NY Cosmos Submit Bid for $400K Mitchel Field Practice Facility

The New York Cosmos have bid on a request for proposals issued by Nassau County to refurbish a neglected soccer field at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex and turn it into the team’s practice field, Newsday [paid link] reported.

The field, which is located on the north side of the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex across from the Cradle of Aviation Museum, has been in disrepair for more than a decade and is only used in pick-up games.

       The Cosmos would spend $409,000 to improve Field 6 by adding new soil, grass, grading, fencing and improving drainage and irrigation. The renovations would take about three months to complete.

       The team would pay the county $7,500 in annual rent during each of the first five years of the lease. In years six and seven, the team would pay $32,400 in annual rent; in years eight and nine the Cosmos would pay $44,000, and in year 10, $56,400.

The Cosmos, of the North American Soccer League, announced in January that they have submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal to the State of New York to .

According to a release, “Elmont Town Crossing will involve transforming two sections of Belmont Park into a vibrant entertainment complex, with a 'Restaurant Row' of nine new eateries, nearly 250,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel and the development of a brand-new 4.3 acre public park for the residential community.”

The proposed development, which will be privately-funded, was formally delivered to the Empire State Development Corporation on Jan. 11 and is expected to cost more than $400 million.