A pro soccer stadium at the Syracuse Inner Harbor? ‘Preliminary’ talks are underway, but this time could it be different? The prospect of a professional soccer team in Syracuse, New York, has been a topic of discussion for years, with various attempts to bring a team to the city falling short. However, a new development group, CNY Growth LLC, is making waves with a bold plan to build a stadium and a tournament complex at the Syracuse Inner Harbor. Led by Ryan Mooney, a former U.S. Soccer Federation executive, and several high-profile business owners, the group aims to bring pro soccer back to Syracuse and boost sports tourism. But what makes this proposal different? In my opinion, it's the combination of a stadium and a tournament complex that could create a sustainable soccer 'ecosystem' in the city. The stadium, located near downtown nightlife, mall shopping, hotels, and attractions like the new county aquarium, could be a key to jump-starting the long-delayed development of the Inner Harbor area. However, the feasibility of the project remains uncertain, with key details yet to be worked out. The group is targeting either USL League One or MLS Next Pro, the professional leagues from which players move up to top-tier teams in Major League Soccer or the United Soccer League. But the real question is, will this time be different? The city has a history of landing pro soccer teams only to see them fade away. The Syracuse Salty Dogs and Syracuse Silver Knights are examples of teams that failed to take root in the city. However, the interest in soccer is on the upswing nationally, with USL League One and MLS Next Pro adding more than 20 new teams combined in the past five years. The Syracuse region has a larger population than other cities with existing or upcoming teams, including Fort Wayne, Chattanooga, and Corpus Christi. The group is also planning to build a complex of 10 or so turf fields affiliated with the pro team, which could host traveling youth tournaments, local leagues, practice sessions, and camps. This would create a sustainable soccer 'ecosystem' in the city, attracting almost 1 million participants and spectators per year. However, the project faces challenges, including the need to raise money to build the stadium and the potential for public-private partnerships. The group has not yet identified a site for the field complex, but they are optimistic about reaching their goal soon. The final question remains: will this time be different? The success of the project will depend on the group's ability to secure a team franchise, raise money, and build a sustainable soccer 'ecosystem' in the city. From my perspective, the prospect of a pro soccer team in Syracuse is an exciting one, and I'm hopeful that this time could be different.
