tickets will be available at the team's website,www.nycosmos.com, beginningApril 12.
The Cosmos also recently submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal to the State of New York to build a world-class 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium at Belmont Park. More information about the proposal and renderings can be found atwww.newcosmosstadium.com.
