Plans for a $1.4 billion stadium on Manhattan’s West Side that would be home to the New York Jets and anchor New York’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games were announced Thursday.
The announcement for a 74,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof was made only weeks before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortlists the nine cities bidding for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The IOC requires that cities prove they are moving ahead with necessary infrastructure improvements.
But New York’s bid is not out of the woods yet. There was no announcement as to when construction would begin or who will pay for much of the building costs.
And according to reports the plan faces major hurdles including an environmental review, zoning approvals and probable lawsuits by neighbourhood activists.
One local councillor said “there are a lot of problems ahead”.
Also residents’ groups are preparing to dig in for a court battle to block the stadium, which could drag on for years.
Even so Tim Zagat, a NYC2012 board member said, “finalizing this plan was extremely important for the Olympic bid – probably the single most important element”.
He added, “the IOC has got to have a feeling that the key pieces of this puzzle are coming together and that the key governmental bodies are committing the city to major projects. This is probably the most important single element”.
Dan Doctoroff, New York’s Deputy Mayor who founded NYC2012 said, “what we’ve said all along is we’d like to get construction started by next summer. We’re thrilled that it’s finally come together”.
