Mangano Officially Opens New York Cosmos’ New Practice Facility at Mitchel Field

Soccer Club Invested $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; Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker; Shep Messing, Former Cosmos Goalkeeper and International Ambassador; Erik Stover, New York Cosmos Chief Operating Officer; Giovanni Savarese, New York Cosmos Head Coach; Carlos Mendes, New York Cosmos Defender and Richard O’Kane of the Nassau/Suffolk Builder Trades at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Cosmos’ new practice facility at Mitchel Field. The New York Cosmos soccer club, one of the most iconic clubs ever in soccer, invested $400,000 in rehabilitating a dilapidated, dry dirt field at Mitchel Field and transformed it into the team’s new practice facility.

“My administration is proud of this 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 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 required the Cosmos to make renovations to the facility and pay Nassau County rent on the land used at Mitchel Field. 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.

“This is another exciting step in the reboot of the Cosmos,” Stover said. “As a professional team, it’s very important to have great partners. With Nassau County, we have that and more. This couldn’t have happened without their support. Now, we’re looking forward to the next big step – Cosmos Opening Day on Aug. 3 at Hofstra.”
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, beginning April 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 at www.newcosmosstadium.com.

For more information on the New York Cosmos, please visit the club’s official website at www.newyorkcosmos.com, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @TheNYCosmos.