Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
De Blasio Has 'Real Concerns' About Billionaire's Sweetheart Bronx Soccer Stadium Deal
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 12, 2013
Modified Dec 12, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
NYC Mayor's Office
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 12, 2013
Modified Dec 12, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Hold on, everyone dreaming of an NYC FC soccer stadium in the Bronx! Incoming mayor Bill de Blasio has something to say about letting Sheik Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan build a home for new team NYC FC that would be rent-free for 38 years.
On Tuesday night, details of the plan were revealed, showing the 10-acre plot in the South Bronx covers three parking lots by Yankee Stadium. De Blasio spokeswoman Lis Smith tells the NY Times, "We have real concerns about investing scarce public resources and forgoing revenue to support the creation of an arena for a team co-owned by one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, and will review any plan with that in mind." Indeed—Mansour's personal wealth is estimated in the tens of billions, with access to, oh, over a trillion dollars.
According to the Times, NYC FC wants the city to "issue $250 million to $300 million in tax-exempt bonds. The team would be responsible for paying off the debt, but the bonds would save the team millions of dollars in federal and state taxes over 38 years. In addition, the deal would include sales tax and mortgage recording tax exemptions worth an estimated $21.5 million." Good luck getting that past the mayor who is trying to tax the rich for universal pre-K!
Keep in mind, the Yankees got hundreds of millions in tax-exempt bonds when they built their new stadium. The Yankees have claimed that without the generous tax breaks, they would have left the Bronx.
Tagged
bill de blasio
bronx
nyc fc
sheikh mansour
soccer
soccer stadium
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
All of Staten Island and the Bronx will be eligible for seats.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .