[NYguy]

Originally Posted by manchester united

http://www.nypost.com/Page/Uuid/59c3...9-feb8f9b664fb

MLS near deal for $300 million deal Queens stadium

August 13, 2012
Fredric U. Dicker

Major League Soccer is closing in on a final deal with state and city officials for a $300 million, 25,000-seat, state-of-the-art soccer-stadium complex in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, The Post has learned. The proposed facility, construction of which could begin early next year, would be home to a yet-to-be-named new franchise.

The stadium would be located next to the Mets’ Citi Field and the Arthur Ashe tennis stadium, and would include nine high-quality soccer fields available for community and minor-league use, sources said. While Major League Soccer had made its interest in Flushing Meadows known before, insiders say talks on the project have advanced considerably and are close to being wrapped up.

The stadium’s cost would be fully funded by the MLS ownership group, the project’s sponsor, but state, city and Metropolitan Transportation Authority approvals would be needed because parklands are involved, it was learned. Under an arrangement now being discussed, the city, which owns Flushing Meadows Park, would give up about nine acres for the project, but would receive an equivalent amount of land from the state for parkland use.

Construction of the stadium could begin early next year. But legislation permitting the parkland swap is required. A state official who has met with representatives of the MLS ownership group said the legislation could be taken up in late November, when a special session of the Legislature is expected. “I definitely think this could happen in 2013 and it will generate construction jobs, permanent jobs and sales-tax revenues for the city and the state,’’ said an excited state official.