The Islanders and NYCFC yesterday "released details of competing proposals" to redevelop the Belmont Park horse track on Long Island, according to a front-page piece by Dazio & Baumbach of NEWSDAY. The Islanders’ proposal "includes an 18,000-seat, year-round arena that would host 150 events annually, as well as 435,000 square feet of space for retail, a hotel with 200 to 250 rooms, and a 10,000 square-foot 'innovation center' that would be developed with input from residents." NYCFC is "calling for a 26,000-seat open-air stadium in addition to 400,000 square-feet of space for retail, a 5.2-acre community park and a 2-acre soccer facility." Yesterday marked the "first time the teams’ ownership groups publicly released specifics about the bids." Both teams’ plans "call for opening the Long Island Rail Road’s Belmont Park station year-round." The teams would "build north of Hempstead Turnpike, adjacent to the train station." Islanders' partners "include Sterling Project Development" and Oak View Group. Both would "incorporate outlet stores into their retail components." Neither presentation "included costs or financing." Both sides agreed it "wasn't feasible" for the Islanders and NYCFC to share the site. Although the site has plenty of acreage, representatives for both teams said that "putting them at the same location would mean additional development and create more opposition." A third bidder, Long Island-based Blumenfeld Development Group, "announced last week that it was withdrawing its bid to redevelop Belmont" (NEWSDAY, 12/11).
