Soccer Club to Invest $400,000 in Public Facility Improvements
(Long Island, NY) Nassau County welcomed the New York Cosmos soccer team, in the midst of a big comeback, to Mitchel Field this week.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced that the Cosmos soccer club, pending approval of the CountyLegislature, 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,” Mangano said. “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, 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, said New York Cosmos Chairman Seamus O’Brien.
“We believe this proposal is going to benefit the Long Island community tremendously,” he said. “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.
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.
The Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, began play in 1971, competing for 14 seasons before disbanding. On July 12, 2012, it was announced that the New York Cosmos will return to professional play.
