Local soccer club hopes to revitalize Con Edison Field but draws opposition
By Noah Zimmerman
noah@queensledger.com
ASTORIA – Con Edison Field is a grass soccer pitch located near the northernmost tip of Western Queens, right next to the utility company’s Astoria generating facility. While not in great shape, the field has played host to a number of teams and academies over the years.
This year, a local amateur club is looking to make the field their new home, set with ambitious goals to revitalize the pitch and make their matches accessible to their local community. New York International FC hopes to play their upcoming Cosmopolitan Soccer League matches on the field, with lofty goals of helping convert the field to turf and even add lights to enable nighttime play further down the line.
“Astoria is a soccer-crazed neighborhood. It’s a hotbed of international culture and dining,” NYIFC President Nick Alexandrakos told the Ledger. “Astoria’s vibrancy comes from its inclusivity. Settling [here] alongside our loyal sponsors and supporters will be a refreshing respite from Randall’s Island.”
The field would make it much easier for local fans in Queens to attend games in person. NYIFC matches are currently livestreamed and televised at Rivercrest, a popular sports bar on Ditmars Boulevard, but the field would be far easier to travel to than Randall’s Island or even Jack McManus Field on Roosevelt Island. It would also be accessible for the many local businesses that sponsor NY International and the charities and foundations that the club supports.
“Supporters create the atmosphere, drive the emotional energy of the athletes, and turn clubs into institutions by creating unseverable ties to the community. This is what ConEd field provides us; an easily accessible field in culture-rich Astoria, Queens,” said Alexandrakos.
The potential move has faced hefty criticism from the CSL, as well as many of NY International’s opponents. The field hasn’t been in great shape for quite some time, and when it rains the lack of draining makes it impossible to play on – something not experienced at the turf fields at Randall’s Island on the other side of the East River.
Potential match cancellations due to unplayable conditions raise questions about how the club and league will handle referee and broadcast/livestream fees, as well as traveling costs for opponents. Uncertainty also makes the field unattractive for teams used to playing all competitive matches on the predictable artificial surfaces.
While league rules don’t expressly prohibit the use of a grass field as a team’s home, the CSL voted in early September against the use of Con Edison Field, citing potential financial risks and logistical issues in the case of same day match cancellations. NY International is appealing the league’s decision.
“When NY International first indicated a desire to play at Con Edison field, [we] personally spoke with the referee assignor, Andrew Ashmall-Liversidge, ENY State Referee Administrator, Joe Brosi, and ENYSSA Trustee, Kostas Manessis. All represented to me that Con Edison Field has severe drainage issues and, as a result, there are many cancellations at the field,” explained the CSL. “The league was also advised by ENY officials that as the season progresses the pitch considerably deteriorates. While it is true that at one time almost all matches were played on grass/dirt pitches, in the current soccer environment in the NYC area, players simply do not want to play in those conditions, and it will cause players to potentially join other leagues. Additionally, the condition of the field will have a detrimental impact on any matches potentially filmed at that field as it will look like a subpar field compared to other leagues.”
“We are obviously disappointed by the outcome, particularly given that we have repeatedly asked to be treated in accordance with the applicable rules and have been unable to identify any written rule that prohibits the use of Con Edison Field. Furthermore, we are aware that the CSL and two APSL clubs have previously attempted to use this field,” wrote former head coach Nick Platt in the club’s response to the CSL decision. “This is a field that would have allowed us to further grow as a club, expand our impact in the community, and ultimately improve the visibility of the League. Our plans would have given the CSL a home ground that truly represented the amateur football culture found across the world. We are disappointed that the opportunity to build something positive in this way has been lost.”
“For better or for worse, in the current referee environment, referees are free to choose which matches to accept and which to decline,” the CSL stated in their response to NYIFC’s appeal. “Mr. Ashmall-Liversidge indicated that referees have declined matches at Con Edison Field because of a fear of not getting paid due to cancellations. Therefore, to have referees accept matches at Con Edison Field, there needs to be an agreement that if there is a last-minute cancellation the referees do not lose out on referee fees. As a rule, if a match is postponed under 48 hours’ notice the referees are paid by the forfeiting team or by the home team if there is a field issue. NY International has indicated that [they] would not agree to cover referee fees if there was a cancellation.”
Whether or not an agreement can be reached this year remains to be seen, but NY International is slated to begin play in the 2026-27 season next Sunday at Randall’s Island. The club hopes to play a number of matches in Astoria before reaching an agreement with the league for 2027 and beyond.
“Astoria allows us to keep doing what we’ve done since the club was founded in 2019,” said Alexandrakos. “We aim to create the most competitive roster we can, uplift our most vulnerable neighbors, and use the beautiful game to build, enrich, and bring our community together.”
Editor’s note: The CSL filed their official response to NY International’s appeal on Friday, September 11. The article has been updated with quotes from the league regarding their decision.
