Professional soccer coming to Long Island, with plans for 2,500-seat stadium
The team will play in MLS Next Pro, the development league of Major League Soccer.
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Long Island will soon have its own professional soccer team with a new stadium and it'll have opportunities for young players to grow, too.
The team will be called The Island F.C.
"The Island F.C. is a huge accomplishment for this island," says Garden City resident and youth soccer player Parker Donohue.
The team will play in MLS Next Pro, the development league of Major League Soccer.
The Island F.C. will play its home games at a new stadium that will be built at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale.
The $25 million stadium will have 2,500 seats and can be expanded to 5,000.
"They're looking really to be integrated into the community in Suffolk County and also in Nassau County," says Ali Curtis, president of MLS Next Pro.
The new stadium won't just be a home for the team.
Kids will also get to use it as a year-round academy training facility.
"It's going to be exciting for all kids. If you have a dream to be professional soccer player on a high level, everything you need is here on the island," says Curtis.
Donohue can see himself spending a lot of time at the new stadium. He hopes to play for the team one day.
"I've been playing for LIC all my life," he says. "This is something that I've been dreaming for a while now, being a homegrown player."
While some say they're excited, they're also a little worried about traffic and construction.
"It'll be a great thing for the community," says Westbury resident Edward Marmol. "It could be a big concern but I don't think it'll be a big one."
The Island F.C. plans to start playing in 2027 at the new stadium.
