Queensboro FC and its stadium plans faced an unexpected demise. We look at the influence of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the dissolution of this USL franchise and the implications for the local community in Queens, NY.
Queensboro FC (QBFC), a newcomer to Queens, New York, had high hopes of making its mark on the local soccer scene. Founded in November 2019 with ambitious goals, the club’s journey was fraught with challenges, ultimately leading to its demise and leaving a void in the local community. Its final tweet served as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of its presence in the community, extinguished only a few years after its inception.
Feliz Día de los Reyes!
The holiday spirit continues at PS92 in Jackson Heights. Sonrisas were everywhere as the school’s mascot, Ollie the Owl, gave presents in QBFC sling bags to every student in school today 💜 pic.twitter.com/IqfXj6MPpx
— Queensboro FC (@Queensboro_FC) January 6, 2023
David Villa, the esteemed former professional soccer player who spent time in New York just a few years back, was one of the high-profile owners of the club. As a legendary figure in New York City soccer, Villa’s involvement with Queensboro FC brought excitement and high expectations to the franchise. Villa, known for his illustrious career with New York City FC and his contributions to the sport globally, brought his expertise and passion to Queensboro FC, intending to foster a vibrant soccer culture in Queens. However, with the club’s dissolution, questions remain about Villa’s perspective on the challenges faced and the future of soccer in the local community.
Initially scheduled to debut in the USL Championship in 2021, QBFC faced multiple delays, postponing its start date to 2022 and 2023 before ultimately disbanding. The club’s aspirations extended beyond the men’s team, with a women’s side competing in the USL W League and a youth team in the USL Academy. However, these endeavors were short-lived, as both teams withdrew from their respective leagues after the 2022 season.
Behind the scenes, financial woes and leadership upheavals plagued QBFC, further contributing to its downfall. The departure of head coach Josep Gombau in June 2022 and technical director Luis Gutierrez’s subsequent exit significantly affected the club’s stability. Despite efforts to salvage the situation, QBFC’s inability to secure proper funding and navigate internal challenges led to its eventual demise.
The demise of QBFC was not just a sporting setback but also a blow to the community it aimed to serve. The club’s proposed stadium at York College in Jamaica, Queens, promised to be a venue for soccer matches and a hub for community events, including college commencement ceremonies. The modular stadium, planned to accommodate 7,500 seats, was poised to enrich the local sports scene and provide a platform for aspiring athletes. However, it appears that the plans for the stadium have been shelved, leaving it all but dead on arrival.
Some argue QBFC’s dreams were shattered when Major League Soccer (MLS) revealed ambitious plans for its own. The announcement of a new stadium for the New York City Football Club (NYCFC), the MLS owned by the powerful City Group, at Willets Point, just fifteen minutes away from York College, ultimately dealt a fatal blow to the USL side’s aspirations. Ultimately, the rival proposal overshadowed QBFC’s modest plans, effectively ending any hope of realizing the York College stadium project, once celebrated just a few years prior.
Official statement of Queensboro FC about the recently news involving QBFC. https://t.co/J5MdfnFtaR
— Gustavo Lopes 🇧🇷🇺🇸 (@SoccerWithGus) November 16, 2022
The repercussions of QBFC’s demise reverberated throughout the community, leaving stakeholders in the dark about the fate of the proposed stadium. Fans expressed their discontent and disbelief on platforms like Reddit. At the same time, elected officials voiced their dismay at being kept out of the loop, highlighting the lack of transparency surrounding the project’s demise. With QBFC’s departure, the promise of a vibrant sports facility at York College also evaporated, leaving a void in the local landscape.
As the dust settles on QBFC’s ill-fated journey, questions linger about the future of professional soccer in Queens. While unfulfilled promises and dashed dreams may tarnish the club’s legacy, its brief existence serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of sports management and the unforgiving nature of the industry, now dominated by sports groups and venture capitalists seeking to exploit the sport’s rapid growth in the country.
As the soccer community comes to terms with QBFC’s loss, NYCFC and MLS must step up to fill the void, fostering the growth of soccer in Queens from the grassroots level. By actively involving inner-city kids and locals in this process, they can be active participants in expanding the sport within their community, not just spectators in the stands.
