Nassau County had high hopes to build a sports hub in Uniondale
A Vision That Never Took Shape in Uniondale
Once upon a time, Nassau County planners imagined a sweeping sports and entertainment hub in Uniondale, New York. The centerpiece would have been a modern arena for the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders. Surrounding it, officials envisioned a true 21st-century complex. The 77-acre site would include a minor league baseball park, restaurants, retail space, offices, and residential units. That vision promised revitalization and long-term economic impact. None of it ever materialized.
Today, the old Nassau Coliseum still stands. The surrounding land remains largely untouched. Instead of a transformative sports district, Uniondale is settling for a much smaller project nearby. A 2,500-seat soccer stadium is scheduled to open in 2027. The facility will house Island F.C., a team in MLS Next Pro, a lower-level soccer development league. For a site once discussed as a regional destination, the contrast is striking.
A Much Smaller Stage
The Island F.C. ownership group plans to privately fund the stadium. Construction costs are estimated at $25 million. Developers claim no public money will be required to service the construction debt. While that avoids taxpayer risk, it also highlights how far expectations have fallen.
A 2,500-seat stadium serves a niche purpose. MLS Next Pro functions primarily as a player development league. Attendance remains modest. The economic footprint will be limited. For politicians and business leaders who once promoted Uniondale as a premier sports and entertainment destination, the project represents a significant comedown.
The soccer stadium will sit near the Coliseum site, not on it. The arena that once hosted major league franchises remains disconnected from any broader redevelopment plan.
A Long Line of Failed Redevelopment Efforts
Earlier this year, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation became the latest investor group to walk away from the 77-acre property surrounding the 53-year-old Coliseum. Sands proposed a casino-centered development. The plan included a 4,500-seat concert hall, two hotel towers, and three parking garages. County officials supported the proposal. It collapsed anyway.
This outcome followed decades of similar disappointments. The Coliseum once housed the Islanders and the New York Nets, who played in both the American and National Basketball Associations. Since then, developers have repeatedly targeted the county-owned land. None succeeded.
In 1998, Howard Milstein and Steven Gluckstern purchased the Islanders with plans to build an arena village. That effort failed. Each new proposal revived hopes. Each ended the same way.
Back to the Drawing Board
Nassau County officials now face a familiar reality. The Coliseum remains. The land stays undeveloped. Grand visions keep falling apart. The only certainty is a small soccer stadium nearby that does little to solve the broader problem.
Uniondale once aimed high. It now settles for incremental progress, while one of Long Island’s most valuable parcels continues to wait for a future that never arrives.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
