Supporters and opponents of the NASL N.Y. Cosmos' proposed 25,000-seat soccer stadium, hotel and retail complex at Belmont Park "packed a Floral Park school Thursday to hear details" of the $400M privately funded development, according to Robert Brodsky of NEWSDAY. Cosmos COO Erik Stover said that development of the 36-acre, state-owned property will "revitalize the Elmont community." Brodsky notes the Cosmos "want to build a soccer stadium, 175-room hotel, nine restaurants, a community center, retail stores, movie theater and a 4.3-acre public park." Construction "would take about two years." The stadium "would be located on a 28-acre parcel on the southeast corner of Hempstead Turnpike and the Cross Island Parkway." The hotel, park and retail complex "would be on the northern section of the property near Belmont's racetrack." Stover said that agreements "have not yet been reached with any project tenants." The club will also spend $2M "to build and refurbish soccer fields throughout" Nassau County. The Cosmos "now play their home games" at Hofstra Univ.'s James M. Shuart Stadium, where they "averaged about 6,000 fans per game during the past two years" (NEWSDAY, 5/8).
