A pro soccer stadium at the Syracuse Inner Harbor? ‘Preliminary’ talks are underway
Syracuse, N.Y. – A private development group, CNY Growth LLC, is in the early stages of bringing a professional soccer team to Syracuse by constructing a new stadium at the Syracuse Inner Harbor. The group also aims to build a complex of playing fields at a separate location to serve as a hub for youth tournaments and training programs.
Led by a former U.S. Soccer Federation executive and several prominent business owners, the initiative is still in its infancy, with key details yet to be finalized. The goal is to create two interconnected projects: a stadium and a tournament complex, which will not only bring professional soccer back to Syracuse but also boost sports tourism and provide more opportunities for local youth players to train and compete.
Ryan Mooney, a Syracuse native and former chief soccer officer for the U.S. Soccer Federation, describes the endeavor as bold and ambitious. He envisions it as a three-pronged approach, encompassing a sports complex, a professional team, and the necessary stadium.
Mooney and five other investors have been working discreetly to secure a deal to bring an expansion team to Syracuse. They are targeting either USL League One or MLS Next Pro, the professional leagues from which players often progress to top-tier teams in Major League Soccer or the United Soccer League.
As of the latest update, the investors have not yet announced an agreement with either league. CNY Growth officials are cautious about divulging details until a team franchise is secured, which they are optimistic about achieving soon, though the timeline remains uncertain.
The group is likely to receive support from Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a former college soccer player and advocate for sports tourism. Coincidentally, McMahon and Mooney attended Le Moyne College at the same time, further strengthening their connection.
If CNY Growth successfully lands a team, the next steps will include raising funds for construction. According to a feasibility study, soccer stadiums in cities similar to Syracuse have been built for a wide range of costs, from $42 million to $175 million, with a median cost of $95 million. Typically, these stadiums are developed through public-private partnerships, with about 40% of the cost covered by public sources.
However, some stadiums have been constructed entirely with private funds. For instance, Fort Wayne FC, a new USL League One team, recently moved into a 9,200-seat arena built without public financing. In contrast, AC Grand Rapids, a Next Pro team, plans to move into a $175 million, 8,500-seat stadium, partially subsidized by municipal bonds and a naming rights donation from Amway.
CNY Growth officials have not yet applied for public funding but expect to do so as the project's details become clearer. They envision a modular stadium that can start small and expand as attendance grows, similar to the Long Island team's plans.
The feasibility study estimates that a Syracuse soccer team would attract between 2,500 and 3,500 fans per match, drawing spectators from within a 30-mile radius. In comparison, the minor-league Syracuse Mets baseball team averages around 4,800 spectators per game at a stadium with a capacity of 11,000.
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, a supporter of the general concept, acknowledges the need for further details. He met with the group a few months ago and expressed his openness to the idea.
Officials from the city of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and the state economic development agency have been briefed but have declined to comment, citing the project's early stage and the absence of submitted proposals.
CNY Growth's choice of the Inner Harbor for the stadium is strategic, considering its proximity to downtown nightlife, mall shopping, hotels, and attractions like the new county aquarium. However, the development's impact on the long-delayed Inner Harbor area remains uncertain.
The city of Syracuse initially selected Cor Development Co. in 2012 to develop 30 acres of state-owned land with a $350 million plan for hotels, apartment buildings, townhouses, and mixed-use structures. So far, the company has only built a hotel and a large mixed-use apartment complex.
A knowledgeable source suggests that the target location for the stadium is a vacant 6-acre parcel at the corner of Spencer and Solar streets, not owned by Cor. This lot, previously abandoned by Bankers Healthcare Group, is across the street from the Aloft hotel and a block south of the Onondaga County aquarium.
The property is owned by a limited liability company affiliated with Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., which has experience with stadium construction, having served as the general contractor for the NBT Bank Stadium renovations in 2021.
When CNY Growth LLC was founded in 2024, its officials listed the same post office box used by Hueber-Breuer as their address. Andy Breuer, the president of Hueber-Breuer, declined to comment.
Syracuse Common Councilor Jimmy Monto, who chairs the economic development committee, expressed enthusiasm for the stadium plan, acknowledging that it could boost Inner Harbor development. However, he noted that it should not be the sole focus of the harbor area's development.
The second crucial component of the plan is to build a complex of 10 or more turf fields associated with the pro team, which would host youth tournaments, local leagues, practice sessions, and camps. CNY Growth will require approximately 60 acres for this complex, which will not be located at the Inner Harbor.
Entrepreneur Brett Albro, who initiated the CNY Growth concept, emphasizes the prestige and high-quality training programs that a professional team can bring to the facility, attracting tournaments and inspiring local youth.
According to the CSL Consulting analysis, the planned field complex would attract nearly 1 million participants and spectators annually, based on a complex of 10 fields, including two covered fields, one championship field with 1,500 bleacher seats, and an estimated 5,820 practices, 1,080 league games, 28 tournaments, 10 camps, and 4,050 skills sessions.
Five years ago, County Executive McMahon unveiled plans for a $25 million complex of 10 tournament-quality fields at Hopkins Road Park in Salina, but the project was abandoned due to budget reallocations.
The history of professional soccer in Syracuse is mixed. The city has successfully hosted minor-league baseball and hockey teams, but previous attempts to establish a pro soccer team have been short-lived. The Syracuse Salty Dogs and Syracuse Silver Knights both folded due to financial challenges, despite decent attendance numbers.
The Syracuse Pulse, a franchise in the National Independent Soccer Association, played one season at Onondaga Community College's Lazer Stadium before merging with the Flower City Union team in Rochester.
A dedicated stadium is seen as a crucial factor in establishing a sustainable pro soccer team in Syracuse, especially as interest in soccer is on the rise nationally, with USL League One and MLS Next Pro adding numerous new teams in recent years. The region's larger population compared to other cities with existing or upcoming teams also makes it an attractive prospect.
Magnarelli supports the stadium concept, acknowledging that the project's success will depend on the details that remain to be determined.
The challenges of securing political support for stadium projects in Syracuse are not new. In 2013, former County Executive Joanie Mahoney sought support from former Governor Andrew Cuomo for a stadium at Syracuse University's Kennedy Square, but the idea was abandoned due to concerns raised by former Mayor Stephanie Miner.
Magnarelli remains optimistic about the latest proposal, expressing his belief that it could be a positive development for the Inner Harbor and local tourism. He has invited the proponents to revisit his office when their plans are more comprehensive.
