It’s all pretty surreal when you look at the events surrounding a storied franchise who plays in a league that no longer is what it once represented. The New York Cosmos went from winning their third championship in four years in the reboot phase of their history. They shut down operations soon thereafter. Then just as suddenly found an investor who has brought them back to life and a new home.
MCU Park in Coney Island is a gorgeous baseball venue that hosts the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league team. This was the final part of a three-phase strategy that Cosmos Chairman Rocco B. Commisso has been working on since taking over.
“When I took control of the club on January 10th, our immediate priorities were to stabilize the NASL, re-hire the Cosmos front office personal and coaching staff, rebuild our team roster and relocate to a fan friendly venue within the five boroughs,” Commisso said, “In less than a month, we have achieved those objectives, including re-signing many of the starters from our 2016 Championship Team.”
Mission accomplished. The Cosmos already have 16 regular season home dates sheduled in a location that is easily accessible and a great entertainment alternative for the many visitors to this area who come for the beaches and the games on the boardwalk.
Jeff Wilpon, the New York Mets Chief Operating Officer recognizes the mutual benefits.
“We are thrilled to showcase MCU Park as a multi-purpose venue and welcome the Cosmos, a storied franchise in American soccer history,” Wilpon said, “All New York area soccer fans will enjoy watching the Cosmos make their mark in Brooklyn.”
The enthusiasm for the Cosmos return to New York City has been proclaimed from positions as high as the Mayor of New York City Bill Bill de Blasio saying, “With the Cosmos coming to Brooklyn, we’re adding a world class franchise to New York City’s proud soccer tradition.”
And Brooklyn has the honor of getting world class soccer to their borough. Coney Island was already an iconic destination for many generations of families in the city according to the Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.
“This historic Brooklyn neighborhood’s remarkable renaissance will hopefully accelerate even further with the move of the Cosmos to MCU Park,” Adams said.
The Cosmos are getting a lot of positive feedback with the return to it’s city roots where the franchise originally started in 1971 when they played at the original Yankee Stadium.
“Adding the excitement of the Cosmos’ games to Coney Island’s already vibrant atmosphere will be a win-win for our club and soccer enthusiasts throughout the metropolitan area,” Commisso said.
Welcome back New York Cosmos, we already missed you.
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