The days of NYCFC II playing on a synthetic field on top of a parking lot at St. John's University are coming to an end.
According to a report published earlier today in amNewYork, NYCFC II will soon call Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island home. New York City FC reportedly made a $3 million donation to Randall’s Island Park Alliance to cover the cost of upgrading the facilities at the 5,000-seat stadium to meet professional standards: The track was widened to accommodate the dimensions of a regulation soccer field, the surface was planted with Kentucky bluegrass, and the drainage and irrigation systems were improved.
New York City FC have yet to make an official announcement regarding Randall's Island. But the amNewYork piece extensively quotes New York City FC Chief Operating Officer Jennifer O’Sullivan and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue.
According to the report, NYCFC II will start playing at Icahn Stadium in August. The Baby Blues have two home games scheduled for next month. They will host Columbus Crew 2 on Friday, August 2, and Chicago Fire II on Friday, August 23.
This post will be updated as new information becomes available.
Almost one year in the making
According to the report, the improvements began last August.
But rumors linking New York City to Icahn Stadium first surfaced in June 2022. At the time, the club had yet to announce the plan to build a 25,000 stadium in Willets Point, Queens, and the chatter back then was that Icahn Stadium could be a temporary home for the First Team.
In a piece for Hudson River Blue, James Nalton noted that "Randall's Island would be an ideal location for more regular soccer games in the city, maybe for NYCFC II games or US Open Cup matches, and could be used by local high schools and colleges."
Icahn Stadium itself was constructed on the site of the 22,000-seat Downing Stadium, which was the former home of the New York Cosmos and New York Centaurs soccer teams.
James Nalton
A field with a view
Icahn Stadium has one of the most - ahem - Icahnic views in New York City, with the Manhattan skyline serving as the backdrop to the action on the field.
Randall's Island was first developed as a sporting venue by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses in the 1940s, and now has 60 fields available for recreational use. Icahn Stadium, which opened in 2005 and is primarily known for hosting track and field events, will represent a big departure from NYCFC II's current home, Belson Stadium.
That field is on the campus of St. John's University, deep in Jamaica, Queens — and not so easily reached by public transportation. As mentioned above, the turf playing surface is installed atop a parking garage, and it can radiate heat during the warmer months.
Icahn Stadium's grass surface and East River breezes will be more pleasant for players and fans alike. "As you look out from the grandstand, you’ve got the Manhattan skyline as your backdrop," New York City FC Chief Operating Officer Jennifer O’Sullivan told amNewYork. "You’ve got the borough of Queens a few steps away. You’ve got the Bronx on the other side. This is a facility that is right in the heart of New York City, but it has been under-utilized."
Reaching Randall's Island is relatively simple: The M35 bus can take you there and links up neatly with the 4, 5, and 6 subways at Lexington Avenue and 125th Street in Harlem. It's also possible to walk to Randall's via the Triborough (or RFK if you're not from around here) Bridge, or by crossing the 103rd Street Footbridge from Manhattan. A car can get you there, also via the Triborough Bridge, but it'll cost you in tolls and parking.
Moving the II's to "the heart of New York City" is a big shift for the reserve team, though it sounds like there won't be a complete abandonment of their current Queens home, with O'Sullivan also telling amNewYork that NYCFC II will continue to play some games at Belson, while praising the continuing relationship between NYCFC and St. John's University.
