TESTIMONY
Testimony by Patrick Shields, Member of the 3rd Rail Supporters Club on New York City Football Club Stadium Project
3:02:25
·
138 sec
Patrick Shields, a long-time advocate for MLS and soccer in New York City, expresses his support for the New York City Football Club stadium project. He emphasizes the importance of combining arena construction with affordable housing and the potential global impact of this project.
- Shields has been advocating for MLS and soccer in NYC for 25 years
- He highlights the project's potential to be a 'North Star' for other cities
- The speaker stresses the significance of integrating affordable housing with stadium construction in urban areas
Patrick Shields
3:02:25
Shields.
3:02:26
Hi.
3:02:27
Patrick Shields here.
3:02:28
1st and foremost, 3 o'clock.
3:02:33
Yeah.
3:02:35
Mary City Residence, American Soccer fan, and also proud member of the 3rd rail supporters club of the New York City Football club, friends of Los Temple Adams, and all other New York City Football club supporters.
3:02:49
I cannot begin to tell you how pleased and proud I am to be here today after 25 years of hammering away to anyone who will listen about getting MLS and soccer on the ground here.
3:02:58
I'm pleased and proud to be here today on the record in this matter.
3:03:02
You and your counsel colleagues have the opportunity to make a far more monumental statement in this process than zoning change alone.
3:03:08
In rare instances, it means far more.
3:03:10
In this case and perfect though all projects of this scale are, its reach will be global.
3:03:16
You have the opportunity to clear a path for a sport which is challenging the status quo across the board globally open, gender neutral, racially diverse, ownership diverse, let me repeat, ownership diverse, multiple teams in growing, and also soon to be exponentially expanding on the ancillary new business side.
3:03:33
As a veteran small business owner, I see only opportunity for all.
3:03:37
New storefronts, coaches, clinics, academies, agents, PR teams, graphics agencies, Business opportunities for and reflecting a truly diverse workforce and ownership stake.
3:03:47
Soccer matters.
3:03:48
And we all know sports and heroes matter in ways far beyond the cornerstone laid by my union brothers and sisters.
3:03:56
As a veteran now of 9 World Cups as a traveler, I tell you this.
3:04:00
The world is waiting to purchase its flight to and through New York City, and those that fly into a newly remade LaGuardia over the great borough of Queens will look down and see the final piece of that puzzle.
3:04:11
What they will also see is that you will have established a template for cities all over the country and indeed the world, especially in dense urban areas.
3:04:18
You will signal to the world that arena construction will not happen without substantial affordable housing construction attached.
3:04:25
Soccer can, will be, and must be part of that housing solution.
3:04:30
This project will be that North Star.
3:04:32
It will guide other cities.
3:04:34
Do not underestimate the importance of this project and where it will lead.
3:04:37
It is one time you'll be able to look back and be proud of what you will have moved forward.
3:04:42
It will reach exponentially.
3:04:43
Thank you.