Belson Stadium
Location8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, New York City, NY 11439
OwnerSt. John's University
OperatorSt. John's University
Capacity2,168
SurfaceFieldTurf
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 1, 2001
OpenedSeptember 21, 2002[1]
Construction cost$6 million
Tenants
St. John's Red Storm (NCAA) (2002–present)
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (USASA) (2005–present)
F.C. New York (USL Pro/NPSL) (2011–2012)
F.A. Euro (USL2) (2013–2018)
New York Cosmos (NASL) (2015–2016) (USOC matches and Soccer Bowl 2016)
New York Rumble (MLU) (2015)
New York City FC II (MLS Next Pro) (2022–present)

Belson Stadium is a 2,168-seat soccer-specific stadium located at Utopia Parkway and Union Turnpike in Queens, New York City, on the campus of St. John's University. It is the home of the St. John's Red Storm men's and women's soccer teams. The stadium is unique in that it is built on an elevated platform over a mostly underground parking garage to save space in the dense urban environment of Queens.[1]

The stadium is named in honor of Maxine and Jerome Belson. Mr. Belson was a graduate of St. John's law school, a member of the university's Board of Trustees and a past benefactor to the university. The Belsons donated $6 million for the construction of the stadium and an additional $5 million was raised for the parking garage and landscaping.[2]

From 2013 to 2018, the stadium was the home field of F.A. Euro New York of USL League Two (USL2).[3]

On November 13, 2016, the stadium hosted the Soccer Bowl, the championship game of the North American Soccer League (NASL), between the New York Cosmos and the Indy Eleven. The Cosmos won on penalties 4–2 in front of a crowd of 2,150.[4] The Cosmos also played several U.S. Open Cup matches at the stadium in 2015 and 2016.[5]

The stadium is also the home field of the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League of the United States Adult Soccer Association.[6][7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Belson Stadium". St. John's University Athletics. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  2. ↑ Rhoades, Liz (September 26, 2002). "St. John's University Dedicates New Belson Soccer Stadium". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ "FA Euro New York". uslpdl.com. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ Wagner, Jon (November 14, 2016). "Modern Dynasty: Cosmos Win 8th NASL Title (2nd Straight and 3rd in 4 Years)". NY Sports Day. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ Nutting, Jake (June 16, 2016). "Belson Stadium to host Cosmos, Revolution match". Empire of Soccer. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  6. ↑ "New York of Pancyprian-Freedoms". New York of Pancyprian-Freedoms. August 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ Parker, Graham (June 9, 2017). "Amateur Soccer in New York, Built on Immigrant Pride". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

40°43′28″N 73°47′34″W / 40.724307°N 73.792838°W / 40.724307; -73.792838

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