Islanders offer arena plan for Belmont site

The New York Islanders of the National Hockey League have submitted a bid to build a stadium on land near Belmont Park, one of three plans reportedly submitted for the property under a state-issued request for proposals.

The Islanders, who have played in an arena in downtown Brooklyn for the past two years despite their Long Island roots, confirmed their bid on social media sites. The other bidders, according to the Long Island newspaper Newsday, were New York City FC, a soccer team that also wants to build a stadium, and the Blumenfeld Development Group, a real-estate developer.

The request for proposals was issued by the Empire State Development Corp. two months ago, with a deadline to reply by Thursday. The Empire State Development Corp., an agency within the governor’s office, did not respond to requests for comment.

Although the New York Racing Association operates Belmont Park, the track’s property is owned by the state. The request for proposals asked for bids pertaining to two separate parcels – one is an eight-acre tract adjacent to the grandstand, the other is a 28-acre tract across Hempstead Avenue that is an overflow parking area rarely used for racing purposes.

The bids are expected to be reviewed by the Empire State Development Corp. over the next several months, though the agency has not released a timetable for the process. In addition, the New York State Franchise Oversight Board, which performs some regulatory duties regarding NYRA, will have a vote in determining whether to approve any bid.

The parcels are considered ripe for development due in large part to the existing infrastructure surrounding Belmont and the paucity of large tracts in the densely developed New York area. Any plans to build a large-scale development have the potential to disrupt Belmont’s ontrack operations. The overflow parking area is currently used by local car dealers to stow excess inventory, though it also is used for racetrack parking on the day of the Belmont Stakes.

In a statement, the Islanders said that their plans are for “a comprehensive proposal for a world-class sports and entertainment destination for Belmont Park.”

Newsday reported that New York City FC submitted a proposal despite the club’s belief that there are better sites for a 26,000-seat stadium. The team currently plays most of its home games at Yankee Stadium.

This is the second go-around for an RFP for the property. The other, issued in 2012 with bids due in 2013, did not conclude with a feasible project for the site.